"The reasons assigned by the different state governments for declining to enhance the age of retirement of judicial officers on the ground of additional financial burden appear to be misconceived," the CJI-led Bench observed. "The state governments are expected to take their own independent decision in light of the factors noticed above," the bench said. It further clarified that if any state government decides to enhance the retirement age, the benefit should also be extended to judicial officers who retire during the intervening period. The directions came during the hearing of the long-pending All India Judges Association matter concerning enhancement of the retirement age of members of the district judiciary. Earlier, the Supreme Court had sought responses from state governments and High Courts on the proposal to increase the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 62 years.