KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday quashed the government decision turning down the request of Kerala State Transport Corporation to enhance the retirement age of its employees and officers from 56 years to 58 years.
The Board of directors of the KSRTC in its meeting held on February 23 resolved to refix the age of retirement of its employees at 58 years. The decision was taken after a long deliberation taking note of the financial position and future commitments of the KSRTC. The KSRTC forwarded the decision to the government for its consideration as per the Road Transport Corporation Act. However, the government turn down the plea on April 8.
The court directed the government to consider the issue afresh after adverting the points urged by the KSRTC and attendant circumstances. Justice V Chitambaresh passed the order while allowing a batch of petitions filed by KSRTC employees and retired employees seeking to enhance their age of retirement. ‘’It is open to the government to confer the benefit of enhancement of the retirement age retrospectively. This is because the petitioners have retired subject to the result of the petitions and many other employees would be similarly situate. The decision shall be taken within one month,” the court held.
In the request, the KSRTC had pointed out that if the age of superannuation is increased from 56 years to 58 years, the Corporation can save Rs 400 crore. The state-owned companies do not have the uniformity in age of superannuation, the KSRTC informed. The court pointed out that the retirement age of government employees is 56 only in the state and Jharkhand. The retirement age is 58 years in Tamil Nadu and 60 years in Karanataka and Andhra Pradesh. “It is time for the government to open its eyes especially in the wake of the request put in by the KSRTC. That money can be saved by declaring a retirement holiday of two years in the KSRTC is a vital point. The money so saved could be profitably utilised for the revival of the RTC is a valid reason mooted,” court observed.