The 7th Central Pay Commission's (CPC) proposals on hike will finally bring smiles to the faces of about 52 lakh pensioners, with the Narendra Modi government issuing a notification on Thursday, but not after keeping them guessing for almost a week.
The government had issued the notification for Central government employees last Friday, raising concerns among lakhs of pensioners, though the recommendations of the pay panel were applicable to both serving employees and pensioners.
The notification on Thursday (Aug. 4) will bring relief to the pensioners as the hike along with the arrears for seven months are likely to be credited to their accounts, just as it was done for employees.
It may be recalled that a decision on the rate of increase in allowances for both employees and pensioners would take time, as the finance ministry has appointed a committee to look into concerns voiced by trade unions, prompting them (the unions) to withdraw their proposed indefinite strike last month.
The financial implication of the recommendations of the pay panel is about Rs. 1,02,100 crore, presuming the proposals will be implemented without any changes by the Central government.
Here is the notification issued by the finance ministry for pensioners on August 4:
Implementation 7th Pay Commission Revision of pension of pre-2016 Pensioners/Family Pensioners
Dated the 4th August, 2016.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Implementation of Government's decisions on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission – Revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners etc.
The undersigned is directed to say that in pursuance of Government's decision on the recommendations of Seventh Central Pay Commission, sanction of the President is hereby accorded to the regulation, with effect from 01.01.2016, of pension/ family pension of all the pre-2016 pensioners/ family pensioners in the manner indicated in the succeeding paragraphs. Separate orders are being issued in respect of employees who retired/died on or after 01.01.2016.
2.1 These orders shall apply to all pensioners/family pensioners who were drawing pension/family pension before 1.1.2016 under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules and the corresponding rules applicable to Railway pensioners and pensioners of All India Services, including officers of the Indian Civil Service retired from service on or after 1.1.1973. A pensioner/family pensioner who became entitled to pension/family pension with effect from 01.01.2016 consequent on retirement/death of Government servant on 31.12.2015, would also be covered by these orders.
2.2 Separate orders will be issued by the Ministry of Defence in regard to Armed Forces pensioners/family pensioners.
2.3 These orders also do not apply to retired High Court and Supreme Court Judges and other Constitutional/Statutory Authorities whose pension etc. is governed by separate rules/orders.
3. In these orders:
a. 'Existing pensioner' or 'Existing Family pensioner' means a pensioner/family pensioner to whom these orders are applicable in terms of para 2.1 above.
b. 'Existing pension' or 'Existing Family Pension means the basic pension (inclusive of commuted portion, if any) or basic family pension, as had been fixed at the time of implementation of 6th CPC recommendations, which an existing pensioner or family pensioner was entitled to.
4.1 For existing pensioners, who have retired before 01.01.2016, the revised pension/family pension with effect from 01.01.2016 shall be determined by multiplying the pension/family pension, as had been fixed at the time of implementation of 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC) recommendations, by 2.57. The amount of revised pension/family pension so arrived at shall be rounded off to next higher rupee.
Illustration:
Case I : Pensioner 'A' retired at last pay drawn of Rs. 79,000 on 31st May, 2015 under the 6th CPC regime in the scale of Rs. 67000-79000:
Amount in Rs. 1. Basic Pension fixed in 6tH CPC 39,500 2. Revised Pension fixed under 7tnCPC (using a multiple of 2.57) 1,01,515 Case II: Pensioner 'B' retired at last pay drawn of Rs. 4,000 on 31st January, 1989 under the 4th CPC regime in the pay scale of Rs. 3000-100-3500-125-4500:
Amount in Rs. 1. Basic Pension fixed in 4th CPC 1,940 2. Basic Pension as revised in 6th CPC 12,600 3. Revised Pension fixed under 7th CPC (using a multiple of 2.57) 32,382 4.2 For this purpose, the existing pension/family pension will be the basic pension/family pension only without the element of additional pension available to the old pensioners/family pensioners of the age of 80 years and above. The additional pension/family pension payable to the old pensioners/family pensioners will be worked out in accordance with para 4.5 of this O.M.
4.3 Since the consolidated pension will be inclusive of commuted portion of pension, if any, the commuted portion will be deducted from the said amount while making monthly disbursements.
4.4 The minimum pension with effect from 01.01.2016 will be Rs. 9000/- per month (excluding the element of additional pension to old pensioners). The upper ceiling on pension / family pension will be 50% and 30% respectively of the highest pay in the Government (The highest pay in the Government is Rs. 2,50,000 with effect from 01.01.2016).
