Odisha Repeals 2014 Regulation, Issues Fresh Guidelines for Reemployment of Retired Officials

The Odisha government has issued new guidelines for reemploying retired government servants, replacing the 2014 resolution. The new directives specify conditions for eligibility, including age limits, service records, and physical fitness. A selection committee will oversee the appointments, which are capped at a maximum tenure of four years.

The Odisha government on Thursday issued comprehensive guidelines for appointing retired government servants across various departments on a temporary basis. This move comes as a replacement for a 2014 resolution.

According to a statement from the general administration and public grievance department, the state had initially decided in 2014 to re-engage retired officials for unavoidable reasons and to manage work pressure. However, it was observed that many departments started employing retired workers routinely without proper justification, treating re-employment as the norm rather than an exception.

To address this situation and ensure a standardized approach, the government has now repealed the 2014 resolution and introduced new guidelines. Retired officers below 65 years, with good service records and physical fitness, are eligible for reappointment. Officers under investigation or with misconduct penalties in the last five years are excluded. Reappointments will be capped at 1% of the sanctioned strength per department and overseen by a selection committee headed by the chief secretary, with final approval from the chief minister. The initial re-employment period is one year, extendable up to a maximum of four years, not exceeding the age of 65.

(With inputs from agencies.)