SC refuses plea on cooling-off period for retd govt officials

The Supreme Court Friday declined a petition seeking direction to the government to observe a cooling-off period of two years before a retired senior civil servant or police officer is offered post-retirement assignments.

A Bench led by Chief Justice P Sathasivam turned down the plea,saying it was for the competent authorities to decide on the re-employment of a retiring civil servant. How can court issue directions? We cannot issue such directions, said the Bench as it refused to frame guidelines for providing mandatory cooling-off period.

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The PIL was filed by former DGP of Uttar Pradesh Prakash Singh. Singh,in his petition,pleaded that such provision is required for independence of bureaucracy and police administration. He said it would root out favouritism and corruption in administration.

Senior advocate Harish Salve,appearing for Singh,told the court he was seeking guidelines on the cooling-off period so that there could be transparency in the matter of appointment at senior levels.