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Himachal Pradesh High Court Allows Enhancement of Retirement Age of Professors at SLBS GMC

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

In a landmark ruling, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has permitted the enhancement of the retirement age of professors at Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College (SLBS GMC), Mandi, from 65 to 68 years. The court's decision was made in response to a writ petition filed by Dr. Susheela Rana, Professor and Head of the Anatomy Department, who challenged her retirement at 65 years. The court found that several similarly placed faculty members had been granted extensions up to the age of 68, but Dr. Rana was denied without justification, despite the college facing a severe shortage of professors.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Himachal Pradesh High Court allowed the enhancement of the retirement age of professors at SLBS GMC from 65 to 68 years.
  • The court's decision was based on government notifications issued in 2020, 2021, and 2023, which explicitly allowed faculty members of four new medical colleges, including SLBS GMC, to continue service up to the age of 68 on a case-to-case basis.
  • The court observed that the State acted with an "ulterior motive" in retiring Dr. Rana at 65 years, despite the college facing severe faculty shortages and 13 posts of professor lying vacant.
  • The court quashed the orders dated February 17, 2022, February 28, 2022, and March 6, 2025, and directed the government to consider Dr. Rana's extension up to 68 years, deeming her to be in continuous service.
  • The court emphasized that while extension is not a right, discriminatory treatment among similarly placed employees is impermissible, especially when the State's own policies aim to address chronic faculty shortages in medical colleges.
  • Dr. Rana was absent from her position since her retirement on February 21, 2024, and was replaced by another professor.
  • The college has 13 vacant posts of professor, highlighting the severe faculty shortage.

Statistics:

  • 65: The retirement age of professors at SLBS GMC prior to the court's decision.
  • 68: The enhanced retirement age for professors at SLBS GMC, as allowed by the court.
  • 2020, 2021, 2023: The years in which government notifications were issued, allowing faculty members of new medical colleges to continue service up to the age of 68.
  • 2022 (February 17, 28, and March 6): The dates on which orders related to Dr. Rana's retirement were issued.
  • 13: The number of vacant posts of professor at SLBS GMC.
  • 1: The number of faculty members who have been granted extensions up to the age of 68.

Sources:

  • United News of India (August 12, 2023)
  • Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from United News of India. Copyright (c) United News of India Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( [www.syndigate.info](http://www.syndigate.info) )

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