MP staff may get to retire at 62

BHOPAL: The retirement age of Madhya Pradesh government’s staff would be raised from 60 to 62 years, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday.

A number of government officials in the state, which goes to polls later this year, retire every year without promotion. This has happened because the state government had made a provision for quota for SC/ST employees in promotion that was set aside by the Madhya Pradesh high court. The state’s appeal against the order is pending in the top court, which has ordered the status quo to prevail for the time being.

“I don’t want that any employee to retire without promotion. Hence, the retirement age is being raised to 62 years as the judgment (of Supreme Court) is expected by then,” Chouhan said while addressing the media.

The BJP celebrated Chouhan’s announcement, calling the move “historic”. “This is a his- toric move by the chief minister as he was concerned over government employees retiring without promotion due to a legal battle,’ the party’s spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said.

The Congress, however, attacked the government over the move, which it said won’t help state employees. “This decision is not going to benefit employees. It would deprive younger officials and employees from getting a promotion,” said Ajay Singh, leader of Opposition in the assembly.