New Delhi: A proposed legislation paving the way for increasing the retirement age of High Court judges from 62 to 65 years was approved by the Union Cabinet today.

The measure will help around 630 judges of the 21 High Courts in the country.

Official sources said though the Law Ministry is keen on introducing the legislation in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, various political parties will have to be taken into confidence as constitutional amendment is needed for the purpose. A constitutional amendment needs support of two-thirds of the members in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily favours a consensus to emerge before moving the amendment, the sources said.

The last time the retirement age of High Court judges was increased was in 1963. The age was then increased from 60 to the present 62 years.