The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a PIL seeking its direction to the Centre to increase retirement age of judges of trial courts, high courts and the apex court, saying that it is for the government to take a decision.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that the court cannot compel the government to pass such direction and these issues cannot be entertained by judicial side of the apex court.

"It is for the government to take a policy decision," the bench said.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by an advocate R K Kapoor pleading that the superannuation age of judges of trial courts be increased from 60 to 62 years and those in the high courts from 62 to 65 years. He contended that the retirement age of Supreme Court judges be increased from 65 to 67 years.

He submitted that the government should increase the retirement age of judges of all courts to maintain a balance.

On October 7, the bench had told Kapoor to approach the Centre with his plea. Thereafter, he wrote a letter to the Law Ministry. He again filed the petition after the government failed to take any decision in his contention.