NATIONAL
COORDINATION COMMITTEE OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION (NCCPA)
13-C,
Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi -110001
Ph:- 9868244035
No.F1-VII/CPC/2014
July 29, 2014
Smt. Meena Agarwal,
Member Secretary,
VII Central Pay
Commission,
New Delhi
Madam,
We submit herewith a Memorandum on issues relating to Pensioners
on behalf of Pensioners Associations affiliated to National Coordination
Committee of pensioners Associations.
We fully endorse the memorandum submitted by the Bharat Central
Pensioners Confederation. This would form Part – I of our memorandum. In part
II we have submitted our views and proposals on issues peculiar to Pensioners
from some Departments like Postal, DoT and Defence Civilian.
We request you to consider our submissions and give appropriate
recommendations thereon. We may also kindly be permitted to tender evidence and
explain our proposals to the Commission.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
(S.K.Vyas)
Secretary General
MEMORANDUM TO 7TH CENTRAL PAY
COMMISSION ON PENSIONERY BENEFITS OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS
PREAMBLE
The National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations
(NCCPA) is a joint platform of all Pensioners Associations and provides for
joint consultations and activities. The National Federations of Pensioners
Associations are to be affiliated with it. It is also organizing Coordination
Committee of Pensioners Associations at City /District level which in turn form
state level coordination committees. Such state Committees have already been
formed in West Bengal, Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and
Tamilnadu and affiliated to the NCCPA.
The total membership of the NCCPA is about 2 lakhs of Central
govt. Pensioners.
After wide consultation with Pensioners Associations, the
National Coordination Committee Pensioners Associations (NCCPA) the Bharat
Central Pensioners Confederation (BCPC) and Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) have
jointly finalized a memorandum relating to pensioners which has already been
submitted by the BCPC to the 7th Central Pay Commission. This shall
be the Part I of our Memorandum.
PART -
I
CHAPTER
– I
Introduction
The Government of India,
Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, Resolution No.1/1/2013-EIII(A)
dated 28th February, 2014 in its Para 2(f) has included the following terms of
reference of the 7th Central Pay Commission:
“(f) To examine the
principles which should govern the structure of Pension and other retirement
benefits, including revision of pension in the case of employees who were
retired prior to the date of these recommendations, keeping in view that the
retirement benefits of all Central Government employees appointed on and after
01.01.2004 are covered by the New Pension Scheme (NPS).”
1.2 The principles that
should govern the structure of pension etc have to be evolved taking into
account the relevant constitutional provisions as well as judicial
pronouncements by the Supreme Court of India in this regard.
1.3 Article 366(17) of
the Constitution of the Country defines pension as under:
“ Pension: Pension means
a pension whether contributory or not, of any kind whatsoever payable to or in
respect of any person and includes retired pay so payable; a gratuity so
payable and any sum or sums so payable by way of the return, with or without interest
thereon or any other addition thereto, of subscription to a Provident Fund.”
From this what is to be inferred is that the gratuity as well as commutation
are also part of the pension as a whole. These are also to be treated as
pensionery benefits.
1.4 The IV CPC went into
the conceptual question of pension in detail. Some of the observations
contained in their report are relevant in understanding the purport in the
background in which the Central Government employees are placed today. This is
reproduced below:-
“Para 2.13: Part II: The
concept of “pension” however old in its origin, had the latent and real desire
to provide for an eventuality – known and unknown. The known eventuality was
old age and probable reduction in earning power, while the unknown eventuality
was disability by disease or accident or death. Its real purpose was security,
Even though the beginning was oblique, indiscernible and faint, but the germ of
an effort to provide security ran through the provision and it is natural that it
should have grown and flowered with the development of human understanding and
desire to look after and provide for those who deserved it for man has
constantly been seeking means by which to enhance his economic security. But
the extension of the pension provision from military service to civilian public
employment, resulted largely from consideration for the employees and the
pressure of their organisations. Some benevolent employer goes to the extent of
regarding pensions as an absolutely indispensable complement of wages – a
terminal benefit. That, however, is apart from another aspect bearing on
pension – the social aspect. The demographic structure of the population is
changing because of the greater expectation of life. Thus, those who are now in
middle age are going to be nearly twice as big an economic burden to their
children as their parents are to them. The problem in such cases, has been
tackled as a social obligation, including social insurance for citizens
generally.”
“Para 2.17: In the very
nature of things, every employee, who lives long enough, reaches a stage of
diminished outturn of work or what may generally be called nonproductive years.
That may, speaking generally again, be set to be the responsibility
of his employer for whom
he has spent the best years of his life. In a welfare state that may also be
set to be the responsibility of the Government (where he is not in his
employment) and, in more modern society, it may also be set to be the
responsibility of the individual. So all three namely, the employer, the
Government and the employee or one or the other of them, may be expected to
contribute towards the pension according to the social or administrative set up
of the country or society where the individual undertakes the service but the
one common feature and object of pension is to provide for the old age of the
employee for the simple reason that time has eroded his capacity to earn and he
is unable to provide for himself. In a country like ours, where we have
solemnly resolved to constitute it into a “Socialist” Republic and to secure to
us all social and economic justice (Preamble), it behoves the Government to
take care of its employees by providing terminal benefit like retirement
pension when they become entitled to them. We may refer to the directive
principle of the State Policy enshrined in Article 39 (a) of the Constitution
that the State shall in particular direct its policy towards securing that the
citizens have the right to an “adequate means of livelihood” ….. If, such a
citizen is an employee of the State, is it out of ordinary, and not as of a
Constitutional directive, that the State should appreciate its duty to provide
for him by means of a pension and/or other terminal benefits? (emphasis added)
…. The concept of pension, therefore carries within it the germ of certainty,
periodicity, and “adequacy”. ……. Ours is a Socialist State and the fundamental
aim of Social security is to give individuals and families the confidence that
their level of living and quality of life will not, in so far as, be greatly
eroded by any social or economic eventuality, including the age of
superannuation or oncoming disability”
1.5 The concept of
pension has been explained more precisely in the Encyclopaedia of Social
Sciences, Vol.11 as under:
“administrators and civic
leaders interested in the improvement of Government services formulated the
idea of pension as an efficiency device necessary for the orderly and humane
elimination of superannuated and disabled employees no longer able to
function efficiently for the proper operation of the system of promotions, for
the attraction of better type of employees and for the improvement of working
morale”
1.6 On the doctrinal
approach the Encyclopaedia further states that:
“ A doctrine recently
advanced and more far reaching in its implications regard the Public Service as
the logical pioneer in the meeting of the old age problem as it affects wage
earner in modern society. This doctrine considers a pension as a compensation
paid to the employee for the gradual destruction of his wage earning capacity
in the course of his work. Retirement being a proper charge against the
employees, entire period of active service, the employer should make
contribution towards the employees eventual retirement during each year of
service of the employee, in a manner similar to that in which he annually sets
aside a reserve against depreciation and obsolescence of his plant and
machinery. Pensions, according to this doctrine, are an absolutely indispensable
compliment of wages.”
1.7 In para 2.20 the IV
Pay Commission has observed:
“but even though the
Government service pension scheme in our country is non-contributory, it has
been contended again by way of doctrinal approach, that this is not really so and
that some allowance is made for the missing contribution while determining the
salaries”
1.8 The Supreme Court in
their Landmark Judgment (which has been approvingly quoted by the 5th CPC in
D.S.Nakara and others Vs Union of India (AIR 1983 SC 130) held that Pension is
neither a bounty nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the
employer. It is not an ex-gratia payment but payment for past services
rendered. It is a social welfare measure rendering socio economic justice to
those who in the hey-days of their life ceaselessly toiled for their employer
on an assurance that in their old age they would not be left in lurch. The 5th
CPC paying due respect to the above observation of the Honourable Apex Court in
Para 127.6 of its report has stated that the pension is the statutory,
inalienable, legally enforceable right of employees which has been earned by
the sweat of their brow.
As such the pension
should be fixed, revised, modified and changed in ways not entirely dissimilar
to the salaries granted to serving employees.
1.9 While examining the
goals that a pension scheme should seek to sub-serve, the Honourable Apex Court
held that “a pension scheme consistent with available resources must provide
that the pensioner would be able to live:
(i)
free from want, with decency, independence and self respect, and
(ii) at
a standard equivalent at the pre retirement level”
The Court observed that
we owe it to the Pensioners that they live, not merely exist.
1.10 From the above
observation of the Supreme Court it is clear that pension is payable by the
employer i.e., the Central Government to its retired employees which is their
statutory and legally enforceable right from which they cannot be deprived.
That the amount of pension must be enough to enable a pensioner to live free
from want with decency, independence, and self-respect and at a standard
equivalent at the pre-retirement level.
1.11 Keeping the above
observations and principles and judicial pronouncements in view, we submit
below our suggestions for restructuring the existing pensionery scheme in
appropriate chapters. We have made our submissions only in respect of issues
where we want Commission to consider improvements in the existing provisions.
CHAPTER
– II
New
Pension Scheme (NPS)
2.1 The contributory
pension system brought in by the GOI through their notification dated
22.12.2003, now renamed as National Pension System under PFRDA Act, has been
imposed on Government employees who entered service on or after 1.1.2004.
2.2 This is an illegal
act in as much as the Supreme Court of India had held Pension as an enforceable
inalienable fundamental right. Therefore it should be scrapped or at least not
made applicable to Government employees. This has also divided the CG employees
into two categories and therefore it is discriminatory in respect of persons
who have entered service on or after 1.1.2004 who had been denied the statutory
pension. Any discriminatory scheme is illegal and ultravires of Article 14 of
the Constitution. On this count also the NPS cannot be made applicable to the
Government employees.
2.3
We had a preliminary interaction with the 7th Central Pay
Commission on 23rd July 2014. On New Pension Scheme the 7th Central
Pay Commission desired that we furnish detailed information relating to this
New Pension Scheme and PFRDA Act, 2013. We therefore submit as under:
BACK
GROUND
2.4
The Government of India in year 1998 set up the Old Age Social & Income
Security Project (OASIS) for devising a pension scheme for the unorganized
Sector.
2.5
The report given by the OASIS was referred to the IRDA for studying the various
aspects in the area of system of pension to the unorganized sector suggested by
the OASIS. The Government also constituted a High Level Expert Committee headed
by Shri B.K. Bhattacharya to review the existing pension system for Central
Government Employees. The Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare O.M.
No.38/14/2001-P&PW (A) dated 25.6.2001 constituting this High Level Expert
Group laying down its Terms of Reference is annexed herewith and marked as
Annexure – I.
2.6
The major observations of the OASIS Project Report, IRDA committees
recommendations for reforms in nongovernmental / unorganized sector and
relevant recommendations of the High Level Expert group on New Pension System
for Central Government Employees are as under:-
2.7
The prime focus of the OASIS Committee has been on the great mass of
individuals who are working outside the pension provisions that presently exist
in unorganized sector. The OASIS Committee recommended a pension scheme based
on Industrial Retirement Accounts to be opened any-where in India at a price of
modest contributions through the working career of the worker, and provision of
benefit after the age of 60 by annuity providers. As per the report, a minimum
contribution of Rs.500 per annum was expected to have an accumulation of around
2 lakhs at the age of 60 years , of which Rs.1 lakh was to be used for buying
an annuity beyond which one would be free to deploy.
2.8
The IRDA committee’s recommendations also relating to workers in
unrecognized sector were, among other things, to establish a system based on
privately managed, individual funded defined – Contribution accounts with freedom
to invest in equities which leads to a tremendous enhancement over a long
period of time to the returns. These can be paid either in lump sum and / or
annuity on retirement actuarially determined on the fund available.
2.9
The High Level Expert Group headed by Shri B.K. Bhattacharya submitted
its report in February 2002. Chapter 10 of this report contains summary and
recommendations of this Group. We annex herewith paras 10.22 to 10.24 and para
10.28 of this Report (vide Annexure – II) which indicates that for Government
employees the Group had recommended a defined benefit contributory Pension
Scheme keeping in view the ruling of the Supreme Court that Pension is a
measure of sociao – economic justice and is an enforceable right and the pension
scheme has to ensure that the pensioner is able to live free from want, with
decency, independence and self respect.
2.10.
As against this the Government imposed a Defined Contribution Pension Scheme or
government employees entering service on or after 1.1.2004 which was
recommended both by OASIS Committee and IRDA in respect of unrecognized
workers.
2.11
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2005 was referred
to the Standing Committee of Finance for examination and report. As per the
report of the Standing Committee on Finance it sought to know from the
Government whether:
i)
the employees covered or subscribers of the NPS could be
guaranteed a minimum pension amounting to at least 50 percent of the last pay,
as provided for under the prevailing Pension Rules.
ii)
the Government would actually be able to reap the benefit of
consolidating or lessening the fiscal stress on pension payments as the Defence
Services were left out of NPS, and the Government had to, in addition to
meeting the liability on pension payments of retired and service employees,
also make a matching 10% contribution in the case of new recruits covered by
the NPS; and
iii)
the projected or potential pension market of the unorgnized
Sector justified the setting up of PFRDA as a statutory body.
