Proposal to Increase Retirement Age of Judicial Officers in Tamil Nadu – Under Consideration*

by Sekar Reporter · Published April 28, 2026 · Updated April 28, 2026

[28/04, 10:20] sekarreporter1: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/proposal-to-increase-retirement-age-of-judicial-officers-in-tamil-nadu-under-consideration-chief-justice/article70912582.ece
[28/04, 10:20] Meta AI: *Proposal to Increase Retirement Age of Judicial Officers in Tamil Nadu – Under Consideration*
*Source*: The Hindu, 27 April 2026
*Said by*: Madras High Court Chief Justice [Name not in search result – likely CJ Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari]

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*1. What’s the Proposal?*
*For*: Tamil Nadu subordinate judiciary – District Judges, Civil Judges, Magistrates
*Current Retirement Age*: 60 years for district judiciary
*Proposal*: Increase retirement age – exact age not specified in article, but context suggests to 62 or 65

*Statement*: _“Proposal to increase retirement age of judicial officers in Tamil Nadu under consideration”_ – Chief Justice, Madras HC

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*2. Why Increase? Context*
**Reason** **Details**
**Vacancies** TN has 300+ judge vacancies. Madras HC alone 22-23 vacant
**Pendency** 40+ lakh cases pending in HCs. 1,000 cases pending 50+ years, 2 lakh+ pending 25+ years
**Experience Retention** Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi: *“If retirement age raised to 65, freeze on retirement for 3 years. Can fill 403 vacancies”*
**Parliamentary Panel View** Raising age helps retain judges, reduce vacancy + pendency
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*3. Current Retirement Ages in India*
**Level** **Retirement Age**
**District Judiciary** 60 years
**High Court Judges** 62 years
**Supreme Court Judges** 65 years
*Bar Council Demand*: HC 62→65, SC 65→67
*DMK MP P Wilson Bill*: HC 62→65 + social justice quotas 45bad097

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*4. Govt Stand – Past & Present*

1. *Centre’s Position*: _“No proposal to increase retirement age of SC, HC judges”_ – Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Dec 2024
2. *114th Amendment Bill 2010*: Sought HC 62→65. Lapsed with 15th Lok Sabha
3. *2019 Cabinet*: Approved bill to raise HC age to 65, but needed 2/3rd Parliament majority c1b859b97ee6

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*5. What “Under Consideration” Means*

1. *State Govt Role*: Retirement age of subordinate judiciary is state subject. TN Govt can amend via state legislation after consulting HC.
2. *HC Role*: Chief Justice’s proposal goes to TN Law Dept → Cabinet → Assembly.
3. *Not for HC/SC Judges*: That needs Constitutional Amendment by Parliament. This proposal is only for district courts, magistrates in TN.

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*Bottom Line*: TN may soon increase retirement age of district judges from 60 to 62/65 to tackle 300+ vacancies and pendency. For HC/SC judges, Centre says “no proposal” as of now, though Bar + some MPs pushing for it.

Want me to track when TN Govt takes a decision on this?