The correct option is Judges hold office till reaching the age of retirement..
Explanation
The Constitution of India safeguards the independence of the judiciary by providing security of tenure to Supreme Court judges. Their term is determined by a mandatory retirement age rather than a fixed number of years or the discretion of the executive.
Option Analysis:
- Judges hold office till reaching the age of retirement. is Correct: Under Article 124(2) of the Constitution, a judge of the Supreme Court holds office until they attain the age of 65 years. The Constitution does not specify a minimum tenure or a fixed term of service.
- Judges hold office for a fixed period of 5 years. is Incorrect: There is no fixed tenure (such as 5 or 6 years) for Supreme Court judges. The duration of their service depends entirely on their age at the time of appointment relative to the retirement age.
- Judges hold office till the pleasure of the President. is Incorrect: Supreme Court judges do not hold office during the pleasure of the President. This provision exists to protect judges from arbitrary removal by the executive, ensuring they can function without fear or favour.
- Judges can be removed by the Prime Minister at any time. is Incorrect: The Prime Minister does not have the authority to remove a judge. A judge can only be removed by an order of the President after an address by each House of Parliament, supported by a special majority, on the grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
Key Takeaway: The tenure of a Supreme Court judge is secured until the age of 65, and they are immune to arbitrary removal by the executive, removable only through a stringent parliamentary process.