2.12
The Government response to quarry No (i) was that as per clause 20 (f) of the
PFRDA Bill, there shall not be any implicit or explicit assurance of benefits
but market itself could provide certain instruments for providing guarantee. It
was also made clear that as of now, there is clearly no intention to provide a
guarantee on the pension under this system. The Government also furnished
certain illustrative calculations. From these calculations in the case of an
asset allocation involving 100% investment in Govt. Securities, return
assumption of 1.5% per year for Govt. Bonds, 3% on Corporate Bonds and 5 % for
equities have been computed – and terminal replacement rates would range
between 43% to 49%. On the other hand in case involving 100% investment in
equities, there placement rate was projected to be in the range of 80 to 95%.
2.13
After about 10 years of operation of this scheme, none of the promoters has
generated options where the subscribers could buy any guarantees and the
projected replacement rate in the range of 80 to 95 % has not been realized. As
a matter of fact the replacement rate is tending below even 30%.
2.14
The answer to quarry no (ii) above has been provided in High Level Expert Group
Report according to which there is an additional liability on account of 10%
matching Contribution by Govt. in respect of new entrants ranging from 155
crore in year 2004-05 and increasing steadily to Rs. 2988 crores in year
2021-22 thereafter it starts reducing from Rs. 2888 crores in 2022-23 to Rs.
596 crores in year 2037-38. The positive gain of a switch over to Defined
Contribution scheme will be witnessed only from year 2038 – 39.
2.15
Regarding querry no. (iii) above as per FICCI and CII the market size for
pension funds in the uncovered sector of workface would encompass 34.5
million peoples involving a corpus of Rs. 28,770.2 crores. The reality is that
even a tenth of the above estimate has not been achieved.
2.16
From the above it becomes clear that the scheme has been introduced by the
Govt. and cleared by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the basis of false
/ inaccurate assumptions. Transition from Defined Contributory Pension Scheme
has virtually dismantled its social Security character and has been made
dependent on vagaries of market. Neither the Govt. nor any promoter has come
forward to offer a guarantee that the Pension would not be less than what the
statutory scheme is providing.
The argument that this
scheme was to ensure lessoning of the fiscal distress is also not being
realized. As a matter of fact the fiscal distress is only to increase for
another 35 years from 2004-05 & the scheme has practiscally failed to
attract workers from the unrecognized sector for whose benefit it was primarily
launched.
2.17
We may also mention that 5 Members of Parliament who were members of the Standing
Committee (comprising of 15 members) have totally opposed the PFRDA Bill and
their note of dissent has been recorded and form the part of this report.
Copies of their notes of dissent are also annexed herewith and marked as
Annexure III to VI.
2.18
The Centre for Economic Studies and Policy, Institute for Social & Economic
Change, Bangalore in a Study of Terminal Benefits of the Central Government
Employees sponsored by the VI CPC had also observed that Civil Services Pension
is in the nature of a deferred wage. It is well known that the principle
guiding the pay package of civil servants is one of intentionally spreading out
the compensation over a long period of time, thereby the wages paid out during
the course of the work tenure is kept low by design, and the pension payments
made during the retirement phase compensate for the low working wages.
2.19 The above mentioned
study under the heading “Arguments against pension reforms” states as follows:
“Deferred Wage: In the
context of civil servant pension payments, it is argued that, the principle
guiding the fixation of pay package is one of intentionally spreading out the
compensation over a long period of time, whereby the wages paid out during the
course of work tenure is kept low by design, and the pension payments made
during the retirement phase compensate for the low working wages. The Supreme
Court of India held that pension is neither a bounty nor a matter of grace
depending upon the sweet will of the employer. It is not an ex-gratia payment,
but a payment for past services rendered. It is a social welfare measure,
rendering socio-economic justice to those who in the heyday of their life
ceaselessly toiled for the employer on an assurance that in their old age, they
would not be left in the lurch.”
“Larry Williams observes
“Actually, civil service pensions, because they are not based on contributions,
are best described as deferred wages. Civil servants accept a lower current
wage in exchange for the promise of a pension in their old age. If this pension
were contributory, they would insist on a higher wage and government would have
to either increase taxes or borrow (issue debt) to pay it. The real cost of
civil servants is thus much higher than recorded under the current system of cash
accounting. A good reform would be to move to a system of accrual accounting
setting up at least a notional fund to pay these deferred wages” (Larry
Wilmore, 2004)” “Public and private sector pay differentials: A comparison of
the public and private sector wages reveals that while the public sector wages
for the lower grades compares well with that of the private sector, the
salaries of the employees belonging to the higher grades are highly
unfavourable to the public sector employees. The post-retirement benefits that
the government employees are entitled to act as some incentive to retain them
in government sector.”
2.20 The above study had
submitted the following estimated pensionery outgo which tends to increase
during the period from 2004-2038. It is only after 2043 that it starts
declining and will be reduced to zero only in 2088. The table is given below:
|
Year
|
Employee Pension
Payout (in Rs Crores)
|
Family Pension Pay out (in Rs.Crores)
|
Total pension payout
(in
Rs.Crores)
|
|
2004
|
11300.69
|
2983.38
|
14284.07
|
|
2008
|
13532.84
|
3572.68
|
17105.52
|
|
2013
|
16549.07
|
4368.94
|
20918.02
|
|
2018
|
21862.54
|
5771.79
|
27634.33
|
|
2023
|
27723.68
|
7319.11
|
35042.80
|
|
2028
|
34076.27
|
8996.13
|
43072.41
|
|
2033
|
39321.68
|
10381.01
|
49702.69
|
|
2038
|
45164.50
|
11923.41
|
57087.90
|
|
2043
|
41747.23
|
11021.30
|
52768.53
|
|
2048
|
35011.92
|
9243.18
|
44255.10
|
|
2053
|
25405.44
|
6707.07
|
32112.51
|
|
2058
|
16303.15
|
4304.07
|
20607.22
|
|
2063
|
8179.51
|
2159.39
|
10838.90
|
|
2068
|
3159.88
|
834.19
|
3994.07
|
|
2073
|
800.68
|
211.34
|
1012.02
|
|
2078
|
110.26
|
29.17
|
139.43
|
|
2083
|
3.52
|
0.97
|
4.49
|
|
2088
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
2.21 The above study had
also pointed out that expenditure on pensions of civil servants of high income
OECD countries on an average is 2% of GDP (less than 1% in Ireland and more
than 3.5% in Austria*)(* Source: OECD Social Expenditure Database). But in the
8 South Asian countries it is less than 1% of GDP (Source: World Bank Data
base). However, in India between 1964-65 and 2004-05 on an average pension
payments (Civil Service pension paid by Central Government) have constituted
0.51% share of GDP. The Pension liability would continue to increase and reach
0.54% level by 2014-15 and remain at that level till 2024-25 after which they
would decline as a percentage of GDP according to the same study conducted by
Dr.Gayatri at the instance of VI CPC. These figures argue themselves in favour
of continuation of the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme for all Central
Government employees instead of throwing a section of them to market based NPS.
According to 2011 census 62.8% are in the age group of 15 to 60 and only 8.2%
are above the age of 60.
2.22
From the above projection it is very clear that the benefit of NPS will
commence only after 30 years i.e. in 2044. And during the period it will
increase exponentially as because in addition to the Statutory pension liability
the Government will be contributing to the NPS also @ 10% of annual salary bill
of the CG Employees who have entered service on or after 1.1.2004.
2.23
The final conclusion of this study team has been as under:
“Mainly given the fact
that the future liability although may be large in terms of the absolute size
is not likely to last very long and does not constitute an alarmingly big share
of the GDP which is also on the decline, it appears that pursuing the existing
“Pay As you Go” to meet the liability would be an ideal solution.”
2.24
Applying this conclusion we may suggest that the NPS may not be made applicable
to the Government employees and all those who had been covered under NPS may be
reverted back to statutory pension scheme. The Government may be asked to study
the experiences of this scheme in several other countries in the world. In
Chile such a scheme has been reversed as because the return which the low paid
employees got out of the annuity purchased was not as good as 50% of LPD but as
low as 20% of LPD. The UK Government had to pay out of the exchequer large
amount by way of subventions in order to ensure that that annuities purchased
yield 50% of LPD as pension. It is well known that in USA where there were
similar pension schemes dependent upon the market had collapsed during the
financial melt down from 2008 onwards. It is estimated that more than 3.5
trillion $ worth of pension wealth was lost. The workers not only lost their
pension but also their jobs. Our respectful submission is that taking into
account the demographic considerations of India which is a country of young do
not need any such market oriented pension scheme, particularly when the
international experience is that such schemes had failed and our country can
afford to pay pension to civil servants which stands at level of 1% of the GDP.
We conclude by quoting the opinions of experts on the future of market
dependent pension Scheme.
Mr Joseph Stiglitz (Chief
economic advisor to former president of USA Bill Clinton, former vice-chairman
and chief economic advisor, World Bank, Nobel Prize winner, Professor of
economics, Columbia university) said that “Stock market does not guarantee
returns. It does not even guarantee that the stock values will keep up with inflation.
Privatization would not protect retirees against the social security systems
insolvency. Argentina’s privatization of its pension system was at the centre
of its fiscal woes”.
Mr Dean Baker
(Co-director for centre for economic and policy research, Washington) said
“Privatisation means that you would not have a guaranteed benefit that you have
today. It would depend on how will your investments do or how well they have
done at the point you retire. He quoted the collapse of NASDAQ and Enron. In Britain,
Insurance companies could not honour their promises and the Government had to
compensate with 8 billion pounds”.
We therefore submit that
VII CPC may kindly critically review the National Pension Scheme and recommend
that the Scheme and the PFRDA Act be scrapped and Govt. employees covered by
this scheme may be brought back and covered by the statutory pension Scheme and
G.P.F. benefits. The amount recovered from them may be credited to their GPF
Accounts.
CHAPTER
II-A
Pension
Act 1871
On the issue of
Pension Act 1871, we have the following submissions to make .
The CCS (Pension) Rules,
1972 were notified under the powers vested under proviso to Art. 309 of the
Constitution and not under the Pension Act, 1871.
The Act is a legacy of
the former colonial Government The Pension Act, 1871 is in the Statute Book but
has no relevance or reference to the pension format of the Central Government
employees. The Government is sticking to the archaic Act. It is to be remembered
that the Government, committed in the Parliament that it will be revised and
reflect the latest developments of social security. (refer Lok Sabha
discussion on 10th and 16th April 1981).
Neither the Monitoring Committee of the Parliament on Assurances nor the
Government had taken any concrete steps in revising 1871 Act.
The Gajendragadkar Law
Commission had advised the Government of India to change the Pension Act, 1871
in 1972 but nothing was done.
S/Sri V.N. Gadgil and
Parulekar (the then, MPs) moved a substitute bill in the budget session of
Parliament in replacement of the Pension Act, 1871. The issue was discussed on
16th and 30th of April, 1981 Shri P.
Venkatasubbiah, the then Minister of State for Home Affairs gave an assurance
of bringing in an amendment to the Pension Act. (Incidentally, 82 MPs had
supported this move.)
Pensioners Association
had brought this matter to the notice of the Government of India through SCOVA
meeting.
The Following sections of
this Act violate the Constitution of India
(a)
Section – 4: No Civil Court shall entertain
any suit relating to any pension.
(b) Section
– 6: Shall entertain suit only on receipt of a
certificate from the
Collector
/ Deputy Commissioner that the case may be tried, but the court
hall
not make any order by which the liability of Government to pension is
affected.
The Following go against
the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972:-
(a) Section - 5
:- The claim for pension to be made to the collector / Deputy
Commissioner.
(b) Section
– 8:- The Pension payments to be made by the Collector /
Deputy
Commissioner
(C) Section – 15:- Confers powers to the Central Government to
make rules only
to provide for
nominations under Section – 12 A.
The following are
outdated / have no relevance to pension matters:
(a) Section – 7:- Relates to pension for
lands held under grants in
perpetuity.
(b)
Section – 9;- Relates to saving of rights of grantee of Land
revenue.
(c) Section – 13:- Relates to Grant of reward equivalent to
amount of pension to
those who inform
about persons receiving pension fraudulently or unduly.
No doubt, the subject
“Repeal of Pension Act, 1871” comes within the purview of the Law Commission.
Two years ago, the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare called for
opinion of Pensioner s Associations on this, but it stopped at that. Since this
Act has been used by the Government to frame the “Payment of Arrears of Pension
(Nomination) Rules, 1983, exercising Power under Section – 15 of this Act and
since Section – 11 of the Act is also current on date, it appears to be in the
fitness of things that the VI CPC suo moto examine this aspect and make
suitable recommendations to the Government”
Chapter
– III
Pension
Entitlement
Emoluments
for Pension:
3.1 The entire income in
the form of basic pay, special pay or personal pay if any, deputation duty
allowance etc are the elements of pay proper and therefore confining the
emoluments to the basic pay as recommended by the IV and V CPCs is arbitrary.
