KGMU teachers’ assn against raising retirement age of faculty

LUCKNOW: The teachers’ association at the King George’s Medical University is strongly opposing extension of retirement age for faculty members, saying it would hamper progress of services. “After 65 years of age, the experience can be utilised to set up new colleges. The retired faculty can be reappointed in some other colleges and develop new facilities,” said Prof Naveen Kumar, president of the teachers’ association in KGMU.

“But how can one be expected to upgrade and learn new advancements and then practice them, after the age of 65? It can be done by faculty who is less than 50 years of age and that is why we say retirement age should not be extended beyond 65 years,” he said. The association has written a letter to the chief minister and is now awaiting a reply from the state government. “After the proposal was sent by a few ministers to the CM, we conducted an emergency meeting of teachers and majority was against the extension of retirement age from 65 years to 70 years,” said Dr Santosh Kumar, general secretary of the association.

A big group of teacher that is opposing extension of retirement age said the extension would not only hamper the growth of young faculty members but also ensure that the young ones do not get administrative posts for long.

“It is said that there is a need of these teachers but I would say it is greed. The real need is not in KGMU or PGI but in remote areas where new colleges are not able to start courses for lack of teachers. Such teachers should go to those places if they want to work,” said Dr Kumar.

“A young faculty has new vision and tends to explore new things. We are awaiting a reply from the state government on our demand,” he said.

“We are in touch with the faculty in other institutes also and they have similar thoughts upon extension of retirement age,” said Prof Kumar.