When the bell of time rings anywhere between 55 and 60, the senior bureaucrats, judges and officers of any prominence in public service, rise to the call and fall in line. It is the time of retirement blues. Soon in a couple of years, they will be out of job. Those cars with the privileged roof lights would soon stop ferrying them. The minions and chaperones would turn away their face and begin to serve their new masters. . The free flights, phones, cars and the whole heaven of fully paid-up life would soon grind to halt. So will the grand opportunity of wielding power, influencing files, collecting graft and living a life of unlimited luxury at the cost the poor countrymen.
With such an abominable prospect of retirement, the sword of Damocles, hanging over the head of those in high office, they soften. They will work to please the political masters, so that a Governorship, ambassadorial assignment, Chairmanship of some Commission, deputation to UN/World Bank/IMF or some such plum posting is bestowed to them on retirement. They will do everything possible to please their political bosses, be it fixing a judgement, allotting a contract or taking a favourable decision, so that the post-retirement plum does not evade them.
This possibility of acquiring favour in the post-retirement phase is the twinkle of the twilight years of service. This is one of the root causes of corruption in public life. This possibility of reward for being the 'old faithful' - not only corrupts the senior public servants and judges but also burdens us with senile Governors, Ambassadors and other high functionaries, not to speak of even the Presidents of the country. Hence there must be an age limit of 70 years for one and all i.e for bureaucrats and judges after retirement and even the for polititians to hold public office. After the age of 70 years, no one should be allowed to hold any public office. There is already a provision that no government servant can join private company for 2 years after retirement, but it lacks appropriate implementation. It is now pertinent that the 2 year bench-sitting is strictly implemented to weed out corruption.
This possibility of acquiring favour in the post-retirement phase is the twinkle of the twilight years of service. This is one of the root causes of corruption in public life. This possibility of reward for being the 'old faithful' - not only corrupts the senior public servants and judges but also burdens us with senile Governors, Ambassadors and other high functionaries, not to speak of even the Presidents of the country. Hence there must be an age limit of 70 years for one and all i.e for bureaucrats and judges after retirement and even the for polititians to hold public office. After the age of 70 years, no one should be allowed to hold any public office. There is already a provision that no government servant can join private company for 2 years after retirement, but it lacks appropriate implementation. It is now pertinent that the 2 year bench-sitting is strictly implemented to weed out corruption.
Anna's advisors and the Civil Society should include the provision of age limit avoiding this deep rooted evil , when they finalize the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Parliament. This can be avoided by placing a total moratorium of atleast 2 years on post retirement re-employment to high positions . Another way is to place a time-bar on re-employment, so that those over 70 years of age are given an honourable retirement exit from public life
A revolution normally breaks the knees of establishment and brings it down to the ground. But it is only the just legislation and a fair opportunity of wise advise that makes the vehicle of Governance move again on its wheels. Therefore, it is important that the best alternatives and just provisions are incorporated into the legislation in the making.
President
National Council for Civil Liberties
Ahmedabad - 380 009
web: www.ncclindia.org
e-mail: nccl27@hotmail.com
