Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal Against Retirement Age of 60 for Director at CSIIT.


06 December 2024 Employee Related >> Corporate Law  

The appeal arises from a decision by the Telangana High Court in the matter of P.J. Dharmaraj vs Church of South India & Others, which upheld the dismissal of the Appellant's Writ Petition challenging his retirement from the post of Director at CSI Institute of Technology (CSIIT). The Appellant, who was appointed as Director in 1998, sought to extend his service until the age of 65 after AICTE and UGC regulations were amended in 2010 to raise the age of superannuation for teachers in technical institutions to 65 years.

However, CSIIT, a private unaided minority educational institution affiliated with JNT University, follows the retirement age of 60 years, as per the regulations of the State Government of Telangana. The Appellant, who had been working in an administrative role and not as a teacher, was told his retirement would take effect at the age of 60, in line with the University and State rules. Despite this, the Appellant argued that the amended regulations should apply to him.

 
 

The High Court rejected the appeal, concluding that since the State Government and JNT University had not adopted the revised age of superannuation, the Appellant was not entitled to the extended retirement age. Additionally, the Appellant had made representations regarding his retirement benefits, implying acceptance of his retirement at age 60.

The Supreme Court, after reviewing the case, found no merit in the Appellant’s argument and dismissed the appeal, stating that the Appellant was not entitled to continue in service beyond 60 years and that the regulations were not applicable in this context.