Age Of Retirement Should Be Uniform: Former Supreme Court Judge

Overview

• On 22nd June, a panel discussion featuring four former Supreme Court judges- Justices B. N. Srikrishna, M. N. Venkatachaliah, Justice Lahoti, Justice Raveendran took place. The topics for discussion were delays in disposal of cases and Technology and the law.
• The discussion followed with the publication of Justice Raveendran's book "Anomalies in Law and Justice: Writings Related to Law and Justice." Chief Justice N. V. Ramana released the book. Arvind Datar, a senior advocate, moderated the discussion.

Increase In Retirement Age

• Justice Lahoti was of opinion that the retirement age should be increased from 62 to 65 for High Court judges.
• He stated that the increase in the age of retirement of the judges of the High Courts would benefit in two ways-

i. The court will have an active experienced judge at the prime of his maturity who continues to dispense justice.
ii. If the age of retirement is the same, then a lot of red-tapisms will stop and, the dignity of the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court will be

• Justice Srikrishna agreeing with Justice Lahoti stated that he has noticed most of the High Court Chief Justices turn towards the north, hoping that they will end up in the court. Their judgments getcolored by what the Supreme Court wants instead.
• Justice Raveendran was of the opinion, that the age of retirement should not be restricted or limited only to the Supreme Court judges and the High Court judges but it should extend to the subordinate judiciary also.
• Justice Venkatachaliah stated that all judges must retire at the same age, and this age must not be 65 but 68. All Chief Justices of the High Courts must be treated as judges of the Supreme Court.

The High Court judges feel more valuable

• Recently a Calcutta High Court judge said that the High Courts are as much a constitutional court as the Supreme Court. They are not a subordinate court.
• Justice Lahoti claimed that if the age of retirement becomes the same and the years' increase, the Chief Justices of High Courts would "stop taking rounds of Delhi" and there will be the option of choosing the best other than the seniority.
• He further stated that rather than calling upon the retired judges under Article 224A, the consent of the sitting judges should be taken, to act as additional judges of the court until the vacancies can be filled up.

Do you think that the retirement age for the judges should increase? Let us know in the comment section below!