Time to review rules for appointment of those retired from civil service or judiciary in statutory bodies or their Joining political parties

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has been sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on 14th May. Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has been part of several benches delivering landmark judgements including the one upholding the Centre's decision to amend provisions of Article 370 of constitution of India.

- DAYA SAGAR

Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Justice Gavai will have a tenure of over six months and would demit office on 23rd November 2025.

While bidding farewell on 23rd May to Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka who was to retire on 24th May Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai remarked in open court that both he and retiring Justice AS Oka have decided not to accept any post-retirement assignments "Both of us have already decided that we will not accept any post-retirement assignments and therefore, we can think of working together (after retirement),",.

The decision of Judges not to accept any post-retirement assignments has been aplauded all over the country, some may still be asking why?

No doubt using the experience and knowledge of persons ,who have been in the public services, after their retirement / superannuation by re employing them has been a common practice in India after independence.

Although some of such employments did affect promotion evenues for some serving as also the recruitment of those espiring for jobs but surely still there could be cases where the mature thinking and experience of work would be a great advantage keeping in view the level of the post & extent of maturity needed. But these days reemployment of persons from state services / judiciary after retirement has also been questioned at occasions .

As regards re employment at lower / middle levels of general services objection has been mostly as regards others in waiting denied due promotion for some more time as also denying reeruitment opportunity to some.

But more serious questions are raised when some of those retiring from the apex levels of civil services / judicial services are re employed after retirement in statutary bodies / commissions or are taken in political parties for promoting them to enter legislatures, such instances have been found in past 3 to 4 decades receiving more objection from those outside the political government.