Odisha Govt Issues New Guidelines For Engagement Of Retired Employees; Check Details

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday issued comprehensive guidelines for engagement of retired employees on a temporary basis.

As per a resolution issued by the General Administration & Public Grievance department, the government resolution of 2014 for re-engagement of retired government employees on temporary basis has been repealed.

With a focus on filling up of vacant posts and promotion of employees, the government has now decided to constitute a selection committee headed by the Chief Secretary to decide on re-engagement of retired persons on temporary basis. Selection for the purpose will be done through open advertisement.

Only when it is essential, up to the age of 65 years can be considered for re-engagement with the approval of the Chief Minister.

As per the guidelines, officers having ‘outstanding’ CCR/PAR for continuous 60 months before superannuation can only be considered for re-engagement temporarily after retirement.

Notably, during 2010 -2014, government establishments had been facing acute shortage of manpower on account of delayed recruitment for various unavoidable reasons resulting inordinate workload on the remaining staff. To obviate such situation, the government in August, 2014 had decided to re-engage retired employees having professional expertise temporarily on contractual basis for different spells with certain terms and conditions.

In the meanwhile, it has come to the notice that different Departments/Offices are engaging retired government employees in a routine manner without proper justification and merely to deal with the day-to-day routine works. Often such reengagements are done despite there being no compelling justification for such engagement.

In fact, re-engagement of retired employees has become a rule rather than an exception. This was not the objective for which the relaxations had been permitted. such engagements are being made contractually for different spells with different remuneration and different terms and conditions.

Over the years with improved financial situation, relaxation in recruitment by Finance Department, strengthening and streamlining of recruitment processes along with rationalisation of examinations, the situation has improved substantially.

After careful consideration of the above situation, and with a view to ensure a uniform principle, government has decided to repeal the resolution of 2014 and has prescribed that if vacancies arise for dealing the routine works, the said vacancies shall not be filled up by way of re-engagement of retired employees.

Instead, the Department/Office concerned shall take suitable measures to fill up the said vacancies through direct/promotional recruitment as the case may be.

Before taking steps for re-engagement of retired Government employees, the Department/offices shall assess the proposal in the above light and ensure that if the past experience of the concerned retired Government employee is highly required for the Government/office, then only his/her case shall be considered for re-engagement on contract basis subject to the terms conditions as prescribed in the resolution.