1. Heard Mr. K Singha, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. K Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Higher Education Department, appearing for respondents No. 1, 3 and 4.

2. The petitioner was serving as an Associate Professor of Assamese in KRB Girls’ College, Fatashil, Guwahati. By a letter dated 24.03.2017 the Principal of said college informed the petitioner that as per the office record she shall retire from service as Associate Professor from the said College on 30.06.2017 and therefore, requested her to submit all necessary relevant papers, documents and information for submission of proposal of her retirement benefit to the Government and also to clear all dues if any. The petitioner accordingly, on 30.6.2017, retired from service from said college on attaining the age of superannuation at 60 (sixty) years.

3. On verification of the petitioner’s pension proposal, the Directorate of Higher Education found that as per petitioner’s Class-X passed certificate of 1973 issued by the Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) (Annexure-1 to the writ petition), on the 1st March of 1973 her age was 16 years 8 months and X days and as per said certificate her date of