In many countries there is no system of DA. Periodically the Pay is revised /
indexed taking into account the rise in cost of living. Here also there is a
system of merging the DA as DP for purposes of pensionery benefits. In respect
of gratuity already the DA is being included with Pay and therefore there is no
reason for excluding the DA from the emoluments. We therefore suggest that the
emoluments for the calculation of pension should include:
(a)
Basic Pay
(b) Any
Special pay or personal pay, or deputation duty allowance.
(c)
Dearness Allowance
(d)
Non-practicing allowance in respect of Doctors
(e) 75%
of the running allowance in respect of Railway Running Staff retired after
4.12.1988.
3.2
There are persons who retire after having served for full year since their last
increment. The next increment which has already accrued to them is however not
added to their emoluments for purposes of computing pension and other
pensionary benefits. It is therefore submitted that the Commission may kindly
consider and recommend that if a person retire on the day he has completed 12
months of service since his last increment, the increment accrued to him may be
added notionally to his basic pay and then the pension computed.
3.3 The VI CPC has
already recommended that the ten monthly average emoluments or the last pay
drawn, whichever is more beneficial, should be the basis of computation of
pension. We have therefore no further suggestion to place before the Commission
on this issue.
Qualifying service for
pension:
3.4 Casual Labour /
Contingent Paid Employees: At present Casual labourers / Contingency paid
employees are allowed to count their service towards pension @ 50% of the total
period falling between acquiring the temporary status and regularization and
full service thereafter. The above benefit is also subject to further condition
that such employees should be regularized and absorbed against a regular post.
The operation of this condition is so harsh that there are many cases in which
the entire service rendered non pensionable because the employee may be retired
/ retrenched / die before such regularization. We, therefore, propose that the
50% of service before acquiring temporary status and full service after
acquiring temporary status irrespective of whether he / she was regularized or
not should count towards pension. Similarly these employees have to remain for
long durations without any regularisation and are deprived many facilities and
amenities which a regular employee gets. Not to treat their service pensionable
for a considerable period leaves them with very meagre pension and in some
cases with no pension. This is against the principle of social justice and
therefore our above suggestion should be considered by the 7th CPC.
3.5 Pensionable
service of Casual and GDS: Recent judicial pronouncements have directed the
Government to take into account the date of entry in the service as a casual
labourer or a temporary status Majdoors etc into criterion and not the date of
regularisation to determine as to whether he or she is to be brought under the
CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 or under the NPS. Therefore we propose that all
casual labourers, Gramin Dak Sewaks in the Department of Posts etc are to be
brought under the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme under the CCS (Pension)
Rules, 1972 for grant of pension on their regularisation in the services, even
though they are getting regularisation after 1.1.2004 because they should be
treated as having entered the services before 1.1.2004 as per the judgment of
Court. We therefore propose that entire service rendered as a casual labour
irrespective of the fact whether he was granted temporary status or ultimately
regularised should be treated as pensionable service and the service rendered
as GDS in Department of Posts also should be treated in the similar fashion.
3.6 Interruption causing
forfeiture of service for pension: The existing provisions defining
interruptions in service causing forfeiture of past service for purposes of
pension are quite antiquated, unnecessary and unreasonably harsh, which should
be removed from the statue book. In formative years when the British
Authorities were recruiting Indians in their Administrative Services, it was
noticed that during sowing and harvesting seasons, a large number of employees
used to go back to the fields without any regular leave etc. As a deterrent,
the rules regarding interruption in service had been legislated then. Since
most of the employees have now lost their rural roots, such frequent and
recurring interruptions are no longer there. Interruption as and when rarely
caused is due to reason mostly beyond the control of an employee. We therefore,
propose that instead of treating interruption to cause an automatic forfeiture
of past service for pensions, it should be dealt with under CCA Rules. The
provision causing forfeiture of service for pension purposes on account of
interruption may, therefore, be deleted.
3.7 Resignation as
retirement: Resignation is tendered by a Government Servant in varying circumstances.
It is felt, therefore, that resignation need not always result in forfeiture of
past services (Rule 26 of Pension Rules) and denial of Pension. An objective
view is required to be taken by the appointing authority in the case of
all those who tender resignation after completion of 20 years of service.
Such resignation may be treated as voluntary retirement and benefits extended
accordingly. In this connection we may cite the following decisions of the
Judiciary:
(a) CAT
Mumbai full bench OA No.1384/1985 decided on 8.7.1997
(b) CAT
Ahmedabad OA No.498/2002 decided on 18.03.2004
(c) CAT
Jabalpur O.S No.623.1991 decided on 13.10.1995
(d)
Bombay High Court WP No.615/1996 and WP No.2586/1997 decided on
28.02.2002
Even 5th CPC in Para
133.79 had recommended that terminal gratuity at different rates be paid to
those who resign after putting in certain years of service and resignation
after 20 years of service may be treated as voluntary retirement and pension
may be paid accordingly. We, therefore, request the 7th CPC that the above
recommendation may be reiterated.
3.8 There are
certain employees who are in the CPF / SRPF Scheme but could not opt for the
Pension Scheme in the year 1986. These are mostly women employees employed in
Atomic Energy Commission etc who could not make up their mind as to whether
they could render the requisite number of service necessary for grant of full
pension. In certain autonomous bodies while options for Pension scheme have
been obtained, this is not being granted. They may now be allowed to revise
their option. Our suggestion is that CPF / SRPF retirees may be granted Minimum
Pension and employees of autonomous bodies applying central Rules may be
extended Statutory Pensionery benefits.
3.9 The VI CPC has done
away with the requirement of 33 years of qualifying service for full pension.
They have said that full pension may be granted to those who have the
qualifying service of 20 years. Therefore we have no further suggestion to
place before the Commission on this issue.
Paramilitary
retirees
The Service conditions of paramilitary forces under CRPF, BSF,
CISF etc are totally akin to military personnel. But pension and other benefits
extended to them is totally on the basis of civilians. These Paramilitary
Forces render their service in different fields like maintenance of Law and
Order, communal riots, Regional agitations, Border Securities etc. There is
nothing to compare their service to that of civil services. They are on 24
hours service mostly. They are just like military personnel. The military
service personnel are eligible for full pension after 15 years of service. As
the service conditions of the paramilitary forces are totally identical to
Military, we therefore request the VII Central Pay Commission to
recommend that the Paramilitary Personnel shall also be granted full pension
after rendering 15 years of qualifying service.
Rate of Pension:
3.10 We should keep in
mind the observation of the Apex Court that the pension scheme must provide so
much that the pensioner should be able to live:
(i)
Free from want, with decency, independence and self-respect, and
(ii) At
a standard equivalent at the pre-retirement level.
(The
Court had further observed that we owe it to the pensioners that they live;
Not merely exist.)
3.11 Therefore taking
into account that on superannuation an employee is left with a two unit family
generally and therefore if he is to be enabled to maintain a standard
equivalent to the pre-retirement level, the rate of pension should be 67% of
the last pay drawn. We therefore suggest that full pension should be at the
rate of 67% of Last Pay Drawn or 10 months average emoluments, whichever is
more beneficial.
3.12. It is
pertinent to point out that several countries in the world pay higher rate of
pension to their civilian pensioners. France is paying 75% of last six months
average emoluments as pension; Belgium is paying 75% of last five years average
as pension; Cyprus is paying 67% of final salary as pension; Malta is paying
80% of average of best 15 years wages as pension; Our neighbour Sri Lanka which
is also in the lower middle income group of countries like India in South Asia,
is having a scheme called “Public Servants Pension Scheme (Defined Benefit
Scheme) established in 1901, as a mandatory scheme financed by the Government
budget is paying 85% to 90% (for 30 years of service) of last one year annual
salary at retirement as pension (Source: Sri Lanka Pension Department Circular
No.3/2004 dated 16.01.2004); The life expectancy in Sri Lanka at 60 is 20.2%
which is 3.5% higher than India.
3.13 In Pakistan which is
another neighbour and remains in the same lower middle income group of
countries is calculating pension on the following formula:
“Number of years of
service X Last Basic Pay X 7 and divided by 300. If an employee has served 35
years of service and received last basic pay as Rs.10,000/- then that employee
shall get a pension of 8,167/- (i.e., 81.67%).
3.14 In Bangladesh the
retirement age is 57. The life expectancy at 60 in Bangladesh is 17.9 which is
same as in India. This country also remains in lower middle income group of
countries like India. But Bangladesh pays 80% of last pay as pension. In the
war devastated country of Afghanistan,, pension is calculated on last 36 months
average; for each year it is 2% and a maximum of 80% is given as pension in
that country.
3.15 From the above
comparison with some of the world countries of both European as well as our own
South Asian countries, it is clear that all those countries are paying better
percentage of pay as pension to their Civilian employees. India appears
to be one of the less pension paying country despite its image of one of the
faster developing economies in the world. We therefore suggest that the basic
pension to be determined should be 67% basis of the last pay drawn or the 10
months average emoluments, whichever is more beneficial to employee subject to
the condition that the pension so determined shall not be less than the minimum
of the pay scale of the post held by him at the time of his retirement.
Additional Pension
3.16 It has already been
well recognised that as the age after superannuation further advances, not only
the pensioner becomes weak in limbs but also becomes more susceptible to
various geriatric diseases. He will have to incur additional expenses for his
upkeep. There are also the social obligations and increased expenses on medical
treatment etc.
3.17 The Government of
India has accepted and implemented the 6th CPC recommendation of age-related additional
pension beyond the age of 80. However the 6th CPC did not recommend any
addition to the pension for a period of 20 years after superannuation at the
age of 60. Their argument was that every pensioner gets increase in his / her
pension after 15 years when the commutated portion of his pension is
restored. This is not at all a valid ground. Even during these 15 years the
Dearness Relief is calculated on his gross pension and not on his net pension
after commutation and he earns interest on commuted value of pension. Therefore
there is no increase in pension on account of restoration of commuted pension
after 15 years.
3.18 In our opinion this
needs certain revision. According to SSO survey (2007- 08) 7.5% population only
is above the age of 60. Naturally this may reflect among the pensioners also.
Life expectancy at 60 is only 17.9 and at 70 it is only 11.8 (Source: Sample
Registration System O/o the Registrar General India). This means a Government
servant is receiving pension for 18 to 22 years. In the age group of 60 to 79,
in Rural areas 5% and in Urban areas 5.5% is confined to bed. In the same age
group 22.4% in Rural areas and 20.2% in Urban areas is confined to home due to
physical immobility (Source: National Sample Survey, 60th Round, 2004). After
retirement, their income from pension is nearly 1/3rd of their gross salary at
the time of retirement. But they have to spend more on medical care. This
age-group therefore also needs some relief by way of additional pension.
Incidentally Afghanistan which is one of the low income countries in Asia, is
having a retirement age of 65 with a formula of grant of additional pension at
the rate of 3% for each year after 65 years of age and the maximum 80%
additional pension is paid.
3.19 Therefore we seek
the 7th CPC to consider addition to the pension after granting 67% of last pay
drawn (LPD) / Average of emoluments as full pension on superannuation at 60
years of age as under, because of prevailing life expectancy of Indian Citizen
Age is 69.6 (assessed during the year 2011-15) and the old pensioner who is
also considered to be senior citizen has to wait for a period of twenty years
on his retirement to get an increase at his age of 80 maintaining his health
from disease burden.
On
attaining Age of
Pension
admissible;
|
65 Years
|
|
70% of L.P.D.
|
|
70 Years
|
|
75% of
LPD
|
|
75 Years
|
|
80% of LPD
|
|
80 Years
|
|
85% of LPD
|
|
85 Years
|
|
90% of LPD.
|
|
90 Years
|
|
100% of LPD
|
Note: L.P.D= Last Pay
drawn or ten monthly average of the pay drawn whichever is more beneficial.
Minimum Pension
3.20 Though the concept
of minimum pension and the method of computing it have not been explained by
any of the pay commissions or the Government, it is clear that the Minimum
Pension is 50% of the Minimum Wage. The rationale behind the percentage has nowhere
been explained. We however think that in order to ensure that it is adequate,
100% of the minimum wage should be the Minimum Pension. The very concept of
Need Based Minimum Wage is that this is a level of wage below which a worker’s
family cannot subsist / survive and remain capable to perform. That being the
concept of minimum wage, it should also apply in the case of Minimum Pension on
the premise that any pension lower than the Minimum pay is insufficient to
enable a pensioner / family pensioner to live or survive.
Dearness Compensation
3.21 We have no
suggestions for improvement of this issue except that Pensioners may be paid
the same dearness compensation viz., at the same rate as it is being paid to
the serving employees. It should be periodically merged with the basic
pension so that deficiency in the 100% neutralization in the cost of living is
partially compensated.
Merger of Dearness Relief
with Basic Pension
3.22 As on 01.01.2014,
the Dearness Relief compensation stands at 100%. The suggestion for merger of
DR to partially compensate the erosion in the real pension was first suggested
by the Gadgil Committee in the post 2nd Central Pay Commission period. The 3rd
CPC had recommended such merger when the cost of Living Index crossed over 272
points i.e. 72 points over and above the base index adopted for the pension
revision. In other words, the recommendation of the 3rd CPC was
to merge the Dearness Relief when it crossed 36%. The Government in the
National Council JCM at the time of negotiation initially agreed to merge 60 %
Dearness Relief and later the whole of the DR before the 4th CPC was set up.
