1976 (1) TMI 173 - SC - Indian Laws

Summary

Issues Involved:
1. Validity of the appellant's compulsory retirement.
2. Legislative competence to validate retrospective retirement orders.
3. Encroachment on judicial power by the legislature.
4. Interpretation of Sections 2 and 5 of the impugned Act.

Summary:

1. Validity of the Appellant's Compulsory Retirement:
The appellant, a District and Sessions Judge, was compulsorily retired by an order dated September 11, 1963, which he challenged under Art. 226 of the Constitution. The High Court dismissed his writ petition, but the Supreme Court quashed the retirement order on January 23, 1967, declaring it invalid as it was not based on a statutory rule but merely an administrative instruction. The appellant was deemed to have continued in service until he attained the age of 58 years.

2. Legislative Competence to Validate Retrospective Retirement Orders:
The Madhya Pradesh (Age of Compulsory Retirement) Rules, 1965, and the subsequent Act 5 of 1967, were enacted to validate the retirement orders retrospectively from March 1, 1963. The Supreme Court held that the State legislature had the competence to enact such validating legislation under Article 309 and Entry 41 of List II of the Seventh Schedule. The impugned Act effectively cured the defect identified by the Court in the earlier judgment by giving the administrative instruction the status of a statutory rule.

3. Encroachment on Judicial Power by the Legislature:
The appellant argued that the impugned Act overstepped legislative powers and encroached upon the judicial field by rendering the Supreme Court's decision ineffective. The Court clarified that while the legislature cannot directly overrule a judicial decision, it can enact a valid law with retrospective effect to alter the conditions on which the decision was based. The impugned Act did not offend Articles 19, 31, or any other provision in Part III of the Constitution.

4. Interpretation of Sections 2 and 5 of the Impugned Act:
Sections 2 and 5 of the Act were challenged for validating the retirement orders and barring any claims for salary for the period between compulsory retirement and the attainment of 58 years. The Court held that these sections effectively vacated the previous decree and barred any proceedings for salary claims. The Act was found to be within the legislative competence and did not encroach on judicial powers.

Conclusion:
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the validity of the Madhya Pradesh (Age of Compulsory Retirement) Rules, 1965, and Act 5 of 1967. The legislative provisions were found to be within the competence of the State legislature and did not violate constitutional provisions. The appellant's compulsory retirement was validated retrospectively, and no further claims for salary could be maintained.