Subject: Polity
Supreme Court judges hold office until they reach the age of 65, a provision that guarantees a long and stable tenure designed to promote continuity and institutional memory within the judiciary. This fixed term ensures that judges have the necessary time to build a deep understanding of the law and develop a coherent jurisprudence. At the same time, the process for removal of a judge is deliberately stringent – removal can only occur on the grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity, and even then, only after a detailed inquiry and impeachment proceedings initiated by Parliament. This high threshold for removal is designed to protect judges from arbitrary or politically motivated dismissals, thereby preserving the independence of the judiciary.
The removal process involves multiple layers of checks and balances, ensuring that a judge’s departure is not taken lightly. Recent controversies in various democracies have underscored the importance of having such robust mechanisms in place to prevent undue influence over the judiciary. Factual details such as the requirement for a supermajority in Parliament during impeachment underscore the seriousness of this process.
The constitutional framework, as outlined in Article 124, thus balances stability and accountability, ensuring that judges can operate independently while still being subject to ultimate accountability for their conduct.