Supreme Court Seeks Response from Madhya Pradesh High Court on Retirement Age of Judicial Officers

The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the State Government regarding the refusal to enhance the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 61 years.

The bench of CJI B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was hearing a challenge to the administrative order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which denied the request to increase the retirement age of judicial officers in the state. The petition has been filed by the MP Judges Association.

Petitioners’ Contentions

The Association contends that the High Court’s refusal is in clear violation of the Supreme Court’s directions issued on May 26, 2025. On that date, the bench of CJI B.R. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih clarified that there was no impediment in raising the retirement age of District Judges to 61 years and asked the Madhya Pradesh High Court to take an administrative decision within three months.

The petition highlights that a copy of the administrative order has not been provided, and the decision was communicated orally through the Registrar General of the High Court: "It is also pertinent to mention here that the Hon'ble High Court has even refused to provide a copy of its decision dt.22.08.2025 taken on administrative side to the petitioner.

The office bearer of the Petitioner association was orally informed by the Registrar General, High Court of Madhya Pradesh that their plea for enhancement of age of superannuation has been kept in abeyance / rejected on the newly discovered ground that at present there is no requirement do so."

The plea describes this conduct as “step-motherly treatment”: "It is submitted that the negative attitude adopted by the Hon'ble High Court of Madhya Pradesh, in this matter of legitimate expectation of the thousands of Judicial officers serving in the State of Madhya Pradesh, is clear cut example of the step motherly treatment meted out to the judicial officers of the Sub-ordinate Judiciary at the hand of their own Guardian Court (The Hon'ble High Court)."

Senior Advocate Ajit S. Bhasme, appearing for the petitioners, emphasized that they are only seeking enhancement of the retirement age from 60 to 61 years, not 62, noting that this would be at parity with Telangana District Judges.

Relevant Supreme Court Precedent

In its May 26 order, the Supreme Court relied on its earlier ruling in the All India Judges Association Case, in which the Telangana High Court had sought clarification on increasing the retirement age of District Judges to 61 years, and the request was allowed.

Considering these submissions, the bench issued notice in the matter. The case will be heard after two weeks.

Case Title: MADHYA PRADESH JUDGES ASSOCIATION Versus THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AND ANR.