Fiji's Police Force has directed officers over 55 to go on leave from tomorrow, saying it is following a Court of Appeal ruling temporarily put on hold by the Supreme Court.
The directive was issued in a letter dated March 30 and signed by the Police Commissioner Esala Teleni.
The letter stated the Force was following the Court of Appeal ruling to lower the retirement age from 60 to 55 and that it was sending officers who were over 55 on leave owed to them.
The Supreme Court granted a temporary stay against the ruling last week and will hear the Fiji Public Service Association's application for a permanent stay tomorrow.
A police spokeswoman, Ema Dimasi, said the officers were not being retired but were being asked to take their leave.
She told the Fiji Live news site that some of them had accrued leave which needed to be cleared.
It is estimated the police force has just over 50 officers aged over 55.
