Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who is also In-Charge DoPT, informed the Lok Sabha today that 170 officers have been retired from government service in public interest, during the last two years. The Minister, in reply to a question, stated that as per the information/data provided by different Ministries/Departments/ Cadre Controlling Authorities (CCAs), provisions of FR 56(J)/similar provisions were invoked against 90 Group-A officers and 80 Group-B officers in last two years. In reply to another question , Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the twin objective of lateral recruitment of officers is to bring in fresh talent and at the same time, augment the availability of manpower.