It is compulsory for High Court judge Datuk V.T. Singham to retire at 65 as he has opted for it when the mandatory retirement age for judges was increased to 66, said Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria.

He said when the mandatory retirement age of judges was increased to 66, judges were given option papers to state whether they wanted to retire at the age of 65 or extend it to 66 years.

Arifin said this came about following the amendment to the Federal Constitution a few years ago to increase the retirement age of judges from 65 years to 66 years.

"All the judges, except V.T. Singham, had opted to retire at 66. So his (Singham) compulsory retirement age is 65," Arifin said when contacted by Bernama, adding that it was a normal retirement process.

"All judges are given the option paper to state whether they want to retire at 65 or opt at 66. You cannot force them to retire at 66," he said on Singham's retirement which was reported by the media.

Singham left the judiciary today after turning 65.

Two days ago, he delivered a judgment against the police and the government over the death of detainee A. Kugan in 2009.

Arifin said he had signed a letter of appreciation and extended the letter to Singham.

"In fact the Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin, along with several other judges, gave him a private farewell tea party in his chambers yesterday," he said, adding that he was not able to attend the event.

Arifin also said the judiciary would hold a farewell dinner on July 8 for nine judges who retired recently, and Singham was invited to attend.