Fast pace verification & decision in regard to the eligible claimant for family pension
The 120th report of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, which focuses on Pensioner’s Grievances, including the impact of Pension Adalats and the Centralized Pension Grievances Redress and Monitoring System, was submitted to the Rajya Sabha on December 8, 2022. The report suggests that the Head of Office in a Ministry or Department should aim to obtain the necessary pension forms and documents from the retiring government servant one year prior to their retirement date instead of six months, to facilitate a more efficient calculation of government dues and a faster processing of family pensions
PARLIAMENT OF INDIA
RAJYA SABHA
DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, LAW AND JUSTICE
Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi
December, 2022 / Agrahayana, 1944 (Saka)
ONE HUNDRED TWENTIETH REPORT
ON
ACTION TAKEN ON ONE HUNDRED TENTH REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
“PENSIONER’S GRIEVANCES – IMPACT OF PENSION ADALATS AND CENTRALIZED
PENSION GRIEVANCES REDRESS AND MONITORING SYSTEM (CPENGRAMS)”
PERTAINING TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS’ WELFARE
(MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS)
(Presented to the Rajya Sabha on 8th December, 2022)
(Laid on the Table of the Lok Sabha on 8th December, 2022)
Fast pace verification and decision in regard to the eligible claimant for family pension
RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS WHICH THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT DESIRE TO PURSUE IN VIEW OF THE REPLIES GIVEN BY THE MINISTRY
GRIEVANCES PERTAINING TO AUTHORIZATION, SANCTION AND PROCESSING OF PENSION
Recommendation/Observation
2.42 The Committee is of the view that Head of Office in a Ministry/Department may consider obtaining the forms/ pension papers from the retiring Government servant one year instead of six months before his or her date of retirement and determining the amount of Government dues (like House Building Advance & other advances, excess payment of pay and allowances, etc.) to be recovered from the gratuity and intimating the same to Pay & Accounts Office. Besides, in cases of authorization of Family Pension on death of a serving Government servant, the concerned Ministry/Department may keep a record of dependents of serving employees in a descending order in terms of their eligibility as it will help fast pace verification and decision in regard to the eligible claimant for family pension. (4.14)
Action Taken
2.43 Earlier, the work of preparation of pension papers was required to be undertaken two years before a Government servant was due to retire on superannuation. This period of two years was considered to be on a higher side. The rules were, therefore, amended on 29.08.2014 and as per the amended rules, the work of verification of service, determination of qualifying service and emoluments and assessment of outstanding dues against the retiring Government servant is required to be undertaken one year before the date of his retirement. The period of one year provided in the existing rules for this purpose is also in line with the recommendation of the Committee.
2.44 With the introduction of Bhavishya, the online pension sanction and tracking system, the period of six months provided in the existing rules for submission of pension papers by the retiring Government servant is considered to be adequate.
2.45 A serving Government servant is required to submit the details of all members of his/her family in Form 4 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021. Similarly, the retiring Government servant is also required to submit the details of all members of his/her family in Form 4 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021. This Form is kept in the pension file of the retired Government servant and the family pension file of the deceased Government servant/pensioner. Thus, the details of all members of the family are already being kept in record and the same are used for determining the eligibility of family members for family pension as and when the need arises.
Further observation
2.46 The Committee takes note of the reply and does not wish to further pursue the matter in light of reply furnished by the Department.