Old Pension: Sources say that all the office heads are being told verbally that as per the prescribed rules, all the employees/officers who are entitled to the benefit of old pension should complete their files and issue the final order before 30th November. Let it be done. Let us know about it in detail.
Rallies are being held to implement ‘old pension’ in the central government. Memorandums are being submitted to the government by employee organizations. Opinion of employees is being taken through voting in Railways and Defense Department for indefinite strike demanding restoration of pension.
On the other hand, files to include some employees and officers in the ‘old pension’ system in various government departments have also gained momentum. Now only eight days are left for the central ministries and departments. Within the said period itself, they will have to complete all the formalities and release the list of those personnel-officers who have been included in OPS from NPS.
Final order will be issued before November 30
An office memorandum in this regard has also been issued by the ‘Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare Department’ under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of the Government of India. Sources say that all the office heads are being told verbally that as per the prescribed rules, the file of all the employees/officers who are entitled to old pension benefits should be completed and the final order should be issued before November 30. . Some departments have also issued separate correspondence in this regard in addition to the DoPT office memorandum.
Indian Railways, which has over 11 lakh employees, has conveyed the above orders to all GMs, Chief Financial Advisors, zonal railways and production units by the Railway Board on November 10. Railway Board has cited the office memorandum issued by the ‘Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare Department’ on November 7. It said that for central employees exercising the option to join OPS from NPS, final orders will have to be issued by the authorized authority by November 30. Earlier the necessary order in this regard was to be issued by October 31, 2023.
These central government employees got the option
Apart from its serving employees and officers, the Central Government has also given the opportunity to retired employees to leave NPS and join the old pension scheme. Earlier this option was provided to central employees in March. After that, in July, this option was also given to selected officers of All India Services (AIS). After that, it was asked by the retired employees whether they can also take advantage of this option, then the Central Government provided them the option to switch from NPS to OPS.
Different cut off dates were kept for these. In the office memorandum issued on November 7 by the ‘Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare’ under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of the Government of India, it has been said that for the central employees exercising this option, the final decision will now be submitted by the authorized authority by November 30. Can issue orders. Earlier the necessary order in this regard was to be issued by October 31, 2023.
Why was the cut off date extended?
A request was made to the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare by the concerned authority or the appointing authority to extend the last date fixed in this regard. After considering the requests received from various departments, the ‘Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare Department’ has now extended the cut-off date for taking a final decision in this regard to November 30.
The Central Government had provided the option to switch from NPS to OPS under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) to such employees who were in the Central Government services for advertised or notified posts before December 22, 2003.
Had attended. Such employees were given time till August 31 to choose one option. These orders were issued in March 2023. There were some employees who retired before the said order. Recently he had asked whether he would also get the option to join OPS from NPS after his retirement. The government said, they can also come in OPS. Provided that they have to fulfill certain conditions.
The recruitment process was completed before 22 December 2003.
Those Central Government employees who joined Government service on or after January 1, 2004, but their recruitment process was completed before the said date. This included all the formalities from advertisement of posts to recruitment. Due to some reasons, such employees had joined service after January 2004.
The final result of those employees had already come before NPS was implemented on 22 December 2003, but they got joining after 1 January 2004. In such a situation, he could not get the benefit of his old pension. He was included in NPS. A large number of requests were received from central employees for extension of pension scheme benefits under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021).
The workers took refuge in the High Courts and Central Administrative Tribunals. From there, when decisions were taken in their favor, the Central Government provided the option to all those personnel to join OPS on 3 March 2023. For this, employees had to give their option by 31st August.
This option was also provided to AIS
The Central Government had also provided the option to select All India Services (AIS) officers included in the NPS to join the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Such AIS officers, who were appointed against the vacancies advertised/notified before the notification of NPS on December 22, 2003, the government had said in an order dated July 13, 2023. He was included in NPS.
Officers who joined service on or after January 1, 2004, may be given a lump sum option to be covered under the provisions of the old pension scheme under AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958. AIS officers fulfilling the above condition can give their option to switch from NPS to OPS till November 30, 2023. The government has clarified that this option will be the last chance.
One time option given to employees
The government orders said the matter has been examined in consultation with the Department of Financial Services, Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Expenditure and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of various representations/references and court decisions in this regard. Subsequently, it has now been decided that in all cases where a Central Government civil servant has been appointed against a vacant post.
His recruitment process was completed before the date of notification issued for the National Pension System ‘NPS’ i.e. 22nd December, 2003, but the joining took place on or after 1st January, 2004, all those personnel will be eligible to join the Central Civil Services (Pension ) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) has given a one-time option to be covered.
If employees do not exercise this option by the prescribed date, they will continue to be covered by the National Pension System. If the government employee fulfills the conditions of coverage under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), necessary orders in this regard will be issued by October 31, 2023. However, now this date has been extended to 30 November.
Now retired people will get this facility
An office memorandum in this regard has been issued by the Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare Department on October 20. It said that some central employees, who have now retired, have asked whether they can also join OPS. Will the said order also apply to those people who had already retired before this order came?
That means his retirement took place before March 3, 2023. In this regard, the Pension and Pensioners Welfare Department says, yes, they can also use the said option. Here such personnel will have to follow certain conditions. Like if he has taken all the benefits of NPS on retirement, then it will have to be returned. They can avail the benefit of OPS only if they return the money received from NPS on retirement.
