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\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 {\*\bkmkstart State_v_PSC_exparte_Anuradha_Charan}
STATE v PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION }{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 ex parte Anuradha Charan
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 {\*\bkmkend State_v_PSC_exparte_Anuradha_Charan}
\par High Court Judicial Review Jurisdiction 
\par 25 January, 20 June, 23 June, 2001\tab \tab \tab \tab HBJ 0031/00S
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 \fs24\lang3081\langfe3081\cgrid\langnp3081\langfenp3081 {\i\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Public service - r
etirement age - review of various legislative instruments in respect of the retirement age - whether a person having already retired prior to the commencement of amending regulations 
 increasing the retirement age from 55 to 60 can seek relief under the amending regulations \endash  1997 Constitution  s147(1), 194(5); 1990 Constitution ss9(1) & (2), 127(1), 154; Public Service Decree 1990 s9; Pensions (Amendment) Decree 1989; 
Fiji Public Service Decree 1988  ss 6(1), 18(1);}{\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  }{\i\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Pensions (Amendment) (No. 1) Decree of 1988; Fiji  Service Commissions and Public Service (Amendment) Decree 1987 s23; 
Fiji Service Commissions and Public Service Decree 1987 ss8(1), 27(2) and 28; Pensions Act 1983 s48; Pensions Act 1958 s9(1)(a); Public Service (General)(Amendment) Regulations 2001- LN 54/01; Public Service Regulations 1999 reg 14(1); Public Service 
Constitution Regulations 1990 regs 4, 28; Public Service  Regulations 1987 reg 27; General Order 223
\par }{\b\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }{\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 The Public Service Regulations 1999 (LN 49/99) reg 14(1) specified an employee m
ust be retired from the public service on reaching age 55 years, unless the Constitution or any other written law specifies a different age in respect of any employee. The Public Service (General)(Amendment) Regulations 2001 (LN 54/01
) reg 2(a) substituted 60 for 55 (years). The }{\caps\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 a}{\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 pplicant, who was compulsorily retired, challenged the retiring age of public servant at 55 years.  The }{
\caps\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 a}{\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 pplicant claimed she could not be forced to retire at age 55, and was entitled to work to age 60 years as the retiring age was never made retrospective. 
The Respondent refused her request to remain, citing her administrative skills gave her no special circumstances under General Order 223 to fulfil human resource needs. The }{\caps\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 a}{\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
pplicant submitted that the Pensions Act 1958 applied t
o her, being the Act in place when she commenced work, the retirement age being 60. The Court examined the chronology of provisions prescribing retiring age in the various pensions laws and found that the compulsory retirement age is 55 subject to any spe
cial circumstances which gave the Commission the power to extend the age to 60. 
\par 
\par }{\b\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Held \endash }{\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  the right to retire at 60 and any benefits only accrues to or is only acquired by a person who has actually turned 60 before the date of commencement of the Pensions (A
mendment) (No. 1) Decree of 1988, and Pensions (Amendment) Decree of 1989 amendments to the Pensions Act 1983.  The }{\caps\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 a}{\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
pplicant is not governed by the amendment reverting the retirement age to 55 as she did not retire before 10 October 1970. This is made clear by section 48 of the 1983 Pensions Act and also of 
the 1990 ss9(1) & (2), 127(1), 154 and 1997 Constitutions ss147(1), 194(5). The }{\caps\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 a}{\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 pplicant could also not take advantage of Public Service (General)(Amendment) Regulations 2001 
(LN 54/01) which only applies to the members of service at its commencement date of 25 May 2001.
\par }{\b\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6317915 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 [Note: on appeal to the Court of Appeal
, Provisions of 1990 Constitution in force in 1997 Constitution protects pension rights accrued but not retirement age, thus could not assist the Appellant\rquote s argument of entitlement to work to age 60: per Gallen, Smellie, Ellis, JJA in}{
\fs24\cgrid0\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  [2003] ABU0060/01S 16 May 2003]
\par }\pard\plain \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 \fs24\lang3081\langfe3081\cgrid\langnp3081\langfenp3081 {\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par No cases referred to in Judgment 
\par }{\b\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\i\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Ganga P. Shankar and Raman Singh for the Applicant 

\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sa15\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\i\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Sharvada Sharma }{\i\fs24\cf1\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 for the Respondent
}{\i\fs24\cf1\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard\plain \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 \fs24\lang3081\langfe3081\cgrid\langnp3081\langfenp3081 {\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 23 June, 2001\tab \tab \tab }{
\b\caps\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 judgment }{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Byrne, J
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 The question raised by this application for Judicial Review, leave for which I granted on the 25}{
\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  of January 2001, is whether a person who joined the Public Service when the retirement age was 60 is entitled to remain i
n the service until that age despite the fact that the retirement age was subsequently changed to 55.  The facts are relatively simple and are not in dispute but the law applicable to those facts has been the subject of lengthy submissions to the Court by
 the parties.
