The Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure over the retirement age for employees in some government services in the State of Kerala, which is fixed at 56 years.
The matter found mention before the Bench of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice C.T. Ravikumar, while hearing a matter pertaining to medical services, wherein the retirement age appeared to be 62 years across the board.
On Thursday, while hearing submissions in a service matter, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ajay Rastogi was bemused to know that in some government services in the State of Kerala the age of retirement is 56 years.
The Bench comprising Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice C.T. Ravikumar was hearing a matter pertaining to medical services, wherein the retirement age appeared to be 62 years across the board.
Justice Rastogi said during the hearing that he had heard that in Kerala, the retirement age for public servants was 56 years.
As per the Apex Court Judge, this matter called for concern. He said since the age of marriage had gone up, if a person retired at 56, he/she would have to retire without being able to meet his/her family obligations.
He further said that nowadays, the marriageable age had gone up to 27 or 28 years. By the time children were in college, the person retired. This was unfair, he added.
Senior Advocate V. Giri, who appeared for one of the parties in the matter, pointed out that every year, several graduate and post graduate students, with great potential, entered the job market.
If the age of retirement was to be enhanced, the job market would become saturated, he contended.
However, the Bench remained unconvinced and said that both things have to be balanced.
The Apex Court further observed that the proposal regarding age enhancement was always met with a strong opposition, especially from the student organisations.
In all other States, the age of retirement for public servants was 60 years, noted Justice Rastogi, stating that such rule could not be found anywhere else.