Interim Arrangement Effective From April 1, 2026; Final Decision on 62-Year Retirement Age Still Pending
New Delhi, July 22 :
In a major interim direction, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked all States and Union Territories to examine the proposal of increasing the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 61 years in consultation with their respective High Courts, pending a final verdict on raising the retirement age to 62 years across the country.
The direction was issued by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, while hearing a petition seeking a uniform retirement age for district judiciary officers nationwide.
The apex court observed that wherever the State Government and the concerned High Court mutually agree, judicial officers may be allowed to continue in service until the age of 61 years. The Court clarified that this will remain an interim arrangement and will be subject to the final outcome of the matter pending before the Supreme Court.
The interim order is scheduled to come into effect from April 1, 2026.
The Supreme Court further directed all States, Union Territories and High Courts to file their responses within two weeks. It stated that those States and High Courts already supporting the proposal need only submit a brief statement expressing their concurrence.
The Bench made it clear that the interim direction would not prejudice or influence the final decision on the larger issue of uniformly enhancing the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 62 years across India. (KNC)