SC declines plea over bureaucrats' cooling off period

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 is offered re-employment with the government.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, turning down the plea, said it was for the competent authorities to decide on the re-employment of a retiring civil servant. "How can court issue directions?"

Senior counsel Harish Salve, who appeared for petitioner Prakash Singh, told the court that there were existing rules providing for cooling off period but these were not being adhered to.

Salve 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.

The court said petitioner Prakash Singh, who himself is a former police chief, could make a representation to the government to air his grievances and added that court cannot issue directions on the issue.