The Centre has set up a three-member panel to examine Panjab University’s proposal to raise the retirement age of its teachers from 60 to 65 years. An information in this regard was furnished before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday during the hearing of a case on enhancing varsity teachers’ age to 65.As the matter came up for hearing before the Division Bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor, Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain informed the court that an order to this effect was issued by the Union Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, on February 25. The committee would be headed by UGC’s former chairman M Jagadesh Kumar. The other members are Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh and Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig.The Panjab University Senate had earlier resolved to amend the age from 60 to 65. The constitution of the committee indicates that the Centre has formally entered the decision phase on Panjab University’s long-pending proposal. While the formation of the panel does not amount to approval, it places the question of enhancing the retirement age squarely within an evaluative framework, suggesting that a reasoned resolution — whether in favour, conditional or otherwise — is now institutionally in motion. The question of superannuation would now not be viewed in isolation but tested against statutory provisions, fiscal viability and the larger matrix of institutional parity.Under its terms of reference, the panel has been tasked to “examine and analyse the varsity’s proposal for enhancement of superannuation age of its teachers from 60 years to 65 years, “in the context of the legal and statutory framework governing the University”.The committee would also assess the “implications and possible repercussions” of the move “particularly in view of the inter-State character of Panjab University”. The financial dimension of the matter would also be taken into consideration. The panel would “examine the financial implications of the proposal on the university, including its financial sustainability, long-term fiscal impact, and the effect on faculty recruitment and promotional avenues”.The committee would also analyse the proposal in light of the Centre’s 2007 decision enhancing the retirement age of teachers in centrally funded higher and technical institutions from 62 to 65 years. It would also assess the relevance of the Chandigarh Administration’s 2022 decision adopting Central Service Rules, under which the retirement age of teachers in government colleges affiliated to Panjab University was raised from 58 to 65 years.The panel would further examine parity vis-à-vis Punjab government institutions, institutions under the Chandigarh Administration, and centrally funded universities and institutions. The committee has also been authorized to devise its own methodology and processes.