New Delhi [India]: The Department of Space has revised the authority and procedure for accepting voluntary retirement and resignation requests from ISRO's Group 'A' Scientific and Technical personnel, directing that such requests from scientists associated with the Gaganyaan mission and other important national projects should not be accepted as a matter of routine.

In an Office Memorandum (OM) issued on July 14, the Department said the decision was taken after noticing a spate of voluntary retirement and resignation requests from scientific personnel, which was affecting the implementation of projects of national importance.

"Of late, it has been noticed that there has been a spate of requests for voluntary retirement and resignation from Group 'A' Scientific/Technical personnel of ISRO, including those associated with the prestigious Gaganyaan and other important missions/projects, severely impacting the implementation of projects of national importance," the memorandum stated.

Referring to its earlier Office Memorandum dated November 25, 2020, the Department said Directors of Centres and Heads of Units had earlier been delegated powers to accept notices for voluntary retirement under FR 56(k) and Rule 43 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, as well as resignations of all Group 'A' Scientific and Technical personnel up to the level of Scientist/Engineer-SG or equivalent (Level 13A).

However, in view of the recent trend, the Department has decided that "voluntary retirement and resignation requests from Scientific & Technical personnel associated with the Gaganyaan and other important Mission/Projects may not be accepted as a matter of routine."

The memorandum further advised Centre Directors and Heads of Units not to accept requests for voluntary retirement or resignation from Group 'A' Scientific and Technical personnel associated with the Gaganyaan mission or any other important mission or project until its realisation.

It said that if any such request is received, even from personnel up to the rank of Scientist/Engineer-SG, it should be forwarded to the Department along with "clear recommendations of the Directors of Centres/Heads of Units for final decision."

The Department also directed all Centre Directors and Heads of Units to give wide publicity to the Office Memorandum and ensure that the revised instructions are "strictly complied with".

The memorandum said the revised instructions have been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority. (ANI)