Central Government and Railway Pensioner – AIRF has Written to Department of Pension for Discussing Eight Pension Related Matters

ALL INDIA RAILWAYMEN’S FEDERATION

4, State Entry Road, New Delhi-110055 INDIA

No.AIRF/NC/JCM(GC)(Pension)

May 18, 2013

The Secretary,

Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare,

Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,

New Delhi-110003

Dear Sir,

Sub: Agenda items

We are sending herewith 08 agenda items on pensionary matters for discussing the same in the forthcoming meeting with the Secretary( Pension).

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

Item No.1

Sub: Less payment of pension to pre-96 and pre-2006 retirees

It has been noted that the employees drawing pay scale of Rs.1400-2300 in V CPC were allotted pay scale of Rs.5000-8000 in V CPC, and subsequently they were placed in scale Rs.9300-34800 in PB-2 with Grade Pay of Rs.4200. But it is surprising that, pre-1996 retirees have been placed in PB-I pay scale Rs.5200-20200 with Grade Pay of Rs.2800.

In AIRF’s opinion, this is discrimination with the employees retired before 1.1.1996.

Necessary action, therefore, needs to be taken in the matter urgently.

Item No.2

Sub: Provision of HRA for Pensioners and Family Pensioners

A Government Servant while in service is paid either House Rent Allowance orgovernment accommodation. After retirement he is left with no facility ofgovernment accommodation or House Rent Allowance. As such, a pensioner has to pay a major part of his pension as a rent for accommodation. On account of high prices of residential houses, it is not possible for a retired employee to purchase even a small house out of his retirement dues.

AIRF, therefore, requests that, some provision, for payment of HRA to Pensioners/Family Pensioners, should be made to enable them to spend their retirement life comfortably.

Item No.3

Sub: Increase in Family Pension

A government employee gets pension @ 50%of his Basic Pay after retirement, which is considered sufficient to meet the expenses on day-to-day requirement of the family such as food, clothes etc., but after the demise of pensioner, only 30% pension is admissible as Family Pension to his widow. As such, the family gets 40% less pension in comparison to the pension admissible to the employee. It is understood that, after the demise of pensioner, the expenses are not reduced by 50%, which is perhaps the base of fixing FarnIy Pension. Moreover. besides expenses on food, there are some other miscellaneous expenses, which cannot be overlooked. In the circumstances, the existing provision of 30% pension to the family of deceased pensioner is inadequate for survival.  AIRE is, therefore, of the view that the Family Pension should be increased at least from 30% to 40%.

Item No.4

Sub: Arbitrary orders denying revision of Pension and Family Pension in favour of the pensioners who were in receipt of Compulsory Retirement Pension and Compassionate Allowance under Rules 40 and 41 of the Central Civil Services(Pension) Rules, 1972

In terms of rule 40 & 41 of Central Civil Services(Pension) Rules, 1972, CompulsoryRetirement Pension and Compassionate Allowance are sanctioned. Such Compulsory Retirement Pension and Compassionate Allowance, whenever sanctioned, are revised at par with other pensioners. But DOP&PW’s O.M. No.38/37/08—P&PW(A) dated 03.10.2008 has stated that, there should not be any revision on the Compulsory Retirement Pension and Compassionate Allowance. This order will adversely affect the living standard of the such retired employee.  AIRF, therefore, urges upon that, this order may please be called back and the revision, already undertaken, should be allowed to stay.

Item No.5

Sub: Revision of PPO in favour of Pensioners/Family Pensioners

Ministry of PPG&P(Departrnent of Pension) vide Para 11 of F. No. 38/ 37/08-P&PW(A) dated 01.09.2008 has issued order that revised PPO should be suo-moto issued by the pension sanctioning authority. This has been revised vide PPG&PW’s subsequent F. No.38/37/08—P&PW(A) Pt. I dated 14.10.2008 stipulating that the disbursing authority should furnish calculation in respect of revision of Pension/Family Pension to the pension sanctioning authority, and on receipt of the same, pension sanctioning authority would revise the PPO in favour of pensioner/family pensioner.

This order has created utter confusion and the same was raised in the ordinary meeting of the NCIJCM, held on 15.05.2010, when it was assured that the matter would be sorted out early. Unfortunately, after lapse of long 18 months, the matter could not be sorted out, resulting in, large number of pensioners/family pensioners of pre 01.01.2006 could not get the revised PPO.

AIRF, therefore, urges that, necessary action may be taken to issue revise PPO to the Pensioners/Family Pensioners of pre 01.01.2006 retirees.

Item No.6

Sub: Fixation of pension of pre-2006 retirees in terms of VI CPC pay scales

AIRF feels that the pension of pre-2006 retirees should be fixed on the basis of corresponding pay stage in new Pay Band plus Grade Pay of their last pay drawn in pay scale held by them at the time of their retirement.

In this regard, the Hon’ble CAT, New Delhi vide its judgement dated 01.11.2011 in OA Nos.0655/2010, 3079/2009, 306/2010 and 0507/2010 have given the direction to fix the pension of pre-2006 retirees as stated above.

AIRF understood that, instead of Implementing the judgement of the CAT, DoP&PW has challenged the judgement before the Hon’ble High Court, New Delhi.

AIRF, therefore, requests, that the DoP&PW, instead of fighting against Hon’ble CAT’s orders, may consider the justified demand in the interest of the pre-2006 retirees.

Item No.7

Sub: Restoration of commuted portion of pension

Presently, there is a provision for restoration of commuted portion of pension after 15 years. On an average, a small number of pensioners attain the age of 75 years. As such, most of the pensioners are deprived of the benefit of restoration of pension.

AIRF, therefore, requests that the period of 15 years may be reduced to 12 years so that some more pensioners could get the benefit of restoration of commuted portion of pension.

In this connection, it is pertinent to mention that the Fifth CPC had also recommended to reduce this period to 12 years.

Item No.8

Sub: Enhancement of age related to additional basic pension

There has been a demand from certain Pensioners Associations! Pensioners Samaj on the issue of enhancement of pension on attaining the age of 65, 70, 75 and 80 and so on by 5% every time.

Presently, age related enhancement in pension is admissible to the pensioners having 80 years of age completed.

As all are well aware that, a handful pensioners survive up to the age of 80 years. As such, majority of pensioners are unable to get the benefit of enhanced pension.

AIRF, therefore, requests the government to take a positive view to reduce minimum age limit from 80 to 65 years for giving the benefit of enhanced pension.