However, official sources said the appointments would be made only if there was sufficient reason to believe that work would be affected because of dearth of employees in the department concerned.

PMK founder S Ramadoss said the government order (GO) issued for appointing retired government employees on contract basis would directly affect 62 lakh youth whose names have been registered on the employment exchanges for job opportunities. Stating that there were more than two lakh vacancies in the Secretariat and other government departments, Ramadoss said filling them up through employees on contract basis would be improper.

Besides, at a time when recruitment of employees on contract basis in private organisations was being criticised, the move of the government in this direction would set a wrong precedent. He urged the government to withdraw the order immediately.

CPM State secretary N Varadharajan too strongly condemned the government move and said this would put a question mark on the future of the unemployed youth in the State.

M Pichaiappa, president, Tamil Nadu government employees union, said that the order would affect the promotion opportunities of the existing employees and would, in due course, demoralise the employees.

DYFI secretary S Kannan said the federation would launch a series of agitations until the government withdraws the order. The first phase of the agitation would be held in Chennai on January 7 in front of the office the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission.