The Supreme Court Collegium has agreed to the suggestion by the Union government to have a minimum and maximum age-limit for lawyers to be elevated to the High courts..According to Indian Express Report, the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India, Justice JS Khehar has agreed that only lawyers within the age group of 45 to 55 should be considered for elevation to High Courts. Regarding judges from the lower judiciary who are elevated to High Courts, the maximum age-limit recommended is 58.5..Article 217(2) of the Constitution provides for the conditions of the office of a judge of High Court. It does not prescribe any age group for being elevated as High Court judge except prescribing the age of retirement which is fixed at 62..Hence, whether such a criterion can be laid down in the MoP remains open for debate..Earlier, the Collegium in its meeting on March 10, had unanimously rejected the recommendation of the Centre that they should have the power to reject any name for appointment as a judge of the high court for reasons of “national security”..The Collegium, it was reported, had also rejected the idea of having a three-member committee of non-collegium members to investigate complaints against judges of the high courts. Moreover, it had insisted that if any of its recommendations for appointment of High Court judges are rejected, they should have the power to reiterate the same. The Centre would then have no option but to accept the recommendation, provided all members of the Collegium agree to stick with their view, in writing.
