CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL ERNAKULAM BENCH Thursday this the 19^th day of February, 2026.

CORAM:

HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE K. HARIPAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON'BLE Mr. BRAJ MOHAN AGRAWAL, ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao, S/o G. Subba Rao, aged 59 years, Professor, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Naval Academy P.О., Kannur District, Pin: 670 310, residing at: Quarter No.639, Type-V Officers Residential Area, Indian Naval Academy, Kannur District,Pin: 670 310. - Applicant [By Advocates : Mr. T.C. Govindaswamy, Mrs. Kala T. Gopi, Mr.

Kailesh T. Gopi, Ms. Mamatha S. Anilkumar & Mr. Rahul R.]

V e r s u s

1. Union of India represented by the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110 011.

2. The Chief of Naval Staff, Directorate of Civilian Personnel, Naval Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, Room No.14, West Wing, Nau Sena Bhavan, Delhi cantonment, New Delhi 110 010.

3. Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Naval Base, Kochi-682 004. 4. Commandant, Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala, Naval Academy P.O., Kannur District Pin: 670 310.

5. The Principal, Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala, Naval Academy P.O., Kannur District Pin: 670 310.

6. The Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasanth Kunj, New Delhi-110 070.

7. The Registrar, (Ex-parte)

Jawaharlal Nehru University, Vasanth Kunj, New Delhi - 110 067.

8. The Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003. - Respondents [By Advocates: Mr. M.N. Manmadan, SCGSC for R-1 to 5 & R-8, Mr.

V. Sajith Kumar, for R-6 ]

The Original Application having been heard on 09.02.2026 and

10.02.2026, the Tribunal on 19.02.2026 delivered the following:

O R D E R

Per: Mr. Braj Mohan Agrawal, Administrative Member The applicant was working as a Professor in Mechanical Engineering in the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kannur District, under the Southern Naval Command. In this application the grievance of the applicant relates to refusal on the part of the respondents to increase the age of retirement of the applicant to 65 years as mandatorily provided for under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Regulations, 2019. The applicant submits that going by the AICTE Regulations 2019 which is statutory in character, and having the force of law, it is incumbent upon the respondents to enhance the age of superannuation of the teaching faculty of the Indian Naval Academy including the applicant from

60 to 65 years with all the consequential benefits arising therefrom.

2. The applicant submits that the Indian Naval Academy, is a technical institution running technical educational programme, with the approval of the AICTE. The Engineering Courses of the Indian Naval Academy is also approved by the AICTE and the Indian Naval Academy is affiliated to the Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi. The applicant was selected as an Associate Professor and appointed in the Indian Naval Academy on 08.10.2010. The applicant was later promoted as a Professor w.e.f. 26.06.2019. The applicant submits that the pay scales, service conditions and minimum qualification for appointment of Teachers and other academic staff in Technical Institutions are governed by the regulations issued by the All India Council for Technical Education in exercise of its powers under sub section 1 of Sec.23 read with Sec.10(g), (h) and (I) of All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987 and after approval of the Government of India.

AICTE Regulations 2019, clause 1.2 (Annexure-A3) reads as follows:

"1.2 Categories of Institutions to whom the regulations apply These shall apply to all degree level technical institutions and universities including deemed to be universities imparting technical education and such other courses/programs approved by AICTE and areas as notified by the council from time to time. “

AICTE Regulations 2019, clause 2.12 (Annexure-A3) reads as follows:

“2.12 Age of