Odisha govt revises guidelines for temporary re-engagement of retired employees

Bhubaneswar, Sept 12: The Odisha government on Thursday introduced new guidelines for the temporary re-engagement of retired employees. The General Administration & Public Grievance department issued a resolution repealing the 2014 government directive that allowed for such re-engagements.

The updated guidelines emphasize filling vacant positions and promoting current employees, and outline the formation of a selection committee to oversee the temporary re-engagement of retired personnel.

Under the new rules, retirees up to the age of 65 can be considered for temporary re-engagement, but only with the Chief Minister's approval. The guidelines stipulate that only officers with an 'outstanding' Continuous Confidential Report (CCR) or Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) for 60 consecutive months before retirement are eligible for temporary re-engagement.

The move comes in response to issues faced between 2010 and 2014, when delayed recruitment led to staff shortages and overburdened remaining employees. To address this, the 2014 policy allowed for the temporary re-engagement of retirees with relevant expertise under specific terms. However, it was observed that retired employees were being re-engaged routinely without adequate justification, often for routine tasks.

The government noted that such re-engagements had become more common than intended, contradicting the original goal of the policy. With improvements in financial conditions, recruitment processes, and examination rationalization, the need for such re-engagements has significantly decreased.