Retired public officials don’t need govt approval for jobs at other orgs

Retired public officials will no longer require government permission to take up jobs at other organisations, change profession or go abroad.

The public administration ministry yesterday issued a circular highlighting a provision of the Public Service Act, 2018 on the post-retirement employment of former government employees.

In the circular it was said that even after retirement or commencement of the post-retirement leave, some employees apply to the department concerned for taking up jobs in international or private organisations or projects, changing profession or conducting business, and renewing passport or traveling abroad.

According to the provisions of Section 52 of the Public Service Act, 2018, after retirement, the former employee concerned is out of government's jurisdiction, so there is a waste of labour and time in processing such applications, the circular said.

The circular also said, "Section 52 of the act states that after retiring from service, except for those engaged in government services on contract basis, a person does not require to obtain permission from the government or authorities to take up any job in a foreign or private firm or in a project, take up any other profession, conduct business and travel abroad."

However, under Section 52 of the Public Service Act, 2018, the government or the appointing authorities hold the power to ask retiring bureaucrats to seek approval of the authorities to pursue a different job or business only in some special cases.