THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: PSC rankholders whose names figure in various examinations including Secretariat assistant posts are a worried lot following the government’s decision to increase the pension age from 55 to 56 years.
In spite of the government’s claim that raising the pension age would not be detrimental to their interests and supernumerary posts would be created, the rankholders point out that now they have to wait for two more years to get a chance as most of the vacancies have already been reported and supernumerary postings had been made in this regard. As the retirement age limit has been raised to 56 years, the posts would be vacant only after March 31, 2013.
In a memorandum to be submitted to the Chief Minister, the Secretariat Assistants rankholders pointed out that the rankholders of Assistants ranklists (Secretariat/PSC/Local Fund Audit/AGs Office/Legislature Secretariat) which expire on March 14, 2013, will be facing a virtual recruitment ban from April 1, 2012, to March 15, 2013, as there will be no appointment possible to these posts.
As per the circulars of General and Administration Department (GAD) issued on 18/6/2011, 3/08/2011, 17/08/11, 16/09/11, and 21/10/2011, in view of the unification of the retirement date the government had already created supernumerary posts.
Secretariat Assistant Rankholders secretary Ajeesh A J told Express that the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had said that over 13,000 supernumerary posts were created and over 10,000 postings were made from existing lists. Now there are over 2000 vacancies remaining to be filled.
In the Chief Minister’s own department GAD and the Finance Department, no postings could be made in the next one year, he pointed out. As supernumerary posts have already been created from April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012, no recruitment could be made to these posts again.
The validity of over 550 PSC ranklists will expire by March 31, 2013. The association requested the Chief Minister to extend the validity of all PSC lists that will expire from May 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, by one year to avoid a virtual ban on appointment.
The GAD has reported 61 vacancies on December 12, 2011. The Finance Department reported 10 vacancies on November 19, 2011, KPSC reported 27 vacancies on October 15, 2011, AG’s department reported 6 vacancies on September 30. Teachers are already enjoying the benefit of pension age unification as they will be retire on March 31 every year.
With the raising of the pension age, the teachers will get their service extended to almost 57 years.
HSA rankholders have also raised apprehensions about the raising of the pension age as they have to wait for two years for a vacancy.