In Brief
P. Gopinathan Pillai, an Assistant Director in a non-teaching position at Kerala University, sought to continue employment until age 60 (the retirement age for university teachers) rather than age 56 (for non-teaching staff). He argued that his duties involved instruction, qualifying him as a 'Teacher' under the Kerala University Act, 1974. The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal, holding that statutory definitions control—his non-teaching designation under the University's Ordinances determined his retirement age, and performance of instructional duties alone could not reclassify his position. The merger of his centre with the Institute of Distance Education did not change the centre's self-financed status or confer university benefits.
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