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No plan to up judge retirement age: Law Ministry
Why is it in news?
- The Law Ministry said there was no proposal as of now to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and of High Court judges from 62 to 65.
- Recommendation of a Parliamentary Standing Committee:
- The Ministry was responding to the recommendation of a Parliamentary Standing Committee that raising the retirement age of judges would help retain the existing judges.
- It which in turn would help in reducing both vacancy and pendency of cases in short run
- Constitution (114th Amendment) Bill, 2010:(1) In August 2010, then Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily introduced the Constitution (114th Amendment) Bill, 2010 in the Lok Sabha.(2) The Bill, which sought to increase the retirement age of High Court judges to 65, could not be taken up for consideration in Parliament and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.
What are concern of panel?
- Large number of vacancies:(1) Concern over the large number of vacancies of judges in High Courts.
- Collaborative process:(1) The Ministry countered that the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts is a continuous and collaborative process of the Judiciary and Executive.(2) While every effort is made to fill vacancies expeditiously, vacancies keep on arising on account of retirement, resignation or elevation of judges and increase in judge strength.
- It further stated that the time line for initiation of the proposals for filling up of vacancies is rarely adhered to by the High Courts.
- As of now, out of a total approved strength of 1,079 judges in 24 High Courts across the country, only 695 posts are filled.
Source
The Hindu