The 5th CPC merged 98% of DR with pension.
3.23 The methodology
adopted for compensating the erosion in the real value of pension in the
interregnum period had always been through the mechanism of merger of a portion
of Dearness Relief. The 5th CPC had recommended that the Dearness Relief must
be merged with basic pension as and when the percentage of Dearness
compensation exceeds 50% accordingly even before the setting up the 6th CPC
the Dearness Relief to the extent of 50% was merged with pension.
3.24 It was totally
ironic to note that deviating from all other Pay Commissions, the 6th CPC had
made a reversal and recommended that no Dearness Allowance / Dearness Relief
should be merged with the Basic Pay of employees / Basic Pension of Pensioners.
The recommendation had dealt a severe blow below the belt as this
recommendation denied everyone from having any cushion against the erosion
caused in the real value of pension in between two pay commissions. Had the
recommendation of V CPC been continued, there would have been two automatic
mergers of Dearness Relief by this time as V CPC recommended such a merger
automatically whenever the dearness relief index crosses 50% mark.
3.25 The Central
Government also taking undue advantage out of the recommendations in the name
of 6th CPC has been stiffly denying any such merger of DA/ DR. This issue
requires course correction and we suggest that the 7th CPC should recommend for
automatic merger of DA / DR as and when the index crosses the 50% mark and
before setting up another Pay Commission entire DA should be merged with pay as
was done by the V-CPC.
The submission made in
Staff Side Memorandum on this issue are reiterated with a request that
the commission may submit a interim report recommending that 100% of DR
may be merged with the basic pay w.e.f. 1.1.2014
3.26 Compassionate Allowance
For good and sufficient
reasons, any Govt employee may be dismissed or removed from service; of course
after conducting disciplinary proceeding under Rule 14 of the CCS (CCA) Rules,
1965.
Rule 41 of CCS (Pension)
Rules, 1972 provides that a Govt. servant who is dismissed or removed from
service shall forefeit his pension, gratuity. However in proviso to this Rule
it has been laid down that the authority competent to dismiss or remove a Govt.
employee from service may, if the case is deserving of special consideration,
sanction a compassionate allowance not exceeding 2/3 rd of pension or gratuity
or both which would be admissible to him if he had retired on compensation
pension.
It has been observed that
for want of guidelines, most of the competent authorities except in Railways,
do not sanction compassionate allowance to Govt. Servants dismissed or removed
from service.
This leaves
dismissed / removed Govt. Servant without any means of livelihood. In terms of
fundamental right to live (Act 21 of the Constitution of India) such govt.
employees have to be granted Compassionate Allowance taking into account the
nature of misconduct etc for which he was dismissed / removed from service.
We therefore request the
VII CPC to examine this issue and recommend certain guidelines according to
which competent authorities may sanction Compassionate Allowance to Govt.
servants dismissed / removed on such charges which are not to be treated as
grave misconduct of criminal nature or involving moral turpitude. Competent
Authorities while ordering dismissals / removal may be required to state that
they have considered the case for grant of Compassionate Allowance under Rule
41 of CCs (Pension) Rules, 1972 and passed appropriate orders.
Grant of Interim Relief
3.27 In Memorandum
submitted by and on behalf of Staff Side of National Council (JCM) on the above
issue, 25% of basic pension as Interim Relief for Pensioners and G D S of
Postal Department has been demanded. VII CPC may consider this demand and give
an Interim Report to the Government recommending that 25% of basic
pension may be granted to all pensioners w.e.f. September 2013 when the
Government had announced the seting up of 7thCentral Pay Commission.
Periodical Revision of
Pensionery benefits
3.28 We submit that there
should be a system of periodical revision of pay / pension structure. In Public
Sector. It takes place after every five years. Pay and Pension structure of
Central Government employees should also be revised after every five years.
Present wage structure is based upon minimum which is lower than Need based
Minimum. Only through periodical revision it may be attaining the fair wage and
finally the living wage standard. Under Article 43 of the Constitution, State
has to endeavour to secure living wage to all workers. And this is possible
over a period of time. It is on these considerations that revision of wage /
pension has to be done every five year till the living wage standard is
achieved.
CHAPTER
– IV
Parity
Between Past And Future Pensioners
4.1 The Government have
recently announced that “One Rank One Pension”shall be implemented in respect
of Armed Forces so that the glaring disparity between the persons of equivalent
rank and status is done away with. They do not draw vastly unequal pensions if
they retire at different point of time. Already there is a complete parity in
pension among the Judges of Supreme Court, High Court and the Comptroller and
Auditor General of India, irrespective of the date of their retirement.
4.2 In so far as the
Civilian Employees are concerned the principle of parity in pension between the
past and the future pensioners was implemented by the Government as had been
recommended by the V CPC. The V CPC recommended that “as a follow up of our
basic objective of parity we would recommend that the pension of all pre-1986
retirees may be updated by notional fixation of pay as on 1.1.1986 by adopting
the same formula (Revised Pay Rules) as for the serving employees. This
step would bring all the past pensioners to a common platform on to the 4th CPC
pay scales as on 1.1.1986. Thereafter, all pensioners who have been brought on
the 4th CPC pay scales by notional fixation of pay and those who have retired
on or after 1.1.1986 can be treated alike in regard to consolidation of their
pension as on 1.1.1996 by allowing the same fitment weightage as may be allowed
to the serving employees”. They further recommended that “the consolidated
pension shall not be less than 50% of the minimum pay of the post as revised by
the CPC held by the pensioner at the time of retirement”. The V CPC further
said that “this attainment of reasonable parity needs to be continued so as to
achieve complete parity over a period of time”. However the VI CPC totally
ignored these recommendations of the V CPC and has reintroduced the element of
disparity by not adopting the same formula for post 1996 retirees, and by not
recommending the same fitment benefit and other recommendations liberalising
the pension rules in respect of pre-2006 retirees. Thus a huge disparity
between pre-2006 and post-2006 retirees has been created by the VI CPC.
4.3 We therefore urge
that pay of every pre-2014 retiree should be notionally redetermined
(corresponding to the post from which he or she retired and not corresponding
to the scale from which he or she retired) as if he or she is not retired and
then the pension be computed under the revised liberalised rules which are to
be applicable to the post-2014 retirees.
CHAPTER
– V
Family
Pension
5.1 At present the family
pension is given at the rate of 30% of Pay last drawn. However, family pension
is equal to pay last drawn and the amount so admissible shall be payable from
the date following the date of death of the Government Servant for period of 7
years or for a period up to the date on which the deceased Government Servant
would have attained the age of 67 years had he survived / 10 years in case of
death in harness. The family pension is not less than Minimum Pension.
5.2 The prescribed period
for which the family pension is payable is as under:
(i) In
the case of a widow or widower, up to the date of death or remarriage
whichever is earlier.
(ii) In the case of a Son until he attains the age
of 25 years.
(iii)
The unmarried / widowed / divorced daughter for life after the death of
Pensioner / his / her spouse.
(iv)
The disabled mentally retarded child of the Government Servant.
5.3 We suggest as under:
(a)
The VI CPC recommended enhanced family pension for ten
years in the case
of
death in harness only stating that a special dispensation is justified
for them( Para-5.1.42 )and the government accepted /implemented the same,
thereby dividing a single class of Family Pensioners. Earlier the
enhanced family pension was for 7 years subject to ceiling of 58+7=65, /
60+7=67 years. The enhanced Family Pension on the death of the Head of the
family is intended for the family to stabilize the sudden drop in the take home
pay/pension. The distress due to loss of bread winner whether it is the
death in harness or pensioner’s death, is one and the same. Making an
artificial distinction is unwarranted. There is, therefore,
no need to differentiate between the two ‘distress situations’ The
Commission is requested to recommend removal of this disparity to enable
grant of enhanced family pension uniformly in both the cases for 10 years
keeping in view the principle of social justice , equity and fair play.
(b)
The quantum of family pension for the period of 10 years should
be equal
to the pension of the Government Servant
was entitled as per Rules.
(c)
After the expiry of the above 10 years period, the family
pension may be reduced to 40% of last pay drawn
(d)
The concession extended to a disabled mentally retarded child to
receive family pension until his / her death is subject to the condition that
the said disability should have manifested before the death of Government
employee. We suggest that this condition may be removed.
(e)
The family pension is also to be extended to widowed daughter-in-law.
(f) In case of a Son, the family pension may be allowed up to the
age of 28
years. This is suggested because the recruitment age
has been raised in
certain cases to 28 year.
5.4 A Government Servant
retired on medical invalidation after rendering less than 10 years of service (
5 years as per our proposal) gets no pension. We suggest that he should be
granted full notional pension (i.e., 67% of his emoluments / Minimum pension,
whichever is higher. On death of such a Government Servant his family should
get:
(a)
Full notional pension / Minimum pension during first 10 years
after his
death.
(b)
40% of last pay drawn or Minimum pension, whichever is higher,
thereafter.
Additional Pension:
5.5 In the case of family
pensioners also taking into account their solitude and inability to earn and
the ever rising cost of living etc we request for the enhancement of the family
pension at the following rates:
On attaining age of
Additional Quantum of Family Pension
|
65 Years
|
10% of Family pension
|
|
70 Years
|
10% of Family pension
|
|
75 Years
|
10% of Family pension
|
|
80 Years
|
20% of Family pension
|
|
85 Years
|
20% of Family pension
|
|
90 Years
|
30% of Family pension
|
|
|
|
Extra Ordinary Pension
5.7 The 5th CPC in Para
135.17 of its Report has recommended that regulation of compensation or
disabilities categorized under (b) and (c) should be:
“II –
Cases of disability (100%) resulting in discharge from service”
“Normal pension and
gratuity admissible under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, without insisting on the
requirement of minimum service of ten years plus Disability Pension equal to
the normal Family Pension, i.e., 30% (as per our proposal 40%) of the basic
pay”.
5.8 The Department of
Pension & Pensioners Welfare, while issuing orders on acceptance of the
recommendation vide OM No.45/22/97-P&PW(C) dated 3.2.2000 (incorporated in
Appendix-3 of Swamy‟s Pension
Compilation) the well-meaning recommendation has been altered
as follows:
“III –
Disability Pension – for cases covered under categories „B and „C.
“(1)
Normal pension and gratuity admissible under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 plus
– Disability Pension equal to 30% of basic pay for 100% disability.” This has
resulted in a Group „D‟ employee
with 6 years‟service, who has
been invalidated (with 45% disability) and boarded out of service not getting
the minimum pension towards “Service element”. This injustice is required to be
set right.
5.9. Extension of Family
Pension Under CCS (Pension) rule, 1972 to CPSU absorbees who were compulsorily
covered by the “Employees Family Pension Scheme, 1971 on their absorption in
Central Public Sector undertaking and to those absorbees who were not eligible
for family pension since they were drawing more pay than the prescribed
limit for eligibility under the scheme.
Central Government
employees who were on deputation to Central Public Sector Undertaking /
Autonomous Bodies (AB) and who were subsequently permanently absorbed in the
CPSU / AB were compulsorily covered by the ‘Employees Family Pension Scheme,
1971 framed under the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions
Act, 1952 (Administered by the Provident fund Commissioners), if the said
scheme was in operation in the CPSU / AB in which the Central Government
employees was absorbed. And such of those absorbees who were drawing more pay
then the prescribed limit under the scheme not for family pension under EFPS –
1971.
Government of India ,
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare vide its O.M No.
1-18/86-P&PW (D) dated January, 1990 accepting the request of the Staff
Side in the 29th ordinary meeting of the National Council
(JCM), revised the family pension entitlement of the absorbed employees and
allowed them an option to choose either Family Pension Scheme of the Central
Government (i.e. CCS (Pension) Rules) or by that of the CPSUs /ABs (ie
Employees Family Pension Scheme, 1971). These modifications to family pension
entitlements of absorbees were given effect to from the date of issue of the
O.M. ie 22.1.1990 and were extended to only such of those absorbed employees
who were in service on the said date and who were permanent and had a
qualifying service of not less than 10 years in the Government. all other
absorbees were compulsorily covered by the Employees Family Pension Scheme,
1971.
The Central Government
Employees who were permanently absorbed in CPSUs / ABs and who satisfied the
conditions of qualifying service in the Government, but had retired before 22nd January,
1990 could not opt to come over to the Central Family Pension Scheme (CCS (Pension)
rules, 1972) and were compulsorily covered by the Emplyees Family Pension
Scheme, 1971.)
As a result of the above,
there are now 3 categories of retired CPSU Absorbees. (1) Absorbees eligible
for family pension under Employees family pension scheme, 1971, (2) Absorbees
who are eligible for family pension under CCS (Pension Rules, 1972 and (3)
Absorbees who are not eligible for family pension under any Scheme.
The VII Central Pay
Commission is requested to recommend removel of the disparity existing between
the 3 categories of CPSU Absorbees stated above by extending the provisions of
CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to all the Absorbees uniformly making them eligible
for family pension.