\par 
\par The Applicant turned 55 years of age on 26}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  January 2001.  On the 28}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
 of September 2000 the Public Service Commission made a decision requiring her to proceed on pre-retirement leave from 18}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
 October 2000 and rejected her request to remain in the service for the following 18 months.  The Applicant had submitted that she did not turn 60 years until 26}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
 January 2006 and that consequently, having been appointed when the retiring age was 60 years, she was entitled to enjoy the privileges and benefits of being promoted on appeal on 28}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{
\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  September 2000 to the post of Principal Administrative Officer. 
\par 
\par The Applicant joined the Public Service as a Clerical Officer Class II on 31}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 st}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  October 1967 and since then has held various responsible positions 
until her promotion to Principal Administrative Officer on the 28}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
 of September 2000.  She concedes that although the retiring age was subsequently changed by Decree and {\*\bkmkstart reg28_PSC_Reg_1990_State_v_PSC_expCharan}Regulation 28 {\*\bkmkend reg28_PSC_Reg_1990_State_v_PSC_expCharan}
of the Public Service Commission Regulations 1990, and the General Orders 1993 that retiring age was never made retrospective and that consequently her previous Contract of Employment remained intact, thus allowing h
er to remain in the service until she turns 60.  
\par 
\par The Respondent (herein \'93the Commission\'94) refused her request.  It said that proceeding on pre-retirement leave when due is a policy matter applicable to all officers in the service and is covered by the Public Service Regulations 1999 
{\*\bkmkstart s14_PSC_Reg_1999_State_v_PSC_expCharan}Section 14(1).  {\*\bkmkend s14_PSC_Reg_1999_State_v_PSC_expCharan}It rejected her claim that hers were \'93special circumstances\'94 under {\*\bkmkstart Gen_Order_223_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
General Order 223 {\*\bkmkend Gen_Order_223_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
which it said gave the Commission a discretion in special circumstances to extend the retiring age of an officer to 60 but had always been applied to manpower needs in the specialised and critical sectors.  It said that an administra
tive cadre position was not regarded as a scarce skill in the service and that even officers in critical sectors such as doctors, nurses and educationists had been asked to proceed on pre-retirement leave when due and, subject to requests from the relevan
t ministries or departments, retirees were some times later given temporary or contract employment to service the government\rquote 
s manpower needs.   The criterion was the needs of the Service.  It further stated that the question of the possible retrospective e
ffect of the legislation reducing the retiring age would only arise in relation to those people who had already retired before the change in the retirement age.  For those officers, the retirement age continues to be 60 and there cannot be any retrospecti
ve effect for these officers.
\par 
\par It further stated and later contended in this Court that for all employees who were in the Public Service in 1987 when the retirement age was reduced, the new retirement age applies.  There can be no issue of retrospectivity f
or employees who had not retired when the retirement age was reduced in 1987.
\par 
\par The Commission informed the Applicant that the purpose of its policy on pre-retirement leave is to ensure that officers do not unnecessarily accumulate leave before retirement a
s all leave pending on the retirement age is to be compensated.  The rationale behind this policy is said to be to avoid spending public funds in compensating an officer for leave when leave should have been taken up prior to retirement.
\par 
\par In addition to the rights which she claims under the Public Service Regulations and General Orders the Applicant also argues that as she was first appointed in 1967 the {\*\bkmkstart Pensions_Act_1958_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}Pensions Act 1958 
{\*\bkmkend Pensions_Act_1958_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}applies to her.  Under that Act the retirement age was 60 years.
\par 
\par }{\b\fs24\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 RELEVANT LEGISLATION}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par It is convenient to deal first with the Applicant\rquote s claim to be covered by the Pensions Act.  She argues that {\*\bkmkstart Pensions_9_1_1958_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}Section 9(1)(a) {\*\bkmkend Pensions_9_1_1958_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
of that Act was never amended.  That submission is simply not correct.  The {\*\bkmkstart Pension_D_1989_s9_State_v_PSC_expCharan}Pensions (Amendment) Decree 1989 {\*\bkmkend Pension_D_1989_s9_State_v_PSC_expCharan}clearly provides that the retirement a
ge in the Public Service from the 1}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 st}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  of May 1988 was to be 55 years.  I accept the submission of the Respondent
 here that this amendment was not made retrospective before 1}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 st}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  May 1988 because it was not intended to apply to public servants who had already
 retired.  The amendment only applied to public servants who had not retired and were in the Public Service on the 1}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 st}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  of May 1988.