4.5 The quantum of pension/family pension available to the old pensioners/ family pensioners shall continue to be as follows:-
Age of Pensioner/family Pensioner Additional quantum of Pension From 80 years to less than 85 years 20% of revised basic pension/ family pension From 85 years to less than 90 years 30% of revised basic pension / family pension From 90 years to less than 95 years 40% of revised basic pension / family pension From 95 years to less than 100 years 50% of revised basic pension / family pension 100 years or more 100% of revised basic pension
/ family pensionThe amount of additional pension will be shown distinctly in the pension payment order. For example, in case where a pensioner is more than 80 years of age and his/her revised pension in terms para 4.1 above is Rs.10,000 pm, the pension will be shown as (i).Basic pension=Rs.10,000 and (ii) Additional pension = Rs.2,000 pm. The pension on his/her attaining the age of 85 years will be shown as (i). Basic Pension = Rs.10,000 and (ii) additional pension = Rs.3,000 pm. Dearness relief will be admissible on the additional pension available to the old pensioners also.
4.6 The revised pension/family pension arrived at as per paragraph 4.1 includes dearness relief sanctioned from 1.1.2016.
5. Where the revised pension/family pension in terms of paragraph 4.1 above works out to an amount less than Rs. 9000/-, the same shall be stepped up to Rs. 9000/-. This will be regarded as pension/family pension with effect from 1.1.2016.
6. The existing instructions regarding regulation of dearness relief to employed/re- employed pensioners/family pensioners, as contained in Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare O.M. No. 45/73/97-P&PW(G) dated 02.07.1999, as amended from time to time, shall continue to apply.
7. The cases of Central Government employees who have been permanently absorbed in public sector undertakings/autonomous bodies will be regulated as follows:-
(a) PENSION : Where the Government servants on permanent absorption in public sector undertakings/autonomous bodies continue to draw pension separately from the Government, the pension of such absorbees will be updated in terms of these orders. In cases where the Government servants have drawn one time lump sum terminal benefits equal to 100% of their pensions and have become entitled to the restoration of one-third commuted portion of pension as per the instructions issued by this Department from time to time, their cases will not be covered by these orders. Orders for regulating pension of such pensioners will be issued separately.
(b) FAMILY PENSION : In cases where, on permanent absorption in public sector undertakings/autonomous bodies, the terms of absorption and/or the rules permit grant of family pension under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 or the corresponding rules applicable to Railway employees/members of All India Services, the family pension being drawn by family pensioners will be updated in accordance with these orders.
8. The matter regarding Constant Attendant Allowance admissible to the existing pensioners shall be examined by a Committee comprising Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) as Chairman and Secretaries of Home Affairs, Defence, Posts, Health & Family Welfare, Personnel & Training and Chairman, Railway Board as Members. Till a final decision is taken based on the recommendations of the Committee, Constant Attendant Allowance shall be paid at existing rates.
9. All Pension Disbursing Authorities including Public Sector Banks handling disbursement of pension to the Central Government pensioners are hereby authorised to pay pension/family pension to existing pensioners/family pensioners at the revised rates in terms of para 4.1 and 5 above without any further authorisation from the concerned Accounts Officers/Head of Office etc. Wherever the age of pensioner/ family pensioner is available on the pension payment order, the additional pension/ family pension in terms of para 4.4. above may also be paid by the pension disbursing authorities immediately without any further authorisation from the concerned Account Officer/ Head of Office, etc. A suitable entry regarding the revised pension shall be recorded by the pension Disbursing Authorities in both halves of the Pension Payment Order.
10 The pension/family pension as worked out in accordance with provisions of Para 4.1. and 5 above shall be treated as 'Basic Pension' with effect from 01.01.2016. The revised pension/family pension includes dearness relief sanctioned from 1.1.2016 and shall qualify for grant of Dearness Relief sanctioned thereafter.
11. Further orders in regard to revision of pension based on the recommendations of the Committee to be constituted in terms of the Government's decision on Item No. 11 of this Department's Resolution No. 38/37/2016-P&PW (A) dated 4th August, 2016, will be issued in due course.
12. After a decision as in para 11 above is taken by the Government and orders are issued in this regard, the Head of the Department of the Ministry, Department, Office, etc. from which the government servant had retired or where he was working prior to his demise will revise the pension/family pension of all pensioners/ family pensioners with effect from 1st January 2016 in accordance with those orders and issue revised Pension Payment Order (PPOs) accordingly.
13. It is considered desirable that the benefit of these orders should reach the pensioners as expeditiously as possible. To achieve this objective it is desired that all Pension Disbursing Authorities should ensure that the revised pension and the arrears due to the pensioners in terms of para 4.1. and para 5 above is paid to the pensioners or credited to their account by 31st August, 2016 or before positively.
14. In their application to the persons belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
15. Ministry of Agriculture etc. are requested to bring the contents of these Orders to the notice of Controller of Accounts/Pay and Accounts Officers and Attached and subordinate Offices under them on a top priority basis. All pension disbursing offices are also advised to prominently display these orders on their notice boards for the benefit of pensioners.
