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SC asks states to reconsider trial judges’ retirement age hike
The Supreme Court has asked states and Union territories to reconsider raising the retirement age of trial court judicial officers from 60, with The Times of India reporting a September 2 deadline…
The Story in Brief
The Supreme Court has asked states and Union territories to reconsider raising the retirement age of trial court judicial officers from 60, with The Times of India reporting a September 2 deadline and Hindustan Times reporting two weeks. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said financial burden was not a valid reason to oppose the proposal and urged states to take a pragmatic view.
The court said judicial officers are a distinct constitutional class, not regular government employees. It also said retaining experienced judges could reduce recruitment and vacancy costs. High courts remain divided, with some supporting retirement at 61 or 62 and others opposing an increase. Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Nagaland and Rajasthan oppose the proposal, according to Hindustan Times.
The Indian Opinion
The easy claim that this is simply a fight between judges and cash-strapped states misses the real issue. Retaining experience may help district courts, but savings from fewer recruitments are not automatic, and pension or salary costs need proper estimates. The opposite claim, that parity alone settles the matter, is also weak because judicial officers have a distinct constitutional status. States should publish cost and vacancy projections before choosing 61 or 62.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