CHAPTER
– VI
Gratuity
And Commutation Of Pension
Gratuity
6.1 Retirement Gratuity
is paid at ¼ of basic pay for each completed six monthly period of qualifying
service subject to a maximum of 16.5 times of the emoluments. There is also a
monetary ceiling of 10 lakhs. This is applicable to all Government Servants who
retire on completion of 5 years of service. However, if a person dies in
harness his family is granted the gratuity at certain prescribed rates:
6.2 We suggest that the
gratuity may be calculated on the basis of 25 effective days as against 30 days
in a month. We make this suggestion because the Government Servant should not
be paid at a rate lesser than what is admissible under the Gratuity Act.
6.3 The ceiling of 16.5
times and the quantum limit of Rs. 10 lakhs should also be removed. This
is because under existing rules gratuity is reduced in the case of a Government
Servant who has put in less than 33 years of service. In the banking industry
there is no such ceiling of 16.5 months‟ salary but the retiring bank employees are getting at the
rate of ½ a month salary for every year of service even over and above 33 years
of service. Therefore, it is but logical that for a service span exceeding 33
years, the gratuity should be higher and the above ceiling is withdrawn.
Commutation of Pension
and its Restoration
6.4 Central Government
employees are permitted to commute up to 40% of their basic pension. We have no
suggestion to make in this regard.
6.5 In the light of
Supreme Court decision, commuted value of pension is restored on completion of
15 years or on reaching 75 years of age whichever is later. Most of the State
Governments are restoring full pension after 12 years or on reaching 70 years
of age. We, therefore, propose that full pension be restored after 12 years, or
on reaching the age of 72 years, whichever is earlier. From the table given
below it will be seen that the entire commuted value gets repaid to the
Government by the Pensioners within 12 years.
Sl.No
Details Age next birth day = 61 years
|
1
|
|
Commutation factor 9.81
|
|
2
|
|
Amount commuted Rs. 100
|
|
3
|
|
Commuted value received
Rs.11,772
|
|
4
|
|
Amount recovered in 12
years Rs.14,400
|
|
5
|
|
Amount recovered in 15
years Rs.18,000
|
|
6
|
|
Excess recovered in 12
years Rs. 2,628
|
|
7
|
|
Excess recovered in 15
years Rs. 6,228
|
6.6 Now when the
commutation factor has been reduced and is applicable after 2008, the
restoration of commuted pension should be after 10 years. It will be seen that
entire commuted value gets repaid within 10 years as could be clear from the
table given below.
Sl.No
Details
Age next birth day = 61 years
|
1
|
Commutation factor
8.194
|
|
2
|
Amount commuted Rs.100
|
|
3
|
Commuted value received
Rs.9,833
|
|
4
|
Amount recovered in 10
years Rs.12,000
|
|
5
|
Amount recovered in 15
years Rs.18,000
|
|
6
|
Excess recovered in 10
years Rs.2,167
|
|
7
|
Excess recovered in 15
years Rs.8,167
|
|
|
|
6.7 Taking all these
factors into account, we suggest that the commuted pension may be restored on
completion of 10 years or reaching the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
CHAPTER – VII
Medicare
7.1 The following
landmark judgments of the Supreme Court of India have held that the enjoyment
of highest attainable standard of health is recognized as a fundamental right
of all workers / pensioners in terms of Article 21 read with Article 39, 41, 43
and 48 of the Constitution:
(i)
Consumer education and Research Central and others Vs Union of
India
(AIR
1995 Supreme Court 922)
(ii)
Laxman Thammappa Kothagiri Vs General Manager Central Railway
&
Others
[2005(1) SCALE)
(iii)
Indian Medical Council Vs V.P.Shantha &
Others (1995(6) SCC651)
Therefore improvements in
the existing Medicare systems are absolutely essential. “Health is not a
luxury”and “not be the sole possession of a privileged few”. It is a
Fundamental Right of all present and post Employees. The enjoyment of the
highest attainable standard of health is recognized as a fundamental right of
all workers in terms of Article 21 read with Article 39 for a 41, 43, 48A and
all related Articles as pronounced by the Supreme Court in Consumer Education
and Research Centre & Others vs Union of India (AIR 1995
Supreme Court 922) The Supreme court has held that:
“the right to health to a
worker is an integral facet of meaningful right to life to have not only a
meaningful existence but also robust health and vigour. Therefore, the right to
health, medical aid to protect the health and vigour of a worker while in
service or post retirement is a fundamental right-to make life of a worker
meaningful and purposeful with dignity of person. Thus health care is not only
a welfare measure but is a Fundamental Right”.
Medical Facilities
[CGHS/CS(MA) Rules]
7.2
The Departmental Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health &
family Welfare has submitted their Seventy First report on the functioning of
CGHS of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to the Rajya Sabha on 06.08.2013.
In this report existing deficiencies in the functioning of the CGHS have been
discussed and very important suggestions to remove these deficiencies have been
given. The VII-CPC may ask the Government to produce the Action Taken
Note on this report to enable the commission to make their appropriate
recommendations.
7.3 One
of very significant recommendations of this Committee is that separate
Super Speciality Hospitals exclusively for CGHS beneficiaries, on the lines of
Ministry of Railways, Defence & ESIC, one in each metro city, where a
considerable number of CGHS beneficiaries are residing alongwith their
families, should be established so that the CGHS beneficiaries can avail
treatment in these hospitals .
7.4. The employees &
Pensioners Association have demanded that such Hospitals should be set
up. The Govt. have, however, rejected this saying that the Planning
Commission has not agreed to provide funds for this and that the Govt. is
likely to introduce Health Insurance Scheme. For more than 5 years now, the
proposed Health Insurance scheme is being talked about, without any
tangible result. The VII-CPC should recommend that the above
recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee may be
implemented. The health insurance scheme if at all introduced,
should be made optional for the beneficiaries.
7.5. At present it is
only in 26 cities where CGHS dispensaries are located. CGHS should be
expanded to cover all the major/important cities where employees are working
& pensioners are residing.
7.6. There is acute
shortage of Doctors, Specialists, para medical staff etc. in all dispensaries.
This has affected the quality of services rendered to the beneficiaries
by the wellness Centres of the CGHS. Particularly the availability of
specialised doctors in the CGHS viz. ENT, Heart, Ortho etc. has to be
ensured. Pending their recruitment, the specialist from the Private
recognised Hospitals may be requested to examine the beneficiaries in
wellness centers atleast for a day or two in a week. Sufficient
number of chemists should be attached to different wellness centers so
that medicines are supplied on the day these are prescribed by the Doctors.
7.7. At present the
beneficiary has first to consult a specialist and it is only on reference by
him that he could opt a Private Recognised Hospital for indoor treatment.
When such a specialist is not available in the wellness centre the beneficiary
has to go to State Govt. Hospital to get Specialist consultation which is not
only time consuming but inconvenient procedure too. Sometimes the
beneficiary even fails to obtain such a consultation. Specialists in
Rajasthan State Hospitals have even refused to examine any CGHS
beneficiaries. To obviate this difficulty it is suggested that the
in-charge of wellness centres should be authorized to refer any beneficiary for
indoor treatment in any Private Recognised Hospital chosen by the beneficiary.
7.8. CGHS should attach
Poly clinics and commence Ayurvedic, yoga, Homeopathic & Unani centers in
each wellness centre. Each wellness Centre should be equipped with latest ECG
machine, Glucometre, x ray machine etc. as these are basic requirement
of any dispensary.
7.9. For indoor patients
the entitlement of wards is discriminatory. The Officers in PB-3
are entitled for private wards whereas those in PB-2 are entitled to semi
private/general wards. The entitlement of ward should be on the basis of
seriousness of ailment and not on the basis of the status of the
beneficiaries. This discrimination should end.
7.10.CS(MA)Rules: There
is presently a ceiling limit for the Head of the Department to sanction the
reimbursement of medical expenses of the employees. In organisations
other than Railways, the said ceiling is Rs. 200,000. This may have to be
raised to Rs. 500,000 taking into account charges to be incurred
for hospitalisation, cost of medicine etc. . At present the CS(MA) Rules have
not been made applicable to ex-employees. We request that for those who
are not living in CGHS cities, the indoor/outdoor treatment may be allowed
under the CS(MA)Rules.
7.11
We suggest that, all the pensioners, irrespective of pre-retiral class and
status, be treated as same category of citizens and the same homogenous group.
There should be no class or category based discrimination and all must be
provided Health care services at par. We also request the commission to
recommend to govt. to make preventive health care an essential ingredient of
all health care schemes for retired Persons. CGHS and RELHS should be expanded
and improved. Also CSMA Rules 1944 be extended to pensioners residing outside
CGHS Area.
7.12 Nursing Homes / All
India Private Hospitals / Diagnostic Centres to cater for the CGHS
beneficiaries should be increased in such a way that they will be nearer to the
residence cluster of the beneficiaries. While selecting great care should be
taken that no beneficiary is required to travel more than 2.5 KMs to obtain
treatment. In Delhi, the recent approval for hospitals has been done without keeping
the distance of beneficiaries residence localities. Some areas have been
completely forgotten and some points have been given more than one referrals.
This appears well on paper and satisfies the Ministry but in practical terms it
is more a punishment for the beneficiaries.
7.13
We wish to invite attention of 7th CPC to the recommendation made by the V CPC
as detailed in Para 140.11 of their report regarding extension of CGHS.
Unfortunately, the well intentioned recommendation has remained still as
recommendation only. Under some plea or the other, there had been practically
no expansion whatsoever in this regard, which is regrettable. A number of
proposals had been forwarded to the government by the many pensioners
Associations but have been kept in cold storage. The 7th CPC is requested to
reiterate this important recommendation, suggesting opening of new CGHS
dispensaries as per prescribed norms in all major cities / towns securing
clearance from Planning Commission, wherever necessary.
Medical facilities to
Pensioners:
7.14
Smart Cards to Pensioners: Smart Cards may be issued to all Pensioners from all
Department (including Postal Pensioners) and their dependents for cashless and
hassle less medical facilities across the country in all Government hospitals;
all NABH accredited Multi Super Speciality Hospitals which have been allotted
land at concessional rates or given any other aid or concession by any
Government; all CGHS, RELHS and ECHS empanelled Hospitals.
No referral should be
insisted in case of medical emergencies. For the purpose of reference for
hospitalization & reimbursement of expenditure thereon other than in
emergency cases Doctors/Medical officers working in different Central/State
Govt. department dispensaries/health units should be recognized as Authorized
Medical Attendant.
7.15
Discrimination to P&T Pensioners: The Central Government Pensioners,
whether they were beneficiaries or not while in service, are permitted to join
CGHS on retirement. However the Ministry of Health & FW had issued an order
dated 1.8.1996 according to which all P&T Pensioners who were not
participating in CGHS while in service have been debarred. This in itself is a
very grave discrimination, which is not permissible under Article 14 of the Constitution.
This was therefore challenged in Courts and the latest position achieved is
that the Courts have held that the P&T Pensioners may be permitted to
participate in CGHS or alternatively covered under CS (MA) Rules, 1944.
7.16 Postal Dispensaries:
In the meantime, following the recommendations of the V CPC and VI CPC, 19
P&T Dispensaries in 12 CGHS Cities have been merged with the CGHS. Instead
of now allowing all P&T pensioners irrespective of the station they live,
only those who are living in these 12 Cities have been allowed to participate
in the CGHS. This is also discriminative because all other Central Pensioners
are permitted to join CGHS irrespective of the fact where they are living. It
is therefore urged that the 7th CPC should recommend that the above
discrimination is put an end to and all P&T Pensioners may be allowed to
participate in CGHS.
7.17 The Department of
Post running its Postal (formerly P&T) dispensaries in 45 cities for
outdoor treatment to its working and retired employees. Out of them 19
dispensaries in 12 cities have been merged with CGHS where CGHS and Postal
dispensaries co-existed, by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare vide Notification
dated 9.7.2013. Now there remains 33 dispensaries in cities namely, Vadodara,
Agra, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Varansi, Gorakhpur, Aligarh, Bareilly, Behrampur,
Cuttack, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Trichurapalli, Triunelveli, Ambala, Silchar,
Dibrugarh, Guntur, Nellore, Rajmundri, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam, Ajmer,
Jodhpur, Kota, Dhanbad, Gaya, Muzzafarpur, Chapra, Raipur, Amritsar and
Jallandhar. In fact in these Postal Dispensaries only outdoor treatment is
given for serving and retired employees, but for working employees indoor
medical is given through either CS (MA) Rules or by authorizing private
hospitals like CGHS, (NO INDOOR FOR RETIRED EMPLOYEES). From working employees
no contribution is realized whereas yearly contribution is realized from
pensioners, on the other hand, in CGHS there is no such discrimination between
and retired employees with regard to treatment and contribution both. IT IS BE
NOTED THAT CGHS AND POSTAL DISPENSARIES BOTH WERE FORMED UNDER THE CS (MA)
RULES, THEN WHY THIS DISCRIMINATION EXISTS BETWEEN CGHS AND POSTAL
DISPENSARIEAS. The department of Posts is required to amend its rules /
instructions, so that the facilities / contribution is made available to
pensioners at per working employees alike CGHS.
