Your Chief Minister was a leading member of the Bar: CJI Surya Kant to Kerala AG

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has orally requested the Kerala government to reconsider its stance on increasing the retirement age of judicial officers.

While hearing the matter, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked that it should be easier to convince the state leadership given the Chief Minister's strong background in the legal profession.

The remark came during proceedings where the Supreme Court requested non-consenting states, including Kerala, to reconsider their stance against raising the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 62 years.

Kerala Advocate General Jaju Babu, who appeared virtually, stated the state's preference to maintain the retirement age at 60. But the Chief Justice Surya Kant observed, "Your Chief Minister was a leading member of the Bar. Therefore, it will be easy to convince him about these matters."

The Chief Justice suggested that the Chief Minister's legal background would help the state appreciate the necessity of retaining experienced judicial talent within the district judiciary. In a lighthearted exchange, the CJI also referred to AG Jaju Babu as a favourite among young members of the Bar. Special Government Pleader R. Rama also appeared alongside the Advocate General during the hearing.

Before entering full-time politics, Chief Minister VD Satheesan built a legal career as a practising advocate. He earned his LL.B. from Kerala Law Academy Law College and later completed an LL.M. at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. He subsequently practised as a lawyer at the Kerala High Court for nearly a decade.