Authority: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction

Order Date: 04 August 2026

Case Overview

  • Appellants: Bhanwar Lal Duggar Ayurved Vishwa Bharti (institution) filed Civil Appeal No.11743/2024 against the State of Rajasthan & others, and Civil Appeal No.11744/2024 against Dr. Ramanand Jha & others.
  • The matters stem from earlier proceedings: D.B. Civil Special Appeal (Writ) No.278 of 2010 and No.415 of 2014, both disposed by a Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur on 17 August 2016. Special leave was granted by this Court on 15 October 2024.
  • The core dispute concerned the retirement age of employees of the institution. From the academic year 2010‑11, the institution was governed by the statutes of Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, which set retirement age at 60 years. The institution argued it was instead governed by the Rajasthan Ayurvedic Donation Assistance Rules, 1972, which prescribe a retirement age of 58 years. The High Court rejected this submission.
  • The Court noted that the institution had earlier opted out of the 1972 Rules and was therefore subject to the University statutes. Additionally, the institution did not challenge the judgment and order dated 14 October 2008 passed by the Single Judge of the Rajasthan High Court in the original writ petition; only the State of Rajasthan filed an intra‑court appeal against that judgment.
  • Because the institution did not appeal the Single Judge’s order, the Supreme Court deemed the institution to have accepted that order. Consequently, the present civil appeals filed by the institution are considered untenable.
  • The record of proceedings also lists several interlocutory applications (I.A. No.132145/2021, I.A. No.42881/2022, I.A. No.42880/2022, I.A. No.132045/2021) and the counsel appearing for both sides, including senior advocates and AORs.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court dismissed both Civil Appeal No.11743/2024 and Civil Appeal No.11744/2024.
  • No costs were awarded to either party.
  • The order of the Single Judge dated 14 October 2008 shall be implemented by the appellant‑institution, if not already done, within four weeks of this order.
  • Any pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.

Topics: Retirement Age Dispute, Ayurvedic Institution Governance