Q. Consider the following statements:
1.There is no minimum age requirement for appointment as a Supreme Court judge.
2.Distinguished jurists can be appointed to the Supreme Court, but not to the High Courts.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanations –
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Constitution of India, under Article 124, does not prescribe a minimum age for the appointment of a Supreme Court judge. The eligibility criteria focus on qualifications such as being a citizen of India, having judicial experience (e.g., five years as a High Court judge or ten years as an advocate), or being a “distinguished jurist” in the opinion of the President. Article 124(3)(c) allows the appointment of “distinguished jurists” as judges of the Supreme Court. However, Article 217(2)(c), which previously allowed similar appointments to High Courts, was repealed by the 44th Constitutional Amendment. As a result, distinguished jurists can only be appointed to the Supreme Court and not to High Courts.
Source: The Hindu
