The resignations of 418 civil servants have been approved over the past three months, with records of their resignations reaching the Department of National Personnel Records (Civil).
In the month of Ashadh (June 15 to July 16) alone, files of 208 employees whose resignations had been approved by various ministries and government agencies reached the records department. Subsequently, from Shrawan 1 to the end of Bhadra (July 17 to September 16), another 210 employees resigned.
According to records maintained by the department, three of those who resigned during Shrawan and Bhadra were secretaries or employees at secretary level.
Fourteen were joint secretaries or at joint-secretary level, 21 were under secretaries or at under-secretary level, and 27 were officers or at officer level. The remaining 145 were from other levels.
In Ashadh, the resignation files of eight employees at joint-secretary level, 45 at under-secretary level, 50 at officer level, and 105 employees at other levels had reached the department.
Over the three-month period, three secretaries or secretary-level employees, 22 joint secretaries or joint-secretary-level employees, 66 under secretaries or under-secretary-level employees, and 77 officers or officer-level employees resigned. The number of employees from other levels stood at 250.
Thus, of the 418 employees who resigned during the three-month period, 143 were from the under-secretary and officer levels alone.
Once a resignation is approved by the government agency concerned, the employee's file is sent to the records department. Prior to that, procedures such as submitting the resignation, reconsideration, and approval of the resignation are completed. Officials therefore say the number recorded by the department may differ from the actual number of employees who submit resignations.
According to the department’s records, around 900 civil servants used to resign annually in the past, while approximately 2,300 employees retired each year. However, the number of resignations recorded over the past three months suggests that more employees are leaving government service before reaching the normal retirement age.
Officials at federal ministries have said that a large number of resignations have been submitted since Ashadh.
One reason cited for the increase is the ongoing discussion over provisions in the proposed new Civil Service Act that would set retirement based on either 30 years of service or an age limit of 55. The current age limit for civil servants is 58, while there is no prescribed maximum service period.
There is a perception among employees that the proposed provision would particularly disadvantage those who have served for more than 30 years and those who joined government service before 1992.
“Employees appear to believe that once the new act comes into effect, only a maximum of 30 years of service may be counted when calculating the pension of those who have served for more than 30 years,” a joint secretary said.
According to the official, an employee who has served for 37 years can currently receive a pension calculated on the basis of all 37 years if they resign now. However, there is concern among employees that if the new act is introduced, only 30 years would be counted, resulting in the loss of benefits equivalent to seven years of service.
Similarly, employees who joined government service before 1992 are currently eligible for a pension calculated on the basis of 60 years even if they retire at the age of 58. There are concerns that after the new act comes into force, pensions could instead be calculated based only on the age of 58 or 55.
