Retirement age of lecturers’ in state run colleges may increase 19 Jul 2012

The Centre is likely to clear the proposal of allowing states to decide the retirement age (Maximum 65 years) of lecturers in state run colleges and universities. Earlier, the UPA government was insistent that states should enhance the lecturers' retirement to 65 years to enable them to get 80% of the arrears burden of state governments.

The arrears — at least Rs 9,000 crore —went up since the Centre had asked the states in 2008 to follow the Sixth Pay Commission scales that centrally- funded institutes introduced in the same year, with retrospective effect from January 1, 2006.

The Central government has committed to bear 80% of the increased arrears for the first four-year period — between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2010 — if states followed its order. Now, the government plans to foot this sum only in the form of reimbursements in "two-three" installments. This is likely to benefit around four lakh teachers across the country.

The ministry cleared this proposal after a committee of secretaries, headed by cabinet secretary, supported the state governments' demand.

Sources said that there could be political reasons for states to push the need for greater autonomy as far as fixing the retirement age is concerned. "Some states might want to fix 60 or 62 years for retirement so that fresh batch of qualified people can apply for jobs, and this will also increase the scope of promotion for many lecturers," said a senior government official.

The sixth pay package for teachers, based on which the scales of centrally-funded institutes were revised, has a provision that requires increasing the retirement age to 65 years. Presently, the retirement age of teachers varies across states - from 58 to 60 years.

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