In Brief
Teaching faculty in Government Homeopathic Medical Colleges sought to extend their retirement age from 55 to 60 years under a Government Order (GO) that had benefited doctors in Medical Colleges with retrospective effect from May 2009. The Supreme Court dismissed their appeal, holding that the age of retirement is exclusively a policy matter for the State. The Court ruled that employees cannot claim a vested right to retrospective application of a later GO that was made prospective, nor can the Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation override service regulations. Enhancement of retirement age is undertaken to address institutional needs like faculty shortages and remains within executive discretion regarding its effective date.
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