The VII CPC may kindly
consider the above state of discrimination between serving Postal employees and
Pensioners and recommend that Postal Pensioners may also be provided indoor
treatment under CS (MA) Rules.
7.18 Hospital Regulatory
Authority: We suggest that a Hospital Regulatory Authority shall be set up to
ensure that the hospitals provide reasonable care to Smart Card holders. This
Authority can undertake periodical revision of CGHS approved rates for several
kinds of medical treatment as well as for lab tests in consonance with the
prevailing market conditions so that no crisis develops like refusal of
treatment by empanelled hospitals.
7.19 Fixed Medical
Allowance: The Government fixed the rate of FMA as 300/- per month to the
Pensioners not covered under CGHS etc. Several appeals for revision of this
amount in a realistic manner to suite the conditions prevailing on various
counts like Doctor’s fees, cost of medicines, rate of lab tests etc went
in vain as the Government stoutly refused to enhance this FMA in a reasonable
manner. It can be seen that the Employees Provident Fund Organisation under the
Central Government’s Ministry of Labour was paying a monthly FMA to its
employees at the rate of 1200/- prior to 6th CPC when the other
Central Government employees were drawing only 100/- per month. The same EPF
Organisation came forward to enhance the said FMA from 1200/- to 2000/- per
month w.e.f. 1st March, 2013 for the serving employees, EPF pensioners and family
pensioners. When an organisation under the same Central Government has taken
steps to suitably enhance the Fixed Medical Allowance in consonance with the
market conditions, there is no justification whatsoever for the Central
Government to adamantly refuse to upwardly revise this FMA , which is presently
at a lowest level of Rs.300/- per month which everyone knows is totally
inadequate to the medical needs of a pensioner’s family. When pressed the
Government have stated that as this allowance was introduced by the V CPC, the
enhancement of its rates will have to be considered and recommended by another
pay commission. We suggest that the 7th CPC recommend for refixation of FMA @
2000/- per month plus DA thereon. In addition this FMA shall be permitted to those
pensioners who want to undergo only Unani or Ayurveda or Homeopathy type of
treatments even though they live in areas covered by CGHS.
7.20 CS (MA) Rules 1944:
In the interregnum period of permitting all pensioners into the CGHS without
any discrimination, the CSMA Rules, 1944 should be extended to pensioners
living in non-CGHS areas and stations, which are at present not covered by
CGHS. As recommended by V CPC, vide Para 140.18 of their report, benefit of CS
(MA) Rules, 1944 should be extended to pensioners in non-CGHS areas at least to
the extent of full reimbursement of expenses incurred for hospitalization in a
Government hospital or hospitals recognized under CS (MA) Rules for the serving
employees or those hospitals recognised by State Governments for such purposes
for their employees. To cite examples, in the City of Mysore, a number of
hospitals have been recognized under CS (MA) Rules, 1944 for serving Central
Government employees. But Pensioners cannot avail the benefit merely because there
is no CGHS dispensary there. Similarly, in Udupi though the world-famous
“Kasturba Hospital” is recognised under CS (MA) Rules, 1944 for serving
employees, the Pensioners do not get the benefit merely because there is also
no CGHS dispensary available. “The benefit of the liberalised orders bearing
No. OM No.S-11011/7/99-CGHS(P) dated 27-4-20110f the MoH&FW can not be
availed by all pensioners living in non-CGHS areas as the order pre supposes
possession of a CGHS card by such pensioners.
7.21 Several cases of
claims for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by pensioners living in
non-CGHS areas have been decided in favour of pensioners by the CATs and even
the High Court of Gujrat at Ahmedabad. “All the SLPs ( 34 in all ) filed by the
government of India in this connection have been dismissed by the Supreme court
of India on 3-4-2012 and Government of India had to issue orders directing all
concerned to allow reimbursement of the medical claims of pensioners concerned
living in non-CGHS areas /Stations.7th CPC is therefore requested to make
suitable recommendation in this regard in order that even if CGHS dispensaries
are not opened, for whatever reasons they may be, the Central Government
pensioners may avail medical in-patient facilities (in hospitals recognized
under CS (MA) Rules, 1944 for serving employees) and get reimbursement of
expenses from the departments to which they belong.
7.22 It is a fact that
ESIC medical scheme caters for more than 35 millions of beneficiaries in the
private factory employment sector. If the ESI System with a network of
144 hospitals, 42 Annexes, 1400 dispensaries and tie up with 2041 private
medical practitioners besides with a large number of Super Specialty Hospitals
can provide medicare, why should not CGHS / CSMA cater for the medicare needs
of more than 40 lakhs of employees and more than 30 lakh of pensioners spread
all over the country like the ESIC beneficiaries? The 7th CPC may kindly
examine the feasibility of improving the present CGHS / CSMA formats to ensure
Medicare to all Central Government employees and Pensioners. There is no need
absolutely to scout for alternate method. The recommendation of the 5th CPC for
suitably amending CS (MA) Rules, 1944 for providing indoor medical attention to
a very small segment of Central Government Pensioners residing in non-CGHS
areas should not pose any insurmountable hurdles. It is fortunate that the
nodal Ministry viz., Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has accepted the
need for Medicare to 60 plus retired personnel that they should not be deprived
of the medicare and the Judiciary have taken cognizance of this principle,
there should be no hesitation in amending the CS(MA)Rules, 1944 for providing
in-door attention to the retired employees.
CHAPTER
– VIII
Miscellaneous
8.1 Pension and Dearness
Relief and Fixed Medical Allowance to be net of Income Tax.The purchase value
of pension gets reduced day by day due to continuous high inflation and steep
rise in cost of food items and medical facilities. Retired persons / Senior
citizens do not enjoy fully public goods and service provided by Government for
citizens due to lack of mobility and many other factors. Their ability to pay
tax reduced from year to year after retirement due to ever-increasing
expenditure on food, medicines and other incidentals. Their net worth at year
end gets reduced considerably compared to the beginning of the year. Inflation,
for a pensioner is much more than any tax. It erodes the major part of the
already inadequate pension. To enable pensioners, at the fag end of their
lives, to live in minimum comfort and to cater for ever rising cost of living,
they may be spared from paying Income Tax on Pension and the DR – as
recommended by 5th Pay Commission in para 167.11 of their
report.
8.2 Housing: Central
Government employees in occupation of Government Staff Quarters on retirement
are constrained to hire private accommodation at exorbitant and prohibitive
rental. They are per force to spend a sizable portion of the pension on rent
alone. While in services, though they are entitled to get house building
advance etc, most of them are unable to avail the facility and construct house
for the salary income they earn is incapable of making the both ends meet. It
is therefore necessary that a provision is made for reserving a percentage of
the number of residential units constructed by the State / Central Housing
Boards and Corporations, for outright purchase of allotment on instalment basis
to pensioners. We therefore suggest that 10% of the total units constructed by
the State Housing Boards, Central Housing Corporations etc to be reserved for
pensioners. Similarly quite a number of staff quarters sometimes lie vacant
without occupation by serving employees and such quarters may be allotted for
pensioners on payment of just licence fee only. In addition, dormitory type
single room tenements with common dining hall, library, cultural centre,
auditorium, basic medical facility etc may be constructed at the outskirts of
the cities and allotted to pensioners on payment of a reasonable amount. Until
such schemes are accepted and worked out, HRA may be granted to the Pensioners
on the same rates as is given to serving employees.
8.3 Travel
Concession: Senior Citizens on attaining the age of 60 years (Males) and
58 years (females) are given fare concession in Railway travel at the rate of
40% and 50% respectively. We suggest that retired Government Servants may be
allowed the facility of travel concession once in 2 years to any place inside
India from their place of their residence. We point out that the purpose of
granting LTC to serving employees has an in-built advantage of encouraging
tourism development, which is helpful to the economy in several ways. Similarly
any travel concession granted to Pensioners will also boost the tourism
development in the country besides bringing happiness at their old age.
After retirement,
most of the pensioners spend the time on spiritual activities. They like
to visit important religious places in the country. The Commission’s
attention is drawn to the fact that Government of Punjab is granting Travel
Concession to all its pensioners by paying one month’s Basic Pension for every
block of 2 years. It was introduced from 1/1/1989 and the payment is made
in January every two years (Source: Punjab Government letter
No.1/15/89-IFP-II/8078 dated 31/8/1989). In the past 25 years the cost of
everything has gone up. The Commission is requested to recommend to the
Government to pay 3 months Basic Pension as Travel concession and the facility
may be extended once in 2 years to all those pensioners/Family Pensioners
including family Pensioners other than spouse, who are at present not getting
travel facilities as departmental advantage.
8.4 In the last decade,
the social fabric has undergone a drastic change. The Indian Parliament
had to enact a law for the kith and kin to look after their parents.
After the death of a pensioner, cremation/burial has to take place in an
honorable manner. Each religion has got its own custom and rituals and
the cost is very high. It is to be noted that Andhra Pradesh Government
is granting an amount of Rs.10,000/- as ‘Death Relief’ to its pensioners,
Family pensioners (Source: AP Govt. G.O. MS.No.102 Finance (Pen.I) Department
dated 6/4/2010 & G.O. M.S. No.136 dated 29/6/2011). The Commission is
requested to recommend an amount of Rs.10,000/- as ‘Death Relief’ in the event
of death of pensioner, pensioner’s spouse or Family Pensioner.
8.5 Family
Security Fund: The family of the Pensioner shall be granted a lump
sum of 1,00,000 on the death of the Pensioner by introducing a scheme for
Family Security Fund with the arrangement for contribution by the pensioners.
At present such scheme is in existence in states like Tamilnadu, where the
Pensioner is contributing a monthly contribution of 80/- and in the event of
his / her death, the spouse is given a sum of Rs.50,000 as family security
fund. Therefore the 7th CPC is requested to examine this proposal for framing
such a scheme for facilitating payment of at least 1,00,000 rupees on the
demise of the pensioners to their spouses.
8.6 Pension
Adalats: The system of Pension Adalat was introduced initially by
Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare and later on adopted by
Railways, Defence, P&T Departments. The V CPC in Para 139.17 had
recommended that this system is very effective in finalising disputed cases of
pensions and should be introduced in all the departments. These adalats
should also function for settling the cases of field formations and meet at
least once in quarter. The representatives of he Pensioners Associations
should be allowed to present the cases of the concerned pensioner who may not
be conversant with the rules. The above recommendation which were not mandatory
has not been implemented. We therefore request 7th CPC that it should be made
mandatory on all the Ministries and Departments of Indian Government to conduct
these Adalats periodicaly and without fail. We also suggest that these Adalats
may be conducted at different levels with the following frequency:
(i)
Divsional level Once in 3 Months
(ii)
Zonal / Regional level Once in 6 Months
(iii)Head
quarter level Once in a Year
(iv)Ministerof
State in DOPT level Once in 2 years
“The OM No.
44013/2/2010-Coord dated 25-3-2011 issued by the Department of Pension &
Pensioners’ Welfare is required to be amended suitably.
8.7 SCOVA: The
forum of SCOVA (Standing Committee of Voluntary Associations) is facilitated by
the Central Government for interaction with the Pensioners’ Organisations for
discussing the issues of pensioners. This forum has no statutory authority
as negotiating forum founded for negotiating issues of Central Government
employees viz., the National Council JCM with mandatory facility for compulsory
arbitration and other benefits like National Anomaly Committee to sort out the
anomalies arising out of implementation of Pay Commission reports etc.
Similarly there is no system of granting recognition to representative
organisations of Pensioners and at present it is at the pleasure of the Central
Government to nominate any representatives from any pensioner Associations.
Some of the Pensioners Organisations are invited to SCOVA as Members on a
rotational basis only. The number of central government pensioners belonging to
various departments is no doubt in great numbers and therefore there is
necessity to establish a forum with formal authority for discussing and
negotiating issues of pensioners. It can be seen that there are hundreds of
pensioners’ federations, associations, organisations in the country like
mushroom growth and there is no orderliness amongst them and each and every
pensioner organisation is raising its own demands. There is no orderliness in
this system. Therefore, we suggest, that the VII CPC may recommend to the
Government to upgrade the status of the SCOVA like the other forum of National
Council JCM with separate Rules framed for granting recognition to Pensioners
Organisations to give them representation in the SCOVA. All the All India Pensioners
Associations/Federations may be accorded recognition & extended such
facilities as have been granted to the serving employees
Association/Unions/Federations. The SCOVA may be renamed as Joint National
Council of Pensioners Organisations. It should be a two tier system one at
National level and other Departmental Level.
