Proposed 22nd Amendment Gazetted with higher retirement ages, more judges

Saturday, 8 August 2026 01:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government has Gazetted a Bill proposing changes to the judiciary, including higher retirement ages for judges and an increase in the number of judges in the Court of Appeal and High Courts.

The proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution seeks to amend Article 107(5) to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court judges to 67 and Court of Appeal judges to 65.

Under the proposed amendment, the Chief Justice will retire upon reaching 67 or completing six years in office, whichever occurs earlier.

The Bill also proposes to amend Article 137 of the Constitution to increase the maximum number of Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24.

Separately, the Government yesterday gazetted the Judicature (Amendment) Bill to amend the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978, proposing changes to the number and retirement ages of judges in the lower judiciary.

The Bill proposes to increase the maximum number of High Court Judges from 110 to 120 and raise their retirement age from 61 to 63.

It also seeks to fix the retirement age of all other judges and magistrates at 62, notwithstanding provisions of the Public and Judicial Officers (Retirement) Ordinance.

The statement of legal effect accompanying the Bill said the amendments are intended to increase the number of High Court Judges and enhance the retirement age of High Court Judges and all other judges, including magistrates. The two Bills are expected to be presented to Parliament for debate and approval.