Supreme Court Upholds Government's Power to Retire Employees

The Supreme Court has affirmed that the government possesses broad authority to retire employees in the public interest. The court stated that an employee cannot contest compulsory retirement solely by citing another employee's continued service. Decisions regarding retirement are aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency and removing employees deemed unsuitable for public service. The court clarified that while the power of compulsory retirement is significant, it is not absolute. Judicial review is permissible if the decision lacks evidence, shows arbitrary reasoning, or is influenced by bad faith. This ruling came during the dismissal of appeals from two employees in Chhattisgarh. The court emphasized that the principle of equality does not allow an employee to claim similar treatment based on past errors.