JUDGMENT

S. C. AGRAWAL, J. - This appeal, by special leave, arises out of a suit filed by the respondent-Amar Nath Bansal for a declaration that his retirement on attaining the age of 58 years was illegal and that he is entitled to continue in service till he attains the age of 62 years.

2. The respondent was appointed as a civilian clerk in the Army in the erstwhile State of Jind on 12-7-1943. In the Jind State the age of superannuation, as prescribed by Regulation 27 of the Jind State Civil Service Regulations, 1945, was 62 years. On 5-5-1948 the Ruler of Jind State and the Rulers of the States of Patiala, Kapurthala, Nabba, Faridkot, Malerkotla, Nalagarh and Kalsia entered into a Covenant whereby they agreed to unite and integrate their territories into one State to be known as Patiala and East Punjab States Union (for short "PEPSU"). As a result of the integration of the services of the union States, the respondent was posted as Auditor in the Treasury in PEPSU. On the coming into force of the Constitution, PEPSU became a Part B State and continued as such till the reorganisation of the States under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. With effect from 1-11-1956, the Part B State of PEPSU became a part of the reorganised State of Punjab and the respondent was absorbed in the service of the State of Punjab. As a result of the reorganisation of the State of Punjab and the formation of the State of Haryana by the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966 with effect from 1-11-1966, the respondent was allocated to the State of Haryana. While he was employed as Assistant Treasury Officer in the State of Haryana, he was retired from service on attaining the age of 58 years with effect from 30-9-1984. On 25-9-1987 he filed a suit (Civil Suit No. 392 of 1987) in the Court of Sub-Judge IInd Class, Rohtak, for a declaration that his retirement at the age of 58 years was illegal and against the service condition and that he was entitled to continue in service up to the age of 62 years. The said suit was dismissed by the trial court on the view that the Jind State Service Rules were not applicable and the conditions of service of the respondent were governed by Rule 3.26 of the Punjab Civil Service Rules, Vol. I, Part I which prescribes 58 years as the age of superannuation. The said judgment of the trial court was, however, reversed in appeal by the Additional District Judge IV Rohtak, who held that the age of superannuation constitutes a condition of service and by virtue of Article XVI of the Covenant the said condition continued in Operation in the State of PEPSU and thereafter in the State of Punjab in view of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 and in the State of Haryana in view of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 and it has not been shown that the approval of the Central Government had been taken for applying the provisions of Rule 3.26 of Vol. I, Part I of the Punjab Civil Service Rules to the respondent. The second appeal filed by the appellant-State against the said judgment and decree of the Additional District Judge was dismissed by the High Court by the impugned judgment dated 6-7-1993. Hence this appeal.

3. The question that falls for consideration is whether the provisions of the Jind State Service Regulations, 1945 which prescribed 62 years as the age for superannuation of persons employed in the State service continued in operation after the formation of PEPSU and thereafter the State of Punjab and the State of Haryana. For a proper appreciation of the submissions of the learned counsel it is necessary to take note of the relevant provisions of the Covenant.

"Article X (2). - Until a legislature elected in accordance with the terms of the Constitution framed by it comes into being, the Constituent Assembly as constituted in the manner indicated in Schedule II shall function as the interim Legislature of the Union.

Article XVI (i). - The Union hereby guarantees either the continuance in service of the permanent members of the