Maharashtra to hire retired staff as embargo on fresh recruitment bites

Amidst an embargo on recruitment process in several departments of the state government, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday approved a decision to hire retired government officials on contract for specific jobs.

The state government will also set up a department-wise panel of these officials. The selection to the panels will be made on the applications received from the candidates, said Fadnavis.

The government, he said, will prepare a region-wise list of such retired officials and employees.

Those appointed will be paid honorarium of up to Rs40,000. This will be in addition to the monthly pension he or she gets. The age limit for such appointments has been fixed at 70 years.

"The retired officers and employees appointed under the policy will get a maximum honorarium amount of Rs40,000 and the age limit for appointment will be 70 years," he said.

"Besides this, the selected employees will have to be physically and mentally sound. However, those officers and employees, who have opted for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) will not be considered for the empanelment," Fadnavis said.

At present, there is a freeze on recruitment in some government departments and hence a shortage of expert officers and employees. Hiring of retired officials and employees will help improve the overall functioning of the administration, it was felt.

"The government shall draw up a subject-wise panel of such retired officers and employees, who are needed in designated offices," he said.

Fadnavis said the hiring of retired officials and employees from government offices, government undertakings and local self-governing bodies will be on contract basis and limited to specific purposes.

"Such a panel drawn up shall be valid for three years and a review shall be carried out periodically. Besides this, it will also be mandatory that such retired officers and employees need to have the necessary expertise for which their services are being sought," he said.

"However, appointments to regular sanctioned posts will not be made by contract basis but appointments to these posts shall be made by Service Entry Rules. Besides this, 10 per cent of the posts shall be kept earmarked for candidates having special skills," Fadnavis said.