V.C.MISRA, J. - (1.) HEARD Shri Jokhan Prasad learned Counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel on behalf of the respondents. On the joint request of learned Counsel for the parties this writ petition is disposed off at this stage in terms of the High Court Rules.
(2.) THIS writ petition has been filed challenging the retirement of the petitioner at the age of 58 years who is admittedly a consolidated Lekhpal, and as per the contention of the petitioner he was required to be retired at the age of 60 years in accordance with law. Being aggrieved the petitioner filed the present writ petition and vide interim order dated 29.11.1999 he was allowed to continue to work till he attained the age of 60 years. The respondents were also directed to pay the salary to the petitioner accordingly. The petitioner has during the pendency of the wrill petition retired and has now claimed that his retiral benefits be calculated at the age of 60 years and be released in his favour. Counter affidavit has been filed and it has been submitted that the petitioner has been rightly retired at the age of 58 years as he did not belong to group 'D' of Class IV employee. I have perused the record and the service rules of U.P. Consolidation Lekhpal Service Rules, 1978. Rule, 2 reads as under : "2. Status. - The Uttar Pradesh Consolidation Lekhpal Service Comprises Group 'D' posts."
(3.) FROM Rules it is clear that the services of Lekhpal consolidation belongs to group 'D' and as per proviso to fundamental Rule 56 the age of 58 years for superannuation in respect of Government servant recruited before 5.11.1985 and holding group 'D' post shall retire from service on the afternoon of the month in which he attains the age of 60 (sixty) years. Rule 56, is quoted below : "56 (a) Except as otherwise provided in other clauses of this rule, every Government servant shall retire from service onthe afternoon of the last day of the month in which he attains the age of fifty-eight years. He may be retained in service after the date of retirement of superannuation, with the sanction of the Government, on public grounds, which must be recorded in writing, but he must not be retained after the age of 60 years except in very special circumstances : Provided that a Government servant, recruited.before 5.11.1985 and holding the Group 'D' post shall retire from service on the afternoon of the month in which he attains the age of 60 (sixty) years." ;