“Compulsory Retirement under CCS Rules – Following are the consequences of a law imposed by DoPT.”
The Armed Forces,
Railways, Defence, and Deaprtment of Post are among the largest
employers under the control of the Central Government. The largest among
them, the Railways, employs more than 13 lakh employees. In all, the
Central Government employees more than 34 lakh, and has more than 38
lakh pensioners on its list.
The Centre has now
ordered the implementation of an old and forgotten law. According to
Section 56 (J) and 56 (I) or Rule 48(1) (b) of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972,
the performances of those between the ages of 50 and 55, and those who
have completed 30 years of service must be reviewed by senior officers
once every three months, vis. Jan to Mar, Apr to Jun, Jul to Sep and Oct
to Dec. All the departments have been ordered to review the
performances and implement this rule immediately. And also advised to
constitute a Review Committee consisting of two Members at appropriate
level.
Relevant orders to this
effect were issued on September 11. Senior officials and employees of
various departments are confused and terrified following the orders.
Some claim that
the government has taken this step to stifle the indefinite strike to be
held in November. The Central Government employees union and the
railway employees’ union claim that, armed with this rule, the
government can send home workers under the compulsory retirement scheme.
The order quoted, “If
conduct of a government employee becomes unbecoming to the public
interest or obstructs the efficiency in public services, the government
has an absolute right to compulsorily retire such an employee in public
interest.”
Worse hit due to the new
rule are the senior and experienced members of the staff. These
employees are already affected by denial of increments and
de-promotions. The federations claim that the Centre is treating these
experienced employees as unreliable and talentless manpower and is
hell-bent on terminating their services.
The government is
conspiring to use this law and give compulsory retirement to employees
over the age of 50/55 by branding them as unfit for work. The law also
makes it possible for the government to find faults with their work.
The move is intended to intimidate the employees into not participating in the indefinite strike in November.
