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The Full Court of the Patna High Court has resolved to enhance the retirement age of judicial officers in Bihar from 60 to 62 years.

The decision comes while the Supreme Court is presently considering whether the retirement age of members of the district judiciary should be uniformly enhanced to 62 years across the country.

In a communication dated August 31, 2026 addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department, Government of Bihar, Patna High Court Registrar General Rupesh Deo informed the State Government that the Full Court had resolved on August 18 to enhance the retirement age of judicial officers of Bihar from 60 to 62 years.

The communication states: “The Hon'ble Court have been pleased to resolve to enhance the retirement age of Judicial Officers of the State of Bihar, from 60 to 62, vide resolution dated 18.08.2026 of the Hon'ble Full Court.”

The Registrar General requested the State Government to take necessary action on the Full Court resolution.

On July 22, a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana in the case of All India Judges Association v. Union of India directed all States and Union Territories to take a decision, in consultation with their respective High Courts, on enhancing the retirement age of District Judges from 60 to 61 years.

The Court directed that where both the State/UT and the concerned High Court agree, judicial officers due to retire at 60 could continue in service up to 61 years, subject to the final outcome of the proceedings. The enhancement, where agreed upon, was to take effect from April 1, 2026.

At the same time, the Supreme Court made it clear that the larger question of whether the retirement age of District Judges should be uniformly fixed at 62 years across the country would be decided independently.

During the hearing, CJI Surya Kant had also observed, in the context of the existing retirement age of High Court judges, “If district judge also retires at 62, what's the issue?”

The Patna High Court's Full Court resolution places Bihar among the States where the judiciary has moved towards a 62-year retirement age.

The Supreme Court had been informed during the July proceedings that the Full Court of the Madhya Pradesh High Court had also resolved to enhance the retirement age of District Judges to 62 years. Telangana was similarly stated to have taken a decision in favour of enhancement.

However, certain States, including Punjab and Haryana, had opposed enhancement, pointing out that the retirement age of government employees in their respective jurisdictions remained 60 years or below.

The Supreme Court had accordingly directed States, UTs and High Courts to place their respective positions on record.

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