\par 
\par The relevant statutes and laws governing retirement age in the Public Service are as follows:
\par }{\fs24\insrsid6317915\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard\plain \s18\qj \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx-1440\faauto\outlinelevel0\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 \f29\fs24\lang1033\langfe3081\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp3081 {\f0\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (i) }{\f0\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
{\*\bkmkstart FSCPSD_8_1_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}Fiji Service Commissions and Public Service Decree 1987{\*\bkmkend FSCPSD_8_1_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}.}{\f0\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard\plain \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 By Section 8(1), 
{\*\bkmkstart FSCPSD_27_2_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}27(2) {\*\bkmkend FSCPSD_27_2_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}and {\*\bkmkstart FSCPSD_28_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}28{\*\bkmkend FSCPSD_28_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
 the Public Service Commission was given the power to remove and to require a public officer to retire from the public service.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (ii) }{\fs24\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
Fiji  Service Commissions and Public Service (Amendment) Decree 1987.}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Section {\*\bkmkstart FSCP_Amdt_D_23_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}23{\*\bkmkend FSCP_Amdt_D_23_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
 of this Decree contained a Public Service Order which repealed the Public Service Act 1974.  In the schedule to this amendment are the Public Service Regulations 1987, under {\*\bkmkstart Public_Service_r27_State_v_PSC_expCharan}Regulation 27 
{\*\bkmkend Public_Service_r27_State_v_PSC_expCharan}of which the Commission prescribed the compulsory retirement age of 55 years.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (iii) }{\fs24\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Fiji Public Service Decree 1988.}{
\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par This Decree repealed the Fiji Service Commission and Public Service Decree 1987 and the amendment.  {\*\bkmkstart FPS_D_s6_1_State_v_PSC_expCharan}Section 6(1) {\*\bkmkend FPS_D_s6_1_State_v_PSC_expCharan}
of this Decree gave the Public Service Commission the power to appoint or remove a person.  {\*\bkmkstart FPS_D_s18_1_State_v_PSC_expCharan}Section 18(1) {\*\bkmkend FPS_D_s18_1_State_v_PSC_expCharan}
stated that the power to remove also included a power to require a person to retire.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (iv) }{\fs24\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
Pensions (Amendment) (No. 1) Decree of 1988, and Pensions (Amendment) Decree of 1989.}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Under these Decrees {\*\bkmkstart Pension_D_1988_s9_State_v_PSC_expCharan}Section 9 
{\*\bkmkend Pension_D_1988_s9_State_v_PSC_expCharan}and other sections of the Pensions Act 1983 were amended to reduce the retirement age to 55 years and the voluntary retirement age of 50 years.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 The objects and reasons for the amendment w
ere stated to be to lower the compulsory retiring age of civil servants from 60 years to 55, so as to bring about consistencies between the provisions of the Pensions Act 1983 and the Public Service Commission Decree of 1987.  The Minister in 
charge of the implementation of the decree was the then Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr. S.W. Kepa, now the Hon. Mr. Justice Kepa.  The amendment applied to all public servants who were in the service on the 1}{
\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 st}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  of May 1988 which was the commencement date of both amendments.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (v) }{\fs24\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
Section 9 of the Constitution of the Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji (Promulgation) Decree 1990.}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 {\*\bkmkstart s9_1_1990_Const_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}Section 9(1) 
{\*\bkmkend s9_1_1990_Const_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}of this Decree provided that where a 
person was required under existing law to vacate an office upon reaching a certain age he or she was required to vacate the office upon the attainment of that age.  Sub-section {\*\bkmkstart s9_2_1990_Const_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}(2) 
{\*\bkmkend s9_2_1990_Const_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
significantly stated that this was without prejudice to the power of any person or authority to make provision for the removal of any person from office, by which I am of the opinion also meant to prescribe a retirement age.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (vi) Section {\*\bkmkstart s127_1_1990_Const_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}127(1) 
{\*\bkmkend s127_1_1990_Const_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}and Section {\*\bkmkstart s154_1990_Const_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}154 {\*\bkmkend s154_1990_Const_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
of the 1990 Constitution further empowered the Commission to prescribe the compulsory retiring age for all public servants in the employ of the Commission.  The 1990 Constitution repealed the Fiji Service Commission Decree 1988.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (vii) }{\fs24\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Public Service Decree 1990.}{
\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 {\*\bkmkstart PS_D_s9_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}Section 9{\*\bkmkend PS_D_s9_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan} of this Decre
