JUDGMENT

1. Through the medium of the present appeal, the appellant-defendant has challenged the judgment and decree dated 29.01.2025 passed by the learned 1st Additional District Judge, Srinagar (hereinafter “the trial court”), whereby the suit filed by the contesting respondents-plaintiffs has been decreed by the trial court in their favour and against the appellant-defendant while exercising its jurisdiction under Order XII Rule 6 read with Order VIII Rules 3, 4 and 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

2. It appears that the contesting respondents-plaintiffs filed a suit against the appellant-defendant before the trial court seeking a declaration that Communication Nos. VB/CJ/AC/327-31/MC dated 06.07.2021 and VB/CJ/AC/333-35/MC dated 14.07.2021, whereby the services of the contesting respondents-plaintiffs were terminated upon their attaining the age of 60 years and their salaries were withheld with effect from June, 2021, are illegal and unsustainable in law.

3. As per the case of the contesting respondents-plaintiffs, they were engaged as Lecturers on contractual basis by the defendant-college in the year 1993 and their services were subsequently regularized in the year 2001. Acc