Srinagar, Sept. 29 -- Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has upheld the premature retirement of a government employee, observing that compulsory retirement does not amount to punishment and does not imply misconduct or incapacity.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Sanjeev Kumar allowed an appeal filed by the Government against the judgment of a Single Bench that had quashed the premature retirement of GM Lone and directed his reinstatement.

The case concerned Government Order No. 1264-GAD of 2016 dated November 21, 2016, under which Lone, after around 38 years of service and on attaining the age of 58 years, was prematurely retired under Article 226(2) of the J&K Civil Services Regul...