28.04.2026 17:03
Although the appeal court rejected the lawsuit regarding the failure to grant a flat-rate increase to retired civil servants, the Constitutional Court process has begun with a finding that it violates the principle of equality; it is stated that the decision could affect 14.4 million retirees.
A notable development occurred in the lawsuit filed for the application of the across-the-board raise given to civil servants in 2023 to retired civil servants. An evaluation from the Ankara Regional Administrative Court has moved the process to the Constitutional Court.
“CONTRARY TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY” ASSESSMENT
In the lawsuit filed by Retired Supreme Court Member Seyfettin Çilesiz, Füsun Erkin, the President of the 11th Administrative Case Department of the Ankara Regional Administrative Court, stated that not granting the across-the-board raise given to civil servants to retired civil servants violates the principle of equality under the Constitution. Erkin expressed that the matter should ultimately be evaluated by the Constitutional Court.
DEMAND FOR 22 THOUSAND LIRAS
Çilesiz, who filed the lawsuit, demands that the across-the-board raise of 8,077 liras given to civil servants in 2023 be reflected to retired civil servants as approximately 22,157 liras based on the coefficient calculation.
COURT REJECTION, BUT DISSENTING OPINION ATTRACTS ATTENTION
The appellate court rejected the lawsuit by a vote of 2 to 1. However, court president Erkin, in her dissenting opinion, emphasized that not providing the across-the-board raise to retired civil servants violates both the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and argued that the file should be sent to the Constitutional Court.
“UNREASONED REJECTION” CLAIM
Çilesiz’s lawyer Ali Erdem Gündoğan stated that there is no concrete justification in the rejection decision, meaning this constitutes a violation of the right to a fair trial. Gündoğan announced that they would file an individual application to the Constitutional Court for this reason.
COULD BE A PRECEDENT FOR 14.4 MILLION PEOPLE
All eyes are now on the decision to be made by the Constitutional Court. If the Constitutional Court finds the raise contrary to the Constitution, it will pave the way for approximately 2 million 558 thousand retired civil servants to receive additional payments of around 22 thousand liras. It is also noted that this decision could serve as a precedent for 14 million 485 thousand retired workers, tradesmen, and farmers within the scope of the equality principle.