8.8
Improvement of ex-gratia to CPF/SRPF (C) retirees and their families:-
Ex-Gratia payment to CPF
/ SRPF (C) pre 1.1.2006 retires and their families / dependent children was
sanctioned earlier as follows:-
|
CPF/SRPF
(C) retirees
|
Rs.600pm+Dearness
relief from
1.11.1997
|
|
|
Widows and dependent Children
of deceased CPF/SRPF (C) retirees
|
Rs. 605 pm + Dearness relief from
1.11.1997
|
|
|
|
||
|
Subsequently these have been revised as follows:-
|
||
|
|
||
|
CPF/SRPF (C) retirees at time of retirement
|
EX- Gratia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group “A” Service
|
Rs.3000 pm + DR
|
|
|
Group “B” Service
|
Rs.1000 pm + DR
|
|
|
Group “C” Service
|
Rs.750 pm + DR
|
|
|
Group “D” Service
|
Rs.650 pm + DR
|
|
|
Effective date:
|
1.11.2006 SRPF (C)
|
|
|
|
4.6.2013 CPF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Widows and dependent Children of
deceased
CPF/SRPF (C)
|
Rs.645 pm + DR from 4.6.2013
|
|
Dearness ex-gratia as
above is reckoned before applying dearness relief.
These amounts are utterly
inadequate even for hand to mouth living in the resent scenario of high cost of
living and spiralling inflation. Request were earlier made to grant one more
pension option to the surviving CPF/SRPF (C) retirees or to grant them 1/3 rd
pension as given to PSU absorbees, but the same have not been agreed to.
8.9
We submit that VII CPC may consider our following suggestion
Period for service for
granting ex-gratia in their cases should be brought down to 10 ears as in the
case of eligibility for pension. They should be granted one time option for
pension as recommended by the IV CPC . Minimum ex-gratia to the beneficiary
well as the family should be equivalent to minimum pension / family pension of
the grade in which they retired as revised from to time. It need to be
appreciated that they also had rendered satisfactory service to the government.
they worked in more arduous circumstances when the country was relatively
undeveloped with low salaries, incremental rates and promotional avenue. They
and their families should not be condemned with low rates of ex-gratia and
denial of several benefits extended to pensioners / family pensioners for error
of judgment on their part in not opting for pension when options were extended
because of their inability to foresee the development of the country and the
vast changes that have been taking place after their retirement. They are a
fast disappearing category and grant of full benefits on par with pensioners
will not cause any undue financial burden to the government. in addition to
revision of ex-gratia rates on par with pensions and family pensions, they have
also to be extended benefits such as same rates of DR granted from to time,
ex-gratia to their dependent unmarried / widowed / divorced daughter above 25
years of age, fixed medical allowance, widow passes to the families of deceased
SRPF beneficiaries etc. India is a welfare state and the discrimination going
on against them all these years is against the very letter and spirit of
constitution of India and the concept of welfare state embedded in the
directive principles of state policy.
As an Alternative which we may suggest is that the ex-gratia
rates must be improved now, at least to the following extent, that is, equal to
the minimum pension group –wise for CPF / SRPF (C) beneficiaries, corresponding
to the “group representative” pay scales indicated below:- (refer Deptt. of
Pension O.M. dated 28.1.2013 for “minimum Pension” figures)
|
Group ‘A’
|
Pay Scale (Working
Pay Scale)
Minimum Pension
Ex-Gratia
|
15600 PB+6600 GP
12,600
12,600
12,600
|
|
Group ‘B’
|
Pay Scale
Minimum Pension
Ex-Gratia
|
9300 PB + 4800 GP
9375
9375
|
|
Group ‘C’
|
Pay Scale
Minimum Pension
Ex-Gratia
|
9300 PB+4200 GP
8145
8145
|
|
Group ‘D’
|
Pay Scale
Minimum Pension
Ex-Gratia
|
5200 PB + 1800 GP
3685
3685
|
Admissibility of
Ex-Gratia to widowed / divorced / unmarried daughters
Family pension under CCS
(Pension) Rules, 1972 is being paid to eligible widowed / divorced / unmarried
daughters beyond the age of 25 years for life if they continue to be eligible
for payment of family pension. But in respect of the dependent widowed /
divorced / unmarried daughters of CPF / SRPF beneficiaries, payment of family
pension is stopped when they complete the age of 25 years. Hence it is
requested that the VII CPC my please recommend extension of the benefit
admissible to the above category of Central family pensioners to the dependent
of CPF / SRPF beneficiaries also.
8.10. Representations
in various committees :
As recommended vide Vth
CPC report Vol III para 141.30 Pensioners’ representatives should be included
in various committees & other Fora of Govt where issues relating to the
welfare of pensioners are likely to be discussed & debated :
Discussing and deciding
the matters relating to Pensioners, with representatives other than those of
pensioners, is unfair & against the Rules of ‘Natural Justice’. At present
various Committees like National Anomaly Committee (NAC) and JCM (on Pensioner
matters), are there, wherein matters / policies relating to pensioners’ welfare
are discussed and decided, but they do not have pensioners’ representatives
with the result their viewpoints, hardships & anomalies are not properly
represented. As pensioners are a homogenous class, there is an urgent need to
constitute separate Committees for pensioners wherein matters / policies /
anomalies relating to pensioners of all Groups, categories & departments
may be discussed.
8.11. Lingering
Litigation on Pensioners matters due to uncalled for Appeals by Government:
Govt. should not indirectly pressurize courts by appealing again & again to
get judgments reversed in its favor & must implement all court
judgments in case of all similarly placed persons.
Fifth CPC recommended in
para 126.5 that any Court Judgment involving a common policy matter of
pay/pension to a group of employees/pensioners, should be extended
automatically to similarly placed employees/pensioners without driving every
affected individual to the Courts of law. This recommendation is never followed
by GOI, with the result Pensioners in the evening of their life, are forced to
approach the legal forums, seeking the same relief. This in turn, bulges
court dockets.
The Commission is
requested to recommend to the Government to strictly follow the provisions on
“filing of appeals in the National Litigation Policy document dated 26.3.2010
issued by the then Hon’ble Minister for Law.
Seventh CPC is requested
to look into this matter once again and to issue suitable guidelines as deem
fit and necessary.
8.12
Uniform format of PPO – It is observed that different Ministries/ Departments
have prescribed different forms of PPO. It is suggested that there should be a
uniform format of pension payment order for all Central Government
pensioners, irrespective of their departments and all old PPOs should be
replaced by the proposed uniformed format. This also should provide the
particulars of prospective eligible family members, their dates of birth etc.
Festival grant
8.13 India
is the country of religious national and regional festivals and during festive
days the pensioners / family pensioners who are depending upon pension facing
unusual conditions for want of money. The serving employee may enjoy festive
days by receiving various grants / bonus and others. Therefore, it is proposed
that the 7th CPC should consider one month pension as festival
grants for the pensioner/ family pensioner and this is not a new concept
because some of the state Govt. have already implemented the same. The 7th CPC
should think over the issue.
PART –
II
RELATING
TO PENSIONERS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENT
Chapter
IX
Pensioners
Benefit to Postal Retirees
9.1
The Postal Department is the third largest Central Government Department
following Indian Railways and Defence. Naturally the Postal Pensioners segment
is the third largest amongst the Central Government Pensioners. There are more
than 2,00,000 Pensioners on the rolls of the Postal Department’s pension
roaster. While the common issues of Postal Pensioners are identical to that of
the entirety of Central Government Pensioners, there are certain issues and
demands peculiar to Postal Pensioners. This Sectional Memorandum is an attempt
to place those issues before the 7th CPC for objective
consideration.
Discrimination on grant of Medical treatment
9.2
The Postal Pensioners who are not covered under CGHS (Central Government Health
Scheme) are like their counterparts are granted FMA (Fixed Medical Allowance).
But those pensioners who want to become beneficiaries of CGHS (Central
Government Health Scheme) are facing discrimination at the hands of the Health
Department for years. Those Pensioners who were already CGHS beneficiaries
while in service alone are admitted into the CGHS after their retirement. The
other pensioners are precluded from joining the CGHS. The CGHS is a scheme
wherein every beneficiary is paying at the prescribed rates set by the CGHS.
Therefore there is no logic or justification to deny admittance to any
pensioner as a beneficiary in CGHS. The Pensioners of various Central
Government Departments irrespective of their being a CGHS beneficiary or not
while in service are admitted into the CGHS Scheme. The Postal Pensioners alone
are denied the privilege of joining CGHS.
9.3
The reason attributed for this non-admittance in CGHS is the existence of one
or two Postal Dispensaries in the particular State. The Postal Dispensaries
(erstwhile P&T Dispensaries) were recommended to be merged with CGHS by the
V CPC. The Government did not act on that recommendation. The VI CPC also
recommended similar merger of Postal Dispensaries with CGHS. The Government had
subsequently merged only 19 Postal Dispensaries in 12 Cities on the plea that
only in those 12 Cities there is CGHS in existence and therefore the merger is
feasible only in those cities. This is causing a serious problem because no
Postal Pensioner in a particular State where even one Postal Dispensary is
existing in any District of the State, to join CGHS. The Postal Pensioners
residing under the jurisdiction of the Postal Dispensary in that particular
district alone can be catered by that Postal Dispensary. Therefore there is no
logic or justification for persisting with the stand that no Postal Pensioner
will be allowed to join CGHS, just because there is one or two postal
dispensaries in existence in that State.
9.4
The non-admittance of Postal Pensioner alone into CGHS is a clear
discrimination being perpetrated against the poor pensioners of Postal
Department. The Central Government was brought to notice of this issue by the
Staff Side National Council JCM as well several Pensioners Organisations had
raised this issue in the SCOVA forum also for remedy. Instead of solving this
very important issue of Postal Pensioners, the Government is taking shelter
under matter pre-judice clause since some aggrieved pensioners had already
moved the Courts in different places. A recommendation by the 7th CPC
will sort out this age old problem and help the thousands of senior citizens
who are in dire need of medical needs at their fag end of life.
9.5
It is not out of place to mention that the Pensioners were given a favourable
verdict in the Central Administrative Tribunal of Kerala and upheld by the
Honourable High Court of Kerala (Annexure –I) also under which
the Postal Pensioners residing outside the CGHS area in the entire State of
Kerala are permitted to become the beneficiaries in CGHS. Though the Central
Government had filed SLP against this judgment, the Postal Pensioners of Kerala
State are admitted into CGHS even though they reside outside the jurisdiction
of CGHS city and irrespective of the fact as to whether they were beneficiaries
of CGHS while in service or not. The benefit of Court Judgments in Kerala
should be extended to all Postal Pensioners in other States as well.
Merger of all Postal Dispensaries under CGHS
9.6
The stand of the Government as against the recommendations of both V and VI
CPCs for merging the P&T Dispensaries with CGHS is very negative. Lukewarm
response was shown after VI CPC recommendation and after dilly dallying the
question for years, the Governmetn ultimately came forward to merge only 19
Postal Dispensaries with CGHS. The Government could have easily merged all the
remaining Postal Dispensaries also by converting those infrastructures of
Postal Dispensaries into CGHS infrastructure with additional expenditure not
unmanageable by the Central Government. There is no meaning in some
dispensaries in the name of Postal Dispensaries while a centralized CGHS can
cater to the medical needs of all CG Employees and Pensioners in a much better
manner. The Postal Pensioners covered under the existing Postal Dispensaries
are not considered for treatment of hospitalization facilities is a clear case
of discrimination amongst the same category of Central Government Pensioners. A
welfare state cannot justify its act on any grounds including on the ground of
financial burden to deny the medical needs for one section of Government
Pensioners while the same is granted to majority of CG Pensioners. It is
recognized by one and all that the Government was spending from its own
exchequer towards running the P&T Dispensaries for the benefit of Postal
and Telegraph workers without any contribution from employees goes to show that
the Medicare is a social welfare measure on the part of the Government towards
its work force. Therefore the CGHS though contributory in nature cannot be
fully considered as a contributory scheme as it is also a welfare measure
towards the CG Employees and CG Pensioners. We appeal to the VII CPC to
recommend for total merger of Postal Dispensaries with CGHS without exemption
so that all Postal Pensioners can be benefited without any discrimination.
Rent free BSNL landline Phone to Postal Pensioners
9.7
The Postal Department was segregated from the combined P&T Department on 31st March,
1985. The Telecom Department later converted into BSNL is granting rent free
land line phones to all Telecom and BSNL Pensioners and also to Postal
Pensioners who have worked in the combined department of P&T for more than
20 years at the time of bifurcation. This means only those employees who were
in P&T department in the year 1965 or before are entitled to get this
concession. The cut off time fixed by the BSNL is unjustified. Most of today’s
Postal Pensioners were employees of combined P&T department entered in service
only after 1965. Some such pensioners have approached courts and got a
favourable judgment and based on those judgments got the concession extended to
them by the BSNL. The general guideline of the Honourable Supreme Court of
India that all similarly placed persons should be extended the same justice
held out to any other person is ignored by the Central Government. This issue
is continuously being discussed in the forum of SCOVA but the burden of
decision is left on the BSNL which is dilly dallying the question for years
together. We fervently appeal to the 7th CPC for a
recommendation to the Central Government for grant of rent free land line phone
from BSNL to all Postal Pensioners who were recruited when the department was
combined one irrespective of number of years’ service put in by them in the
P&T department.
