NEW DELHI: The Department of Space (DoS) has issued a new directive to major space research centres of the ISRO, tightening rules on voluntary retirement and resignations amid a mass exodus in the Indian space agency.
The memorandum, issued on July 14 to centres like the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), directed them not to routinely accept resignation or voluntary retirement requests from Group ‘A’ scientific and technical personnel linked to Gaganyaan – India’s prestigious human spaceflight programme – and other “important missions”.
“Of late, it is noticed that there has been 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,” according to the directive, which was accessed by NDTV.
“In view of this, it has been 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,” it added.
The government cracks the whip on noting that as many as 100 ISRO scientists have either resigned or retired voluntarily.
