K Petelavi Angami
Retired State Govt. Employee, Kohima
The writer been a sincere retired Employee of Nagaland Government has sought a review of the Nagaland Retirement from Public Employment Act 2009, by asking the state government to remove the 35-year length of service keeping 60 years age for superannuation like other states in India for the interest and benefits of the government and its employees in general which is the need of the hour, while the present government still exist, consisting of all the political parties forming the DAN government, ie. NPF, Congress, BJP etc.
No dough ,the state government has notified that the Nagaland Retirement Act from Public Employment (Second Amendment) Act, 2009, issued by the government on October 30 and of which thousands of government employees were affected thinking that it would clear the opportunities for the unemployed youth of the state, but unfortunately that was not solve till date. This very formula was just a one-time stop gap filling as we have seen. Despite it has affected lots of experience and able senior employees as well as administration and its functionaries in almost all the departments for almost a decade now. At this juncture the worst affected are the Directorates, where from Director down to the Assistant Directors are getting retire on the same day within these two to three years time. So there might be a crisis in the Government machineries if 35 years length of service is not lifted in due time. Even large number of NCS officers appointed on the same day which will be effected very shortly. In short at this point of time the Government should see that regarding situations in the State which are in between the lines, Nagaland Government needs respectable elderly and well experience people to govern the various Departments (HODs) in the state and here wisdom is a must which is an abstract and is well known by our young educated unemployed youths. The same cannot be explain here in details since it might hurt some sections of people but I hope the readers understand what I mean to say in between the lines.
So here I as an employee of the state government having experiences for years have come across various situations that cannot be settled by High status or knowledge (how highly educated you are) but only by age and wisdom which no one can denied instead respected, so is the present situation in Nagaland face in our day today life. We should not under estimate our elders or senior employees saying they are less educated instead their advice and guidance is very much required. My Ernest desire was to let Nagaland be one of the best governing Government with all those senior employees of 58 or 60 years of age who had knowledge, experiences as well as wisdom to be the most respectable head of departments.
As a matter of fact It doesn’t mean that all educated unemployed youths should get a government job. So my plea is that the government should not drop its employees during the best years of service, who are already well experience, job oriented and well trained by investing lots for years. Let government see that whoever is already employed should be preserved, well trained and to solely use their knowledge, experiences and wisdom for a good governance for the government and the people.
FIXING RETIREMENT AGE IS SOLE DISCRETION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT: SUPREME COURT 31st December 2010.
Age of superannuation can be reduced or increased unilaterally at the discretion of the State government and courts cannot interfere with such decisions, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Henceforth the employees are directly under the mercy of the State Government. Therefore my earnest plea to the present State Government is to review Nagaland Retirement from Public Employment Act 2009, and to adopt only one that will be best for both employees, future of educated unemployed youths and the public in general of State Nagaland in context.
As per the present implementation of retirement of an employee in the State, 35 yrs length of service or superannuation age 60 yrs whichever is earlier.
Just a simple example. 1) Employee born in 1962. Complete education at the age of 28years (average)ie 1990 Got the job on January 1990+ 35 yrs length of service = retirement 2025 but gets retired on January 2022 by superannuation of age 60 years which is earlier losing 3 yrs of 35 yrs length of service which does not have much meaning.
2) Employee born in the same year 1962. Complete education at the age of 28 years (average)ie 1990 Got the job on January 1990+60yrs superannuation of age = retirement 2022 Gets retired on January 2022 by superannuation of age 60 years. (no loss, no gain shown)
In these regard it is an honest appeal to the present State Government to review the Nagaland Retirement Act from Public Employment (Second Amendment) Act, 2009, before the next coming General Assembly Election 2018, with joint effort and wisdom of all the present elected members of the people, by the people and for the people, for once and all for the benefits of both the present and future employees of State Nagaland for an employee to successfully complete its tenure of service.
As been Stated the change depends on the Government as required since it is clearly stated, “the Supreme Court of India has ruled, that it is solely under the discretion of the State Government whether to increase or decrease the retirement age of its employees as per required by the State, where courts cannot interfere.”
In this regard the CANSEA Nagaland is also requested to go forward and have mutual discussion on the issue with the State Government leaving aside court at an early date for the welfare of its members and the Government, as time is running short.
