Longer Judgeship Tenures, Fewer Offs To Cut Pendency: Bar Group

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) All India Bar Association has demanded raising judges' retirement age, introducing transparency in their appointments and restricting their vacations, saying it will help reduce pendency.

Speaking to journalists last evening, Association spokesman Adish C Aggarwala said this would contribute to rule of law.

The Association felicitated former Uttar Pradesh Advocate General Virendra Bhatia on his election as a Member of Rajya Sabha.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhatia said as an advocate his priority would be to pursue lawyers' housing and other needs and also contribute earnestly to house debates on judicial accountability and related issues.

Aggarwala said that judges are currently entitled to nearly 180 days off out of 365 days in a year.

''Long vacations are a vestige of the British rule, when English judges travelled to England by sea and needed longer vacations.

''That is no longer necessary and the practice must be discontinued,'' he said.

Aggarwala suggested raising judges' retirement age to 68 for Supreme Court from 65, to 65 for High Court from 62, and to 62 for District Courts judges.

He said this would help considering the growing pendency and widespread delays in appointment of new judges.

Aggarwala said after retirement no judge should be appointed to any commission or tribunal except under the Commission of Inquiry Act.

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