Jobs Continue Even After Retirement at Ahmedabad AMC: RTI Reveals Over 210 Reappointments in 3 Years
Ahmedabad: Congress spokesperson Hemang Raval has claimed that shocking details have emerged through an RTI regarding officials and employees at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) being reappointed on a contractual basis even after retirement. According to him, more than 210 retired employees and officials were assigned contract-based work during 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 alone. When the overall figures from 2015 to date are considered, the number is claimed to exceed 1,000.
Demand for Statewide Data and a White Paper
Hemang Raval has demanded that the Gujarat government release complete data and issue a white paper on employees and officials working again in government, semi-government and local self-government bodies across the state after retirement. According to him, given the situation that has come to light in Ahmedabad, it is necessary to disclose the extent of such reappointments in the state’s other municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats, boards-corporations and government departments as well.
Why Rehire After Retirement?
Raval raised the question of under what circumstances the need arises to rehire a retired employee or official, and under what rule, resolution or approval such an appointment is made. He said that taking on services for a limited period when specific experience or specialist skills are needed is one thing, but if the same individual continues to be retained on contract for years after retirement, clarity is needed on whether this is being used as a substitute for regular recruitment.
Questions Over How Salaries Are Fixed
Questions have also been raised over the salaries paid to retired employees rehired on contract. It has been claimed that in some cases a fixed salary is paid, in others around 35 percent of the basic pay drawn at the time of retirement, and in some cases salary is paid under the “pay minus pension” method.
The demand is for transparency on why different salary methods are adopted for retired employees within the same institution, and under what rule it is decided who gets paid through which method.
Account of Perks Beyond Salary Also Sought
According to Congress, information has emerged that some retired officials, after being reassigned work, are also being provided facilities including a government vehicle, driver, accommodation, peon and mobile phone. If this is indeed the case, the demand is that the total public expenditure incurred on such officials — beyond salary — should also be disclosed on a year-wise and officer-wise basis.
Why Opportunities for Retired Officials Instead of New Recruitment?
Hemang Raval said that on one hand, the state’s youth are appearing for examinations and waiting for government job recruitment, while on the other hand, the same employees and officials continue to be retained in government institutions long after retirement. Where vacancies exist, regular employees should be given promotions or fresh recruitment should be carried out, but the practice of repeatedly extending contracts for retired employees is not appropriate.
Claim of Over ₹200 Crore Spent in 10 Years
Congress has also claimed that in the last 10 years, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation alone may have spent an estimated ₹200 crore or more on salaries and other facilities for employees and officials rehired after retirement. However, this figure is not official, and the demand is for a special audit along with the disclosure of year-wise, employee-wise and department-wise details to ascertain the actual figures.
A Major Question Over Accountability
Raval also raised the question of how action would be taken against an official working on contract after retirement, in the event of allegations of financial irregularities or corruption, and how any resulting losses would be recovered. He said that action against a regular employee and a person working on contract after retirement could differ, and therefore, accountability and legal provisions should be made clear before such appointments are made.
Demand for Data From Across Gujarat
The Gujarat Pradesh Congress has demanded that details be released of employees and officials across all government departments, boards-corporations, municipal corporations, municipalities and other government institutions in the state who have been working again after retirement whether through reappointment, contract, as consultants or in any other form over the last 10 years.
Along with this, the party has demanded disclosure of the rules and approvals under which they were reappointed, the salary paid, and what government facilities were provided beyond salary. Congress maintains that while taking the experience of a retired employee as per need is a separate matter, instead of the practice of repeatedly extending contracts for years, a system should be put in place for promoting regular employees and recruiting qualified youth to new posts.