P Srinivasulu Vs Central Silk Board — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

P Srinivasulu Vs Central Silk Board — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

All six writ petitions allowed: the memoranda dated 07.08.2025 (WP 25862/2025) and 21/22.07.2025 (WP 26169/2025) quashed; petitioners entitled to continue as Timescale Farm Workers until the age of superannuation of 60 years subject to applicable Rules and Regulations; petitioners already relieved before 60 to be taken back to duty with immediate effect, with the intervening period treated as on duty for all purposes.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners, Time Scale (Skilled) Farm Workers of the Central Silk Board who were relieved or sought to be retired at 58 years, are entitled to continue in service until they attain the age of 60 years, in view of the CGIT award dated 01.04.2013 (enhancing retirement age from 55 to 60 years) confirmed by the Division Bench and attained finality. +1 more

Court's answer

The Division Bench judgment confirming the CGIT award has attained finality and has not been questioned or disputed by the respondent Board.

Ratio / Principle

The question involved in these writ petitions is squarely covered by the judgments of the Division Bench (WP 18693/2014) and the Coordinate Bench (WP 20742/2022); the issue is no longer res integra and the petitions are liable to be allowed in the same terms by following those judgments.

Key takeaways

The Memorandum dated 7.8.2025 in Writ Petition No.25862/2025 and the Memorandum dated 21/22.07.2025 in Writ Petition No.26169/2025 are quashed.ratio¶¶136
The petitioners are entitled to continue in employment as Timescale Farm Workers under the respondent Board till they attain the age of superannuation of 60 years, subject to all applicable Rules and Regulations.ratio¶¶137
Any petitioner already relieved before attaining 60 years shall be taken back to duty with immediate effect, and the period from relieving until reinstatement shall be treated as on duty for all purposes.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Six writ petitions (WP Nos. 24585, 9994, 24510, 25862, 26148 and 26169 of 2025) by Skilled Farm Workers (TS)/Time Scale Farm Workers of the Central Silk Board challenging superannuation at 58 years. Four petitions sought mandamus to consider representations and continue service till 60 years; two sought certiorari against memoranda dated 07.08.2025 and 21/22.07.2025 relieving them at 58. The petitioners, initially casual labourers later made Time Scale Farm Workers, were covered by a CGIT Bengaluru award dated 01.04.2013 (pursuant to a Trade Union dispute and failed conciliation referred by the Government of India) enhancing retirement age from 55 to 60 years; the Board's challenge in W.P. No. 18693/2014 (L-RES) was dismissed by the Division Bench and that judgment stands unchallenged and final. Following the Division Bench judgment and the Coordinate Bench decision in W.P. No. 20742/2022 (superannuation at 60), Pradeep Singh Yerur, J. held the issue was no longer res integra and allowed all six petitions: the two memoranda were quashed; the petitioners are entitled to continue as Timescale Farm Workers until 60 years subject to service rules; and those already relieved are to be reinstated with immediate effect, the intervening period counting as on duty for all purposes.