Pensioners Are Holding Top AMC Posts on Re-Engagement Contracts, Fetching Up to ₹2 Lakh Monthly
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
An Right to Information (RTI) query has disclosed that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and its allied institutions are routinely re-hiring retired employees on contractual terms, offering monthly salaries ranging from ₹12,000 to over ₹2.01 lakh.
The disclosures, obtained by Ahmedabad City Congress Committee spokesperson Atik Saiyed, reveal that re-engaged pensioners are managing key administrative and operational functions across civic bodies, including the Sabarmati Riverfront Development, civic hospitals, medical colleges, AMC-MET, and the Municipal School Board.
Top Posts Manned by Retired Officials
The RTI response detailed several high-profile contractual extensions across major municipal departments and institutions:
- Sabarmati Riverfront: Jagdish Patel serves as Chief General Manager drawing a monthly salary of ₹2,01,314, while Deepak Naik serves as Deputy General Manager on a monthly package of ₹64,028.
- Medical Institutions & Fire Services: At Narendra Modi Medical College, Dr Deepti Shah functions as Dean, alongside Ramesh Naik as Fire Officer. NHL Medical College retains Dr Vinod Agrawal as Professor and Dr Deepa Banker as Visiting Consultant.
- Civic Hospitals & Allied Bodies: SVP Hospital has deployed retired personnel across roles including Senior Clerk, Clinical Psychologist, and Fire Officer. Nagari Hospital retains Bhavasingh Baria as Secretary, while LG Hospital engages Manjari Ben Kanikatar as Physiotherapist. AMC-MET lists Bharat Patel as C.O.S. and Hiren Vhora as Executive Officer.
- School Board & Libraries: Dr Lakhdir Desai serves as Administrative Officer (Shasanadhikari) for the School Board. At Sheth M.J. Library, contractual terms were repeatedly extended; machine operator Ashokkumar Verma's contract was extended from June 2019 to March 2024 with a pay hike from ₹12,000 to ₹16,000, while peon Rameshbhai M. Chauhan received an extension up to October 2025. Attendant Sanjaybhai N. Shah is placed at a monthly salary of ₹18,200.
Transparency and Accountability Concerns Raised
The revelation has stirred criticism regarding recruitment transparency and institutional accountability within the civic body.
While thousands of young candidates await fresh recruitment for Class-1 through Class-4 vacancies across the corporation, long-term re-engagements of retired staff have sparked demands for clear criteria regarding selection procedures, salary fixation, and the operational necessity of retaining individuals post-retirement.
The disclosures also highlight structural gaps in enforcing disciplinary action against contractual personnel. Unlike permanent employees who are subject to departmental inquiries, charge sheets, and suspensions in cases of administrative irregularities or corruption, contractual engagements typically offer limited recourse beyond contract termination, raising serious questions over financial oversight and administrative accountability in major departments.
