Case Title:- Madhya Pradesh Judges Association vs. The High Court Of Madhya Pradesh And Anr.
Citation:- W.P.(C) No. 000986 / 2025
Date:- 27.10.2025
Hon’ble Supreme Court Bench:- CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has sought a response from the Hon’ble Madhya Pradesh High Court and the State Government over the issue of refusal to enhance the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 61 years.
- The case has been filed by the Madhya Pradesh Judges Association, challenging the Hon’ble High Court’s administrative order which declined to enhance the retirement age.
- The Hon’ble Supreme Court had clearly stated that there was no legal bar to raising the retirement age of District Judges to 61 years and directed the MP High Court to make a decision within three months.
- The Association said the Hon’ble High Court’s decision dated August 22, 2025, was never shared with them in writing. Instead, the Registrar General only informed them orally that their plea for age enhancement had been kept in abeyance or rejected on the ground that “there is no need to do so at present.”
- The petition described the Hon’ble High Court’s approach as “step-motherly treatment” towards the subordinate judiciary and accused it of showing a negative attitude despite clear directions from the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
- The Madhya Pradesh judges’ association clarified that they are not asking for 62 years, but only 61 years, to be at par with Telangana’s district judges, whose retirement age was raised following Hon’ble Supreme Court approval.
- Considering these submissions, the Hon’ble Court has issued notices to both the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the State Government, seeking their responses.
- The case will be heard again after two weeks, where the Hon’ble Court will decide if the Madhya Pradesh judicial officers should also get the benefit of an increased retirement age.