Allotment of Postal Staff Quarters for Pensioners
9.8
There is a tendency amongst the employees of Postal Department to not to seek
for residential accommodation in the Postal Staff Quarters for various reasons
including owning of their own houses and not suitable to their work spots etc.
Many such Postal Staff quarters were left unoccupied causing slow damage to the
structure of the building itself. Instead of keeping the Postal staff quarters
unoccupied, it would be welcome to allot them to the Postal Pensioners who opt
for such quarters. The analogy for serving employees who live in Staff Quarters
is recovering HRA besides a standard license fee. In the case of Postal Pensioners
the vacant staff quarters according to the entitlement of the cadre in which
they retired may be allotted to them on payment of standard license fee only as
a token of served the department for a number of years. Similar concession may
be extended to family pensioners also. We seek the kind recommendation of 7th CPC
in this regards.
Free Postage facility to Postal Pensioners
9.9
Various Central Government Pensioners like the Pensioners of Railways and
Defense are offered special privileges like Railway Pass and Defense Canteens.
The Postal Pensioners shall be extended some such concessions by the Government
as is available to Pensioners in Australia. The Australian Postal Department
(Australia Post) has implemented a scheme called “My Post Concession
Account” in which postal concessions are offered to sections like
Pensioners holding Pensioner Concession Card etc. The Postal Pensioners should
be granted such facilities for free postage in a year.
Gramin Dak Sewaks
and Casual Labourers
Extension of Defined Pension Scheme to Casual labourers on
retirement
9.10
The new entrants on or after 1.1.2004 in the Central services are not
covered by the Defined Pension benefit scheme but attached to NPS only.
However, if any Casual labourer like the temporary status Mazdoors etc are
regularized even after 1.1.2004, they should be treated as entered in service
prior to 1.1.2004 only as per the judicial pronouncement of Honorable High
Court of Madras. In a recent judgment of Central Administrative Tribunal of
Chennai and a subsequent judgment of the Honourable Madras High Court
have held that 16 temporary status Mazdoors who were regularized in the
Kalpakkam Atomic Energy Department after 1.1.2004 should be brought under
Defined Benefit Pension Scheme and not under NPS by virtue of their entering
the services as a Casual labourer well before the cut of date of 1.1.2004.
9.11
In the background of the above judgment we submit that there are thousands of
casual labourers with or without temporary status in the Department of Posts
without any scope of regularization for years. Therefore when they get the
opportunity to be regularized, they should not be placed under the contributory
NPS Scheme but should be brought under the CCS(Pension)Rules, 1972. We request
the 7th CPC for a positive recommendation to the Government in
this issue.
9.12
Due to wrong interpretation of the DOPT as well as the Department of Posts,
hundreds of Casual labourers who have become eligible to be considered for
grant of temporary status Mazdoors as per the scheme worked out by the DOPT in
line with the Supreme Court of India’s directive are deprived of the benefit.
The DOPT order facilitates grant of temporary status to those casual labourers
who have entered into the service as a casual labourer on or before the cut-off
date viz., 10.09.1993. This temporary status can be conferred to
the casual labourers who complete 240 days of service in a year (206 days in
the case of casual labourers working in administrative offices). The
wrong interpretation made by the DOPT / DoP being that only those casual
labourers who have completed 240 days of service on the cut-off date itself
viz., 10.09.1993 will be entitled for the grant of temporary status and that
the scheme is not a running scheme for those who completes the
eligibility on a subsequent date to the cut-off date. This is not only an
arbitrary interpretation against the spirit of the Supreme Court directive as
well as the very Government Order itself but also against regularization of
casual labourers themselves in the services. The stipulation of not a
running scheme should be restricted to only for the entry into service before
10.09.1993 and not for gaining the eligibility criteria of number of
mandatory days of employment in a year.
9.13
The Clarificatory Orders of the DOPT further causes a discrimination between
those Casual Labourers who have been granted temporary status for casual
labourers who complete 240 days eligibility criteria after 10.09.1993 and other
casual labourers on the same footing. The Orders of the DOPT O.M.No.
40011/6/2002-Estt( C )dated 6 June, 2002 stipulates that the status of
temporary status should not be stripped from anyone who were conferred with the
status on the assumption that it is an ongoing Scheme. It only says don’t
confer the same status to any more casual labourers unless they have not only
entered the service on or before 10.09.1993 but also rendered 240 days service
(206 days in administrative offices) before the cut-off date. This causes a
glaring discrimination between one set of casual labourers and another.
9.14
This above mentioned wrong interpretation is aimed at diluting the Supreme
Court directive as well as the original orders of DOPT for grant of temporary
status to Casual labourers as per the directive of Supreme Court. We request
that the Government should be advised to follow the correct interpretation by
the 7th CPC. As otherwise many casual labourers will not be
able to be granted temporary status and hence could not be regularized. Without
regularization they will not be able to be made eligible for the defined
benefit pension as discussed in the foregoing paragraph vide the judgment in
the temporary status casual labour case of Atomic Energy Department, Kalpakkam.
9.15
We request the 7th CPC for a recommendation for set righting a
glare injustice to pave way for regularization of all eligible casual laborers
as well as reckoning the period of casual nature as entry in service prior to
1.1.2004 for facilitating them to be brought under CCS Pension Rules, 1972 and
not under NPS.
Extension of Defined Pension Scheme to GDS Promotes on
retirement
9.16
There are roughly three lakhs of Gramin Dak Sewaks in the Department of Posts
who were recommended by the Justice Talwar Committee for the grant of pension
by the Government by treating them as civil servants. This was not accepted yet
by the Government. Meanwhile as per the analogy of the judgment of the
Honorable Madras High Court, which directed to treat the period of casual
nature rendered by the temporary status Mazdoors regularized after 1.1.2004 as
employees entered in service prior to 1.1.2004, these Gramin Dak Sewaks also
are to be treated as entered in to Postal Services before 1.1.2004 even though
they get regularized in the posts of MTS / Postman / Mail guard etc after
1.1.2004 by virtue of their long service as GDS that gives them the
eligibility to regularization.
9.17
In some cases there are judicial pronouncements (Annexure –V) to
the effect that if there is any shortage of service in a regularized post for
the eligibility to pension (10 years’ service) to those employees who were
promoted to those posts from the cadre of Gramin Dak Sewaks, then the shortage
should be adjusted from the long service rendered by them as GDS. The above
judgment has not been extended to all similarly placed employees resulting in
them retiring without any pensionery benefit. This is totally unjustified and
against the legal pronouncements. We therefore suggest that the 7th CPC
may recommend to the Government for allowing such retirees to get pension by
treating their shortage if any in the qualifying service from the long service
rendered by them as GDS in the past.
Grant of Pension and GPF benefits to Gramin
Dak Sewak of Postal Department
9.18
Supreme Court in his Landmark judgment on 22.4.1977 ordered Extra Departmental
Agents as holder of the Civil Posts and they are not Agents but directly
appointed with some prescribed rules at par with a regular employees and are
controlled by the Civil service conduct Rule at par with the regular employees.
A copy of the said judgment marked as Annexure – A is enclosed for ready
reference. That is why they are entitled to proportionate wages and all other
allowances, benefits and pension as admissible to Govt. Employees.
9.19
The report of Justice , Charanjit Talwar was submitted on 30.4.1997 which
recommended scale of pay leave, pensionery benefits at par with regular
employees. A copy of the report of chapter IV under the caption “Social
Security” is enclosed marked as Annexure – B for ready reference. The
contention of the Department of Post that the ED Employees number being more
than three lakhs it would be very difficult to maintain and to record the
service particulars as required under CCS (Pension) Rules – 1972 as the
existing infrastructure not in a position to manage the huge service book etc.
apart from this as the ED employees have their other source of income they are
not eligible to get pension. This argument of the Department of posts is not
tenable. The railway Department is maintaining the service book of more than 15
lakhs, the Defence Ministry maintaining more than 10 lakh, what is the
difficulty of maintaining of 6 lakhs employees. This arguments is not at all
convincing. Regarding shortage of working hours on the grounds that EDAs are
not performing 8 hours work Hence, they cannot be brought under the preview of
the CCS (Pension) Rules-1972. The HRD Ministry who are controlling primary and
secondary teachers their duty hours are less than 8 hours and most of
them are within 5 hours but they are being granted pensioners as per CCS
(Pension) Rules 1972. Similarly the Government Doctors who are earning money
beyond their duty hours by private practice having other source of income are
being granted pension under CCS (Pension) Rules – 1972.
We, therefore propose
that the 7th pay commission will kindly study the above report
of Talwar Committee give some positive recommendations granting pension and
G.P.F. benefits to GDS Retirees.
Chapter
X
BSNL /
MTNL Pensioners
10.1
DoT employees who had been absorbed in MTNL / BSNL are being given the benefit
of defined benefit pension scheme by amending the CCS (Pension) Rules – 1972
providing an amended rule as 37 A. But this facility is denied to the new
recruits who are recruited after 1.10.2000. They are being governed by EPF
Scheme this is discriminatory and in violation of the Article 14 of
the Constitution of India.
We therefore propose
scrapping of EPF scheme and the all the BSNL recruits be brought under the CCS
(pension) Rules-1972. In many of the Public Sector Undertaking like Tea board
Corporation, Damoder Valley Corporation, Steel Authority of India, Coal India,
Airport Authority of India, Port and Dock workers are all under the purview of
CCS (Pension) Rules – 1972. Hence, justification to BSNL new recruits is quite
valid.
10.2
Pension revision of BSNL pensioners should be made mandatory whenever wage
revision is implemented in BSNL. Before the formation of BSNL on 1.10.2000Rule
– 37A was incorporated to the CCS (Pension) Rules – 1972 to ensure pension to
the BSNL absorbed DOT employees from the consolidated fund of Government of
India. Subsequently this position was ratified by the Secretary, Department of
Telecom vide his D.O. letter dated 15.5.2005. That in respect of employees who
have been absorbed in BSNL. BSNL is liable to pay the pension contribution in
accordance with FR-116 and liability on amount of pension payable will of
Government of India. Surprisingly DOT issued another letter on 15.6.2006
reversing its earlier decision and linked payment of pension with receipt of
revenues from BSNL. This being most dangerous and certain to problem in future
for payment of pension. The Union took up the issue seriously and the DOP was
compelled to issue another letter stating that the contents of the letter dated
15.6.2006 will not be insisted. But in the abseebce of cancellation /
nullification of the controversial letter of dated 15.6.2006, whenever the
pension revision issue of BSNL pensioners is initiated hindrances / roadblocks
are raised not only by DOT but also by other department like expenditure, law
and public enterprises on the basis of the above letter. This has happened when
pension revision of pre 2007 BSNL pensioners was initiated and now for pension
revision on 78.2% IDA merge. This position should not be allowed to continue
and the BSNL pensioners should be treated at par with central government
pensioners as they are covered under the 37 A of CCS (Pension) Rule – 1972.
10.3.
Department of Telecommunications vide their OM No.4-12(11) 2012-PAT dated
20.2.2014 have extended CGHS facilities to retired BSNL employees who are in
receipt of Central Civil pension / Pro rata pension from Central Civil
Estimates in consulation with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. BSNL
retirees have been given an option to choose either CGHS or BSNL – MRS as per
their convenience.
BSNL also vide its letter
No. BSN / Admn/14-15.09(pt) dated 2nd April, 2014 addressed to
all the Chief General Managers, has asked them to give wide publicity and to
assist the willing retired employees by forwarding their applications to the
respective CGHS units for admission to CGHS.
But the Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare does not seem to have issued any clear order in
this connection. Hence in the absence of necessary order from the nodal
Ministry, the facility is not being extended to BSNL retirees. Hence immediate
necessary action in the matter needs to be taken by MOH & FW.
Further, since the Dot
O.M. dated 20.2.2014 stipulates that the retired BSNL employees who opt for
CGHS “would have to pay the requisite fee to CGHS as applicable to Government
retirees”. DoT must now fix the rate of monthly contribution payable by the
pensioner. It is to be noted that the contribution payable by the Government
retirees is fixed on the basis of the Grade Pay that they would have drawn had
they been in service whereas in BSNL there is no element of Grade Pay to fix
the rate of contribution on par with government retirees. The ward entitlement
of Government retirees is also determined on the notional pay in pay Band.
Hence, BSNL will have to evolve a new dispensation on contribution and ward
entitlement in respect of BSNL retirees which must be in conformity with the
rates applicable to CGHS beneficiaries.
Chapter
XII
Issue
relating to Civilian Pensioners of Defence Department
12.1
CSD Canteen Facility to Defence Civilian Pensioners
Defence civilian
employees are provided with CSD Canteen Facility when they are in service. But
the same is stopped after their retirement. Several representations made
earlier regarding extension of the facility to pensioners have not been
fruitful. Commission is requested to recommend CSD canteen facilities to
Defence Civilian retirees.
12.2.
Grant of Indoor Hospital Treatment at Command Hospital under the control of
Ministry of Defence to the Defence Civilian Pensioners.
We propose that the
Facilities as available to Railway Hospital to railway Pensioners be extended
to Defence Civilian Pensioners to obviate the difficulties now being faced by
the Defence Civilian Pensioners.
***********
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