Tamil NaduSunday, 21 June 2026·The Hindu - Tamil Nadu
Madras High Court asks Tamil Nadu to examine 65-year retirement age for university faculty
The Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to decide on a 28 November 2025 representation seeking a 65-year retirement age for university faculty.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In June 2026, the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to consider the Tamil Nadu Federation of Universities Faculty Association’s representation dated 28.11.2025 seeking to raise the retirement age of university faculty from 60 years to 65 years.
Key specifics
- Justice P.T. Asha ordered the government to pass orders within 8 weeks from receipt of the court order.
- The Federation said the 21 State-run universities in Tamil Nadu had a sanctioned faculty strength of 9,201.
- Only 5,402 faculty members were on the rolls, leaving 3,799 teaching posts vacant.
- In the University of Madras, the sanctioned strength was 515, but only 180 positions were filled.
- The Federation cited States such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir as having adopted the 65-year retirement rule.
Exam lens
Polity and governance question: identify the court, the date of representation, and the vacancy figures; TNPSC may ask which State-run universities face faculty shortage and what retirement age was sought.