Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday issued revised guidelines for the re-engagement of retired employees on a temporary basis, repealing the previous resolution from 2014. The new guidelines aim to streamline the process and prioritize the filling of vacant posts through direct recruitment and promotions.
According to the resolution issued by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department, the government has constituted a selection committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, to oversee the re-engagement of retired personnel. Selections will be made through open advertisements, ensuring transparency in the process.
Re-engagement will only be considered in essential cases, and the upper age limit for such temporary assignments has been set at 65 years, subject to the Chief Minister’s approval. Additionally, only officers with an “outstanding” CCR/PAR for the five years prior to retirement will be eligible for re-engagement.
The previous resolution, introduced in August 2014, allowed for the re-engagement of retired government employees due to a shortage of manpower caused by delayed recruitment processes. This temporary measure helped address the increased workload by allowing retired employees with professional expertise to be re-engaged on a contractual basis.
However, it was observed that departments and offices were engaging retired employees routinely, even for daily administrative tasks, without sufficient justification. Over time, re-engagements became the norm rather than an exception, which was not the original intent of the 2014 resolution.
Given the improved recruitment processes and better financial management, the government has decided to repeal the 2014 guidelines. The revised policy now directs departments to fill vacancies through direct or promotional recruitment rather than relying on re-engaged retirees.
Only in cases where a retired employee’s expertise is deemed crucial will re-engagement be considered, and such appointments will follow the updated terms and conditions set forth by the government.
