SC okays increasing retirement age of FF govt staff to 65

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court verdict that directed the authorities concerned of the government to place before the cabinet a proposal in 60 days for increasing the retirement age of freedom fighters, who are in government service, to 65 years.

Hearing an appeal filed by the government challenging the HC verdict, the apex court, however, said the government can take any decision for increasing retirement age of the freedom fighters.  

Following a writ petition, the HC on January 14 ordered the secretaries to the ministries of public administration, liberation war affairs, and law to place before the cabinet the proposal in 60 days for increasing freedom fighters' retirement age from 57 to 65.

Petitioners' counsel Azahar Ullah Bhuiyan said the prime minister's office in July 2006 issued a proposal for increasing freedom fighters' retirement age to 65 years following their demand.

As the proposal was not placed before the cabinet for its approval, freedom fighter Jamaluddin Sikder moved the writ petition before the HC seeking a directive on the secretaries, Azahar said, adding that 680 more freedom fighters later became party to the petition.

The government has already increased freedom fighters' retirement age to 60 years, he added.