As per the new order for Pension and Gratuity Payment, the Government has emphasized and also has asked their officials to ensure that the payment of pension and gratuity for its retired Employees is not stopped if final Pension Payment Order (PPO) is delayed and should also not be discontinued under any circumstances.
The order also highlights the main key rules pertaining to the provisional pension, gratuity, and payment of interest. This has come as a big relief for pensioners whose regular pension gets delayed after retirement.
As per the old rule, prior to the recent new order, the payment of provisional pension had to be stopped beyond the period of six months from the date of retirement of the Government servant as per Rule 62 of CCS(Pension) Rules, 2021. The Rule further also provided that the Accounts Officer shall treat the provisional pension as final and issue pension payment order immediately on the expiry of the period of six months if the final amount of pension and gratuity have not been determined by the Head of Office in consultation with the Accounts Officer within the aforesaid period of six months.
Moving on to the recent O.M dated 23rd February 2022, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) said, “In view of the provisions of Rule 62 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, the Accounts Officer has to treat the provision pension as final and issue pension payment order immediately on the expiry of the period of six months provided in the Rule if the final amount of pension and gratuity have not been determined by the Head of Office in consultation with the Accounts Officer within the said period.”
“Therefore, there should not be a situation where the regular pension is not authorized by the Accounts Officer to a retired Government servant on expiry of the period of six months,” it added.
Further, Office Memorandum (O.M.) has emphasized that “pension should not be discontinued under any circumstances, if, for any reasons, PPO for regular pension could not be issued by the Accounts Officer till the expiry of the period of six months.”
According to Rule 65 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, in all cases where pension or family pension or gratuity has not been sanctioned or is delayed, interest will be paid on arrears of pension or family pension or gratuity.
According to Rule 62 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, payment of provisional pension must not continue beyond the period of six months from the date of retirement of the government.
In view of the provisions of Rule 62 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, the Accounts Officer has to treat the provisional pension as final and issue a pension payment order immediately on the expiry of the period of six months provided in the rule.
The government has emphasized the point that pension should not be discontinued under any circumstances if a PPO for regular pension could not be issued by the Accounts Officer till the expiry of the aforesaid period of six months.
Credit of first pension of Pensioner
According to FAQ Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), “After completing all formalities, CPPC should credit the first pension to pensioners account on the last date of the month following the month of retirement or within 40 days of the receipt of the PPO/SSA whichever is earlier.”
