Quick Summary: Bhagwandas Rathi, a retired worker, argued that he should retire at 60 instead of 58. The courts agreed with the company, which retired him at 58.
Shri Bhagwandas Rathi, who used to work at Model Mills in Nagpur, took his case to court. He thought it was unfair that he had to retire at 58 and believed he should have been able to work until 60. This case went through several levels of the court system, including the Labour Court and Industrial Court.
Bhagwandas filed a complaint under a law meant to protect workers and their rights. He said that making him retire at 58 was wrong because he thought the retirement age was 60. However, the Labour Court did not agree with him and said the company's decision was correct.
"The notice of retirement given to the complainant when he turned 58 years is, however, legal." - Labour Court
Not happy with the Labour Court's decision, Bhagwandas took his case to the Industrial Court. He claimed that as a "Mill Grade" employee, he should retire at 60. The Industrial Court also disagreed with him and said that 58 was the correct retirement age.
"Because the retirement age was changed from 60 years to 58 years, retiring the employee at 58 is definitely legal." - Industrial Court
Judge Nandesh S. Deshpande of the High Court looked over the case. The court decided that the company was allowed to set the retirement age and that they followed the rules correctly. The case was dismissed, and Bhagwandas's retirement at 58 was considered legal.
"The petition, therefore, lacks merits and hence, it is liable to be dismissed." - Judge Nandesh S. Deshpande
The courts decided that the company was within its rights to retire employees at 58. Bhagwandas's case shows how important it is to understand job contracts and company policies.
