CM says no change in Govt stand on retirement age

Wednesday, March 21, 2012: The Kerala government has no plans to relook into its decision of fixing 56-years as retirement age of its employees, but was ready to consider any suggestions to address grievances of the youth, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Wednesday.
Chandy also rejected the CPM led opposition’s charge that the government has imposed a ban on recruitment and said more than 29,000 job advice notices had been sent through Public Service Commission till February after the UDF came to power in May last.
Besides, the government regularised 3,840 temporary appointments in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation and through a package for teachers more than 15,000 posts were confirmed, the Chief Minister told the Assembly.
The government had only corrected the mistakes of previous LDF rule which unified the retirement date of government staff to March 31 by withdrawing the order in this effect and fixed 56 years as retirement age, Chandy said.
T V Rajesh (CPM) alleged that real intention of the government was to downsize the staff strength.
Job chances of hundreds of youths who were in the rank list of Public Service Commission would be lost following the government decision, he said and wanted the government to drop the move to fix retirement age at 56 from 55.
The decision to raise the retirement age was announced by Finance Minister K M Mani in his budget for the year 2012-13 presented in the assembly on March 19.
CPM led LDF opposition members had protested the move on that day by sitting on the well of the House. The youth outfits of LDF coalition had also come out against the government decision terming it as ‘betrayal of youth’ by UDF government.