(2) Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand
and seal 3
[on the recommendation of the National Judicial Appointments Commission referred to in article
124A] and shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty-five years:
(a) a Judge may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office;
(b) a Judge may be removed from his office in the manner provided in clause (4).
(2A) The age of a Judge of the Supreme Court shall be determined by such authority and in such manner
as Parliament may by law provide.
(3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court unless he is a
citizen of India and—
(a) has been for at least five years a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in
succession; or
(b) has been for at least ten years an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in
succession; or
(c) is, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.
Explanation I.—In this clause “High Court” means a High Court which exercises, or which at any time
before the commencement of this Constitution exercised, jurisdiction in any part of the territory of India.
Explanation II.—In computing for the purpose of this clause the period during which a person has been
an advocate, any period during which a person has held judicial office not inferior to that of a district judge
after he became an advocate shall be included.
(4) A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the
President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total
membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House
present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground
of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
(5) Parliament may by law regulate the procedure for the presentation of an address and for the
investigation and proof of the misbehaviour or incapacity of a Judge under clause (4).
(6) Every person appointed to be a Judge of the Supreme Court shall, before he enters upon his office,
make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or
affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
(7) No person who has held office as a Judge of the Supreme Court shall plead or act in any court or
before any authority within the territory of India.