New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking enhancement of the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 62 years.
The application was filed on behalf of the Judicial Officers of the State of Rajasthan, seeking modification of the directions issued by the Supreme Court in the Fourth All India Judges Association case and praying for enhancement of the retirement age of Judicial Officers in Rajasthan from 60 years to 62 years.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana sought replies from the Centre and other state and union territories on the application that was filed in a pending matter relating to judicial officials.
During the hearing, it was also brought to the notice of the Court that judicial officers in Madhya Pradesh presently retire at the age of 61 years, and that a proposal for enhancement of the retirement age from 61 years to 62 years is already under consideration.
The Supreme Court observed that the issue has pan-India implications. Accordingly, the court issued notice and directed all state governments, union territories and the high courts of all the states and union Territories to file their respective responses on the question of enhancement of the retirement age of judicial officers.
The court observed that, since the issue has nationwide ramifications affecting the judicial services across the country, the views of all states, union territories and their respective high courts would be necessary before deciding the issue raised in the application filed on behalf of the judicial officers of Rajasthan.
For the state of Rajasthan, Shiv Mangal Sharma, Additional Advocate General, accepted notice and submitted before the court that he would obtain instructions from the state government and file its response to the application.
The matter is of considerable significance, as any decision of the Supreme Court on the issue is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the retirement age and service conditions of judicial officers throughout the country.