Judgment

MITTER, J.: - This is an appeal from a judgment of the High Court of Orissa rejecting a Writ Petition filed by the appellant for quashing the order of the Government passed on him on July 14, 1964 informing him that he was to retire from Government service on 1st January,1965 when he would reach the age of 55 years.

2. The facts are shortly as follows. The appellant who was born on January 1, 1910 entered the service of the former Indian State of Mayurbhanj in Orissa as an engineer on 1st November, 1937. He was in the employment of that State up to December 31, 1948. On the merger of that State with the Province of Orissa on January 1, 1949 he became an officer of the said Province. The age of superannuation of Government employees in Orissa was then 55 years. On May 31, 1963 the Government of Orissa passed a resolution the relevant portion whereof ran as follows:"

1. The question of raising the age of compulsory retirement of the State Government employees has been under the consideration of Government for sometime past.............

2. After careful consideration, Government have now decided that the age of compulsory retirement for the State Government employees should be