The Supreme Court today upheld a High Court verdict that directed the authorities concerned to place before the cabinet a proposal in 60 days to increase the retirement age of freedom fighters in public service to 65 years from 57 years.

The apex court, however, said the government can take any decision regarding the raising the retirement age of freedom fighters.   

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after hearing an appeal filed by the government challenging the HC verdict.

Following a writ petition, the HC on January 14 this year ordered the secretaries to the ministries of public administration, liberation war affairs and law to place before the cabinet the proposal in 60 days for increasing the retirement age of freedom fighters to 65 years from 57 years.

Petitioners' counsel Azahar Ullah Bhuiyan told The Daily Star that the prime minister's office in July 2006 issued a proposal to increase the retirement age of freedom fighters to 65 years following their demand.

As the proposal was not placed before the cabinet for its approval, freedom fighter Jamaluddin Sikder moved the writ petition before the HC seeking a directive on the secretaries to place the proposal before the cabinet for its approval, he said, adding that later on 680 more freedom fighters became party to the petition.