Retired government employees, particularly of the higher ranks, are re-appointed at different government entities and also as consultants by different government-run projects. The double facilities they enjoy in the form of their pensions and their new remunerations are now being questioned.

According to estimates, such retired civil servants take home a total of approximate Rs 400 million annually in addition to their regular pensions. A few of them have foregone their pensions, citing ethical issues.

There are over 1,000 such retired civil servants and all but a few of them have been enjoying the dual benefit– pensions and salaries as consultants — because there are no clear legal provisions that would be applicable. It has been over a decade since this issue came to the fore. The bureaucracts themselves are not keen to take it up as they too might be contemplating taking advantage of such revolving door arrangements once they retire, a government source claimed.