THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the context of increasing the upper age limit for the appointment of assistant professors in universities, government and aided colleges from 40 years to 50 years, the pension age of professors will be raised as well. The decision is to permit service up to 60 years in colleges and 65 years in universities. This will be applicable in Government / Aided Arts and Science Colleges, Training Colleges, Law Colleges, Sanskrit Colleges, and Arabic Colleges.

As the Supreme Court has ruled that raising the retirement age is a policy decision of the government, neither candidates nor private managements can approach the court to prevent it. At present, the retirement age is 60 in the universities in Kerala and 56 in colleges.

Although the salary of teachers was increased under the UGC Act of 2010, Kerala did not accept the provision of pension age of 65 in the Act. The pension age of teachers in five states and central universities including West Bengal is 65. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are in the headway to unifying the pension age. There are concerns, that raising the pension age in Kerala, which has a large number of NET and Ph.D. graduates, will deprive people of employment opportunities.

The higher education reform commission chaired by Prof Shyam B Menon had recommended that the pension age of varsity teachers in Kerala should be raised to 65 as in central universities.

Professor of Eminence

The government is also considering the recommendation to form a special cadre to include retired teachers. They will be given the titles of 'Professor of Eminence' and 'Distinguished Professor'. It is recommended to appoint 50 people in this way within five years and pay them the salary of professors.

Universities – 16

Aided Colleges – 194

Government Colleges – 88