22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill tabled in Parliament

The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill were presented to Parliament today (18) by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara.

The government gazetted the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill on August 7, despite the objections.

Under parliamentary procedure, a Bill must be presented for its first reading one week after the issuance of its Gazette notification, following which a one-week period is available for petitions challenging the Bill before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is required to communicate its determination to the Speaker within three to 21 days after considering such petitions.

If enacted, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution will increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 years and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65 years.

Meanwhile, the Judicature (Amendment) Bill proposes to raise the retirement age of judges serving in the High Courts, District Courts and Magistrates’ Courts to 62 years.