JUDGES FOR LIFE ? - BETTER OR WORST

Raising retirement age of judges is not a better option. The extension in retirement age is in fact snatching the rights of unemployed youths.

No doubt, it is a part of the government’s blueprint for judicial reforms, aimed at bringing down the number of more than three crore pending cases in courts across the country and the long tenure of judges would be helpful in clearing the backlog but it will open doors for other categories also especially the technocrats whose experience can be more benefited than of the judges for the development of the country.

We cannot compare ourselves with the advanced countries like US or UK as the conditions exist in India is quite different in view of heavy unemployment for the pass-outs.

If it is accepted that the retirement age of judges should be hiked to make use of their mature capabilities, there is no reason why civil and military personnel should be denied the lucrative extended tenure.

However, increasing the age tenure may not be medically advisable as they may suffer from various ailments related to old-age. Parkinson's disease affects 8 to 9 lakh people in India every year. This ailment affects the older sections of society. And with life expectancy for Indians now at 67 years, the situation in the country has become more serious as it makes the larger portion of society vulnerable to the disease.
Moreover, persons in the medical profession do not rule out the possibility of memory loss among other diseases, which can affect most around and after the age of 60 years.

Osho (Rajneesh) in one of his discourses have even said that the retirement age should be reduced to 50 years to put an end to joblessness in India.

At the most, the experience of retired judges can be utilized by organizing seminars as key note speakers for the fresheners’ and existing judges.