H.W. DHABE, J. :--The petitioner has claimed declaration in this writ petition that the age of retirement prescribed for the academic staff of the Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth at 58 years under the provisions of Statute 138(a) framed under the Maharashtra Agricultural Universities (Krishi Vidyapeeth) Statute, 1990 read with Rule 10(1) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1982 and Rule 10.1 of the Punjabrao Agricultural University (Krishi Vidyapeeth)

Services Rules, 1971 is invalid and unconstitutional and that the age of retirement of the members of the academic staff in the service of P.K.V. including the petitioner should be 60 years. Accordingly, he has claimed that the notice of retirement dated 24-6-1993 issued by the respondent No.1 P.K.V. seeking to retire him from service with effect from 30-6-1993 upon completion of age of 58 years should be set aside and he should be allowed to continue in service till completion of the age of 60 years.

2. The facts are that the petitioner, whose date of birth is 1-7-1935, was appointed as an Agricultural Supervisor with effect from 14-10-1959 in the Agricultural Department of the State of Bombay under the Superintend