The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill, aimed at extending the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges, has been included in the Parliamentary Order Book ahead of its scheduled presentation in Parliament today (18).
The Bill is scheduled to be presented by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the provisions relating to the retirement age of judges under the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978.
Under the proposed amendment, the retirement age of Supreme Court judges would be increased from 65 to 67, while the retirement age of Court of Appeal judges would be increased from 63 to 65.
The proposed changes are intended to reduce delays in the judicial system and allow the continued service of experienced senior judges.
However, the proposed amendment has become a subject of significant discussion in political and legal circles as the government moves forward with presenting the Bill to Parliament.
According to the Constitution, once a Bill is presented to Parliament, a period of 14 days is available to challenge it before the Supreme Court.
After considering such a petition, the Supreme Court is required to communicate its determination to Parliament within a period of between three and 21 days.
