Plea challenging rise in retirement age dismissed

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathayanarayanan and Justice Anita Sumanth, however, allowed the petitioner liberty to move a plea through Right to Information (RTI) to know the stage/status of his representation in this regard sent on May 7.

The petitioner, Surya Vetrikondan, an advocate, had sought for a direction to the Chief Secretary to make necessary orders or provisions to accommodate job seekers who would lose their eligibility due to the increase in the retirement age of serving government employees.

The maximum age limit to enter government service was 35 years. Hence, those who had crossed 34 this year would end up losing their last chance to obtain a government job, he contended in his plea, and sought for a direction to provide age relaxation to those who stood to lose owing to the increase in retirement age of government servants. He said a representation in this regard was yet to evoke any response from the government.

On April 27, the State government had passed an order increasing the retirement age of its employees to 59 years from 58 years. This would apply to those in regular service, including teaching and non-teaching staff working in aided educational institutions as on date, and due to retire on superannuation from May 31.