A judge of the Supreme Court of India retires on attaining the age of:

Under Article 124(2), a judge of the Supreme Court holds office until he attains the age of 65 years.

Comparison with High Court judges:

High Court judges retire at the age of 62 years.

Age disputes:

For Supreme Court judges, any question about age is determined by an authority and in a manner provided by Parliament by law, as added by the 15th Amendment.

Other ways a judge leaves office:

• He may resign by writing to the President.
• He may be removed by the President on an address by both Houses of Parliament, on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

After retirement:

• A retired Supreme Court judge cannot plead or act in any court or before any authority in India (Article 124(7)).
• However, retired judges are often appointed to tribunals, commissions and other bodies, such as the National Human Rights Commission, the Lokpal and the Law Commission.
• There has been debate about such post-retirement appointments affecting judicial independence.

Chief Justice of India:

• The Chief Justice also retires at 65.
• Since appointments follow the seniority convention, some Chief Justices have had very short tenures, while others have had longer ones.

Justice Y.V. Chandrachud was the longest-serving Chief Justice (1978 to 1985).

Justice Kamal Narain Singh had the shortest tenure, of 17 days, in 1991.

Debate on retirement age:

• Some experts have suggested raising the retirement age of judges, as is the case in some other countries.
• In the United States, Supreme Court judges hold office for life.
• In the United Kingdom, Supreme Court judges retire at 75.

Ad hoc and retired judges:

Under Article 128, retired judges can be requested to sit as judges of the Supreme Court with the President's consent.

Why not the other options?

• ✗60 years was the original retirement age for High Court judges.
• ✗62 years is the present retirement age for High Court judges.
• ✗70 years is not the retirement age for Supreme Court judges.