PSC heads, members want retirement age raised

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, November 22

The Standing Committee of National Conference of State Public Service Commissions (PSCs) in India today urged the Central Government to enhance the retirement age of chairpersons and members of state PSCs from 62 to 65 years on the lines of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The committee said it would now seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet him alongwith the delegation of Chairpersons of state PSCs to take the issues of State PSCs to the logical end.

A delegation of the Standing Committee led by its chairman KS Tomar, who is the Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, submitted a memorandum to Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State, Department of Personnel and Training, in New Delhi today.

The delegation comprised Lt Gen TS Gill (retd), Chairman, Punjab PSC, Sahidul Islam, Chairman, West Bengal PSC, and Kurapati Dwarakanath Row, Chairman, Goa PSC.

During the meeting, the delegation discussed various issues pending since last six decades, including constitutional protection to chairpersons and members of PSCs, pay allowances and pension to chairmen and members of state PSCs, warrant of precedence to chairpersons and members of state PSCs, financial and administrative autonomy in PSCs and enhancement of retirement age of chairpersons and members of Public Service Commissions from 62 to 65 years.

“In most of the states, there are no definite guideline to regulate the service conditions of chairman and members. Especially in protection, pay, allowances, warrant of precedence, financial and administrative autonomy, wide range of differences have been created in state PSCs. Considering the vital role they are playing in the recruitment of officers at senior level in different spheres, there is a need to relook into the matter and ensure that state PSCs follow a definite model and methods on the same lines which are being followed by the UPSC,” the delegation said in its memorandum.

It said it might be considered to adopt the regulation and system working being followed in the UPSC, particularly if pay and allowances were brought under the purview of Central Pay Commission as applicable to UPSC and other high institutions in the state.

The Union minister assured the delegation that he would send positive recommendations about the issues raised by the delegation to the Prime Minister. He felt that retirement age of chairpersons and members of PSCs should be enhanced to 65 years on the lines of the UPSC.