Despite GO, GTTC staff continue to retire at 58

Suresh Kumar threatens to stage a dharna if this benefit is not given to them by October 10

Though the State government increased the retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60 years in 2008, such a benefit is yet to reach the staff of the Government Tool Room and Training Centre (GTTC).

BJP spokesperson S. Suresh Kumar alleged on Tuesday that the GTTC management was waging a legal battle against increasing the retirement age for their staff though the Advocate-General and the High Court of Karnataka wanted them to extend the retirement age.

Addressing a press conference in the presence of some of the GTTC employees who retired recently at the age of 58, Mr. Kumar explained that according to the Government Order issued in 2008, the extension of the age limit was supposed to apply to the employees of not just government departments but also various boards and corporations.

But the GTTC management had taken a stand that such an extension in retirement age would not apply to them as their cadre and recruitment norms were different from those of other organisations, he said. When the management approached the High Court, it instructed them to extend such a relaxation in retirement age to their employees, he said.

Challenged

But this had been challenged by the Managing Director of the GTTC in the Supreme Court though the Advocate-General had given his legal opinion against pursuing a legal battle, Mr. Kumar said. The then Minister for Small Scale Industries Prakash Hukkeri had issued directions in May this year to the GTTC to abide by the government’s policy of extending the retirement age, he said.

Mr. Kumar threatened to stage a dharna outside the office of the Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Ratnaprabha on October 13 if the government failed to ensure that the GTTC implemented the new retirement norms by October 10.