Two judges alter birth dates, qualify for HC

Two judicial officers who have altered their dates of birth and thereby extended their tenures, are set to become judges of Madras high court. The duo - principal sessions judge of Chennai N Authinathan and registrar-general of high court P Kalaiyarasan - are among three most senior district judges recommended for appointment as judges of Madras high court.

Principal sessions judge Authinathan should have retired on April 11, 2014 while registrar-general of high court Kalaiyarasan should retire on December 9, 2015, as per their original dates of birth published in the gazette at the time of their joining the judicial service as district munsif/judicial magistrates.

However, the two have 'legally' altered their dates of birth within the mandatory five years of entry in judicial service, so as to continue in service a while longer, and be senior enough to become judges of Madras high court. As per the orders of the government, Authinathan's date of birth has been corrected to January 19, 1956, which gives him 22 months of extra service as district judge. Similarly, Kalaiyarasan's new date of birth is May 1, 1956, which ensures he will continue in service for about five more months.