e allows the Commission to make Regulations for the purpose of carrying out its functions.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (viii) }{\fs24\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Public Service Commission Constitution Regulations 1990.}
{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 {\*\bkmkstart PSC_Const_Reg_r4_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}Regulation 4 
{\*\bkmkend PSC_Const_Reg_r4_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}of these Regulations makes it clear that they apply to all officers unless the context otherwise requires.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\expnd0\expndtw-4\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 {\*\bkmkstart PSC_Const_Reg_r28_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}Regulation 28 
{\*\bkmkend PSC_Const_Reg_r28_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}further specifies that the compulsory retirement age is 55 years.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (ix) The Constitution (Amendment) Act 1997 {\*\bkmkstart Const_s147_1_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
Section 147(1) {\*\bkmkend Const_s147_1_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}and {\*\bkmkstart Const_s194_5_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}194(5) {\*\bkmkend Const_s194_5_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}
further empowered the Commission to make regulations prescribing compulsory retirement.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri0\widctlpar\tx-1440\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 (x) {\*\bkmkstart PS_Reg_1999_r14_1_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}Regulation 14(1) 
{\*\bkmkend PS_Reg_1999_r14_1_State_v_PSC_exp_Charan}of the Public Service Regulations 1999 once more reiterated that the compulsory retirement age is 55 years.
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par In my judgment this chronology of the relevant law puts it beyond any doubt that the compulsory retirement age in the Public Service as far as the Applicant was concerned was 55 subject to an
y special circumstances which gave the Commission the power to extend that age to 60.
\par 
\par In my judgment the right to retire at 60 only accrues to or is only acquired by a person who has actually turned 60 at the date of commencement of the amendment.  In my view this is made clear by {\*\bkmkstart Pensions_1983_s48_State_v_PSC_expCharan}
Section 48 {\*\bkmkend Pensions_1983_s48_State_v_PSC_expCharan}of the 1983 Pensions Act and also the provisions of the 1990 and 1997 Constitutions which I have mentioned above.  In my judgment therefore any pension benefits granted to any person before 10
}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
 October 1970 must have been granted by the law in force at the date on which those benefits were granted.  It follows that the Applicant is not governed by this provision as in my view she is deemed to
 have retired at the time when the retirement age was 55 years and she did not retire before 1970.  Thus in my view she cannot argue that the rights to receive Pension benefits and to retire at 60 had already been acquired by her.
\par 
\par There is also a contractual factor relevant to this application.  The Applicant\rquote s letter of appointment specifically provides that:}{\fs24\insrsid15481357 
\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri526\widctlpar\tx6919\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin526\lin0\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qj \li720\ri526\widctlpar\tx6919\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin526\lin720\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 \'93
You would be subject to the provisions of General Orders, Financial and Stores Regulations and Departmental Instructions now in force }{\fs24\ul\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 or as from time to time amended}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 .\'94

\par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par The Applicant has also argued that she should first proceed on pre-retirement leave as she has leave to her credit.  I consider this argument somewhat strange in that this is the very suggestion the Respondent
 made to the Applicant but which she rejected.  As I am of the opinion that the retirement age for the Applicant is 55 years then the Applicant is entitled to payment in lieu for all benefits and entitlements due to her at the date she attained 55 years.

\par 
\par The Respondent has stated throughout that as the Applicant was not able to take all her leave before she turned 55 the Respondent is ready to pay her immediately a sum in lieu of such leave.
\par 
\par By Legal Notice No. 54 of the 17}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915  of May 2001 the {\*\bkmkstart PS_Gen_Regs_2001_State_v_PSC_expCharan}Public Service (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2001
{\*\bkmkend PS_Gen_Regs_2001_State_v_PSC_expCharan} were made and gazetted on the 25}{\fs24\super\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 th}{\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
 of May 2001.  The amendment restores the original retirement age of 60 but as it was made well after the previous amendment it cannot apply to the Applicant but only to members of the service at its commencement date.
\par 
\par For these reasons I dismiss the application for Judicial Review.  The Respondent has asked for costs in the event of it being successful but in the exercise of my discretion I decline to make any such order.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\b\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15481357 {\i\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Application for judicial review refused.
\par 
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6317915 {\fs24\insrsid15481357\charrsid6317915 Marie Chan\sect }\sectd 
\pgwsxn12240\pghsxn15840\marglsxn1800\margrsxn1800\margtsxn1440\margbsxn1440\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj \pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 
\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid1972231\charrsid6317915 
\par }}