In a written reply to Lok Sabha, the government on Wednesday clarified that was no proposal to reduce the retirement age of government employees from 60 years to 58 years.
“No Sir. Presently, there is no proposal to reduce age of retirement on superannuation from 60 years to 58 years,” Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said.
The government’s clarification comes against the backdrop of earlier reports suggesting such a proposal was underway and it could partially address the problem of unemployment.
Singh said there are provisions under Fundamental Rules 56(j), Rule 48 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 and Rule 16(3) (Amended) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, according to which the government has the absolute right to retire officials prematurely, on the ground of lack of integrity or ineffectiveness, in public interest, by giving notice of not less than three months in writing or three months’ pay and allowances in lieu of such notice.
Such provisions can be applicable on a government employee if he is, in group ‘A’ or group ‘B’ service or post in a substantive, quasi-permanent or temporary capacity and had entered service before attaining the age of 35 years, and is over the age of 50 years, the minister said.
In any other case, these rules will be applicable to the employees once they attain the age of 55 years, he said.
