Professors refuse to retire

BANGALORE: With their monthly salaries amounting to Rs 1 lakh a month under the UGC scales, more and more college professors are refusing to retire at the government prescribed age of 60 and are seeking to retire only at 62 like their counterparts in the university do.Several such professors who ought to have retired by now, are approaching the High Court to get a stay on their retirement at 60."A set of 36 to 40 professors including college principals, who were supposed to have retired in April, 2011 have brought in a stay order from the court and continue to work in the same college.Another set of around 25 professors, who are supposed to retire this month, are gearing to approach court,'' sources from the Department of Collegiate Education told Express.The state government had raised the retirement age of university teachers from 60 to 62 years in 2009. This was in keeping with the UGC norms. This order was only for university teachers who had UGC qualification having passed the National Entrance Test and those who had completed their PhD through course work.However, it had made it clear that the increase in retirement age did not apply to teachers in university affiliated colleges.When contacted, K R Shashidhar, commissioner, Department of Collegiate Education, said he was yet to study the case. "I cannot say anything at the moment," said Shashidhar, who was posted to the department only two weeks ago.However, it seems teachers are divided over the retirement age. Karnataka State Government College Teachers Association President Prof H Prakash said the Supreme Court recently said the retirement age fixation was the government's sole discretion. According to him, retirement age should not be increased to 62 years. "A person after 60 years cannot cope with the physical demands of work. It will also affect the prospects of youngsters,'' Prakash said.Further, this could encourage even nonteaching staff to demand a higher retirement age. Prabhuswamy N, president NonTeaching Staff of Collegiate Education, said at present nonteaching staff retire at 60 years. "So far, none of us has gone to court. But if the court decides in favour of the professors, then nonteaching staff may also seek a raise in the retirement age,'' he said.