Union Of India (Uoi) vs Ram Lochan Ram

The Union of India challenged a Central Administrative Tribunal order that quashed the compulsory retirement of an Income Tax Officer under Rule 56(j) of the Fundamental Rules. The Tribunal had held that the retirement order was invalid because the employer failed to follow government instructions dated 5.6.1978, which required offering the employee an option to revert to a lower grade. The core legal issue involves the procedural compliance of government circulars during the exercise of compulsory retirement powers.