Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Retirement age: State bracing for transition

Thiruvananthapuram:

It took the State government just an order to bring the unification of employees’ retirement date into effect nine months ago, but heads of government departments are now grappling with administrative roadblocks to handle the cumulative vacancies that would arise by March 31 and ensure a smooth transition.

The unification order was issued on April 24, as a follow up of the Finance Minister’s statement in his budget speech. This was followed by orders related to creation of supernumerary posts against retirement vacancies, the methodology of deploying those appointed to supernumerary posts and absorption to the State service after April 1. The government had issued orders for creation of supernumerary posts to mollify protesting youth organisations. It was estimated at that time that around 25,000 persons could be appointed to the supernumerary posts.

However, not much of appointments have been made to supernumerary posts because of the inability of heads of departments to estimate the number of retirement vacancies that would come up for the entire year. Earlier, retirement vacancies used to come up occasionally during the course of a financial year and recruitment used to take place accordingly. With the unification of retirement date, the vacancies would now cumulatively arise only on April 1.

In September, the State government issued directions to department heads and appointing authorities concerned to desist from creating supernumerary posts in a piecemeal manner because it affected the planning of recruitment by the Kerala Public Service Commission and caused delay in prompt reporting of vacancies. The department heads and appointing authorities concerned were asked to assess the vacancies that would have arisen during the current financial year in view of the unification of retirement date and create that number of posts at the entry level and report the vacancies to the PSC.

Apart from appointments to the supernumerary posts at the entry level, the State government would have to complete the process of promoting staff members to the cumulative vacancies that would arise on March 31. This would mean that the Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) would have to hold extended meetings to finalise the select list of promotions on time. According to some senior officials, the issue is complicated because there is no uniformity in the preparation of select lists. Some departments prepare the select list for estimated vacancies while others prepare the list after the vacancy arises.

Official sources said the promotion chances of a large number of employees would be affected in view of the cumulative vacancies that would arise on April 1, especially in departments following the practice of preparing promotion list after the vacancy arises. The senior officials pointed out that if the DPCs fail to finalise the select list on time, it would adversely affect the smooth functioning of offices. Anticipating this problem, the government has asked all department heads to convene their respective promotion committees and prepare the select lists on the basis of estimated vacancies, instead of waiting till the vacancies arise.

Another issue is related to transfers and postings of employees. Earlier, transfers and postings used to be made once a year in the month of May, with applications being called for in February.

To ensure a smooth changeover, the government has amended the relevant rules, making the month of March the period for transfers and postings. For this year, January 31 would be the last date for submitting transfer application so that the transfers could be brought into effect by April 1.

Over and above these administrative problems, the Finance Minister would have to prepare for a huge outflow of funds, estimated to be Rs.2,000 crore, to meet the mandatory payment of retirement benefits. The Minister, who has already hinted at the impending financial crunch, would have a tough time managing his budget for 2010-11 in view of this, the sources said.

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