CJI Writes To PM Modi Calling For Increase In SC Strength, Raising Of Retirement Age Of HC Judges

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi has sent a written request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an increase in the authorised strength of the Supreme Court, reports The Economic Times. He has also asked for retirement age of High Court judges to be increased from 62 to 65.

The primary reason cited by the CJI for increasing the strength of judges was that the apex court already had a huge backlog of cases, with 58,669 cases pending before it. Gogoi’s letter also says that in important cases dealing with questions of law, Constitution benches were not being formed because there was a shortage of judges.

"I request you to kindly consider, on top priority, to augment the judge-strength in the SC appropriately so that it can function more efficiently and effectively as it will go a long way to attain ultimate goal of rendering timely justice to the litigant public," wrote Gogoi.

Moreover, the CJI has also sought for retired Supreme Court and High Court justices to be given tenure appointments under Articles 128 and 224A of the Constitution so that they can aid the clearing of the backlog of litigation.