Kerala   

Move to let PSC handle High Court appointments

Thiruvananthapuram: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Tuesday said that the government would consider a proposal to hand over appointment of High Court officials and other employees to the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Replying during a debate on the Kerala High Court Services (Determination of Retirement Age) Bill in the Assembly, the Minister said a detailed study was required as it was a policy issue. Recruitment of High Court officials and other staff had been carried out by the Public Service Commission till the High Court took over in 1989. The State government had not objected to it.

But, there were complaints that reservation norms were not being observed, the Minister said. Besides, the number of employees had gone up because of the practice of judges appointing their personal staff, who were later absorbed into the High Court service. At present there were 636 such employees, he said.

The Bill, which sought to replace an Ordinance, pertained to determination of retirement age of officers and servants of the High Court of Kerala on par with those in other services in the State. Explaining the context of the Bill, Mr. Balakrishnan said the Kerala Service Rules relating to compulsory retirement at the age of 55 years had been applicable to these employees till the then Chief Justice of the Kerala issued the High Court Service Rules 2007 repealing the provisions and raising the age of retirement to 58.

The High Court later upheld the new rules on the ground that the State legislature had not made any legislation as envisaged in Article 229 (2) of the constitution.

He said the State government was not contemplating raising the retirement age of its employees.

Hence, it had become necessary to determine the retirement age of officers and servants of the High Court of Kerala on par with officers and servants of other services in the State through legislation, he said. The bill was later referred to the Subject Committee.

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