Principal doubt on retirement age circular

But principals don8217;t understand why they8217;ve been asked to decide, 8220;on the basis of merit,8221; if a teacher over sixty should be allowed to continue till term end. 8220;If a principal does extend services of one teacher based on merit and terminates services of a less meritorious teacher, the decision can be called as biased and dictatorial. The government should state its point clearly, instead of coming out with vague circulars,8221; said Principal M G Shirahatti of Lala Lajpatrai College, HajiAli.

Citing the example of an earlier state circular on appointment of vice-principals, once again based on 8220;merit,8221; Shirahatti added: 8220;Many teachers have now filed litigations against their college managements for not considering them meritorious enough to be vice-principals. The present circular may also cause such problems.8221;

Following the recent agitation of degree college teachers, the UGC recommended the retirement age be increased to 62.

V Padmanabhan, principal of SIES college, Sion, however, sees no reason for uncertainty. 8220;Sooner or later, the state will have to come out with a government resolution and make things clear. For the time being, principals will have to follow the circular,8221; he said. University senate member and member of the Bombay University College Teachers8217; Union BUCTU, Prof Tapati Mukhopadhyay, said: 8220;Almost every day a handful of degree college teachers turn 60, but BUCTU is confident the state won8217;t dilly-dally in raising the age limit to 62 years. The confusionover the circular is only temporary.8221;