Govt Makes Clarifications On Pension & Gratuity Payment In Case PPO Is Not Issued

The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) clarifies the payment of provisional pension and gratuity under Rule 62 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 in the event of a delay in the issuance of a Pension Payment Order (PPO) authorising regular pension in an official memorandum issued on February 23, 2022. Each pensioner's 12-digit PPO number is unique and is used as a reference number to receive the pension.

According to DoPPW, Rule 65 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 states that in all cases where a pension/family pension/gratuity, including provisional pension/family pension gratuity, has not been sanctioned or is delayed, and it is established clearly that the delay in payment was due to administrative reasons or lapses, interest shall be paid on arrears of pension/family pension/gratuity at the rate and in the manner applicable to the General Provident Fund (GPF) amount.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) also said in a recent Office Memorandum (O.M) that "In view of the provisions of Rule 62 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 (earlier Rule 64 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972), the Accounts Officer has to treat the provisional 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 regular pension is not authorized by the Accounts Officer to a retired Government servant on expiry of the period of six months."

DoPPW also clarified that "Every case of delayed payment of pension/family pension/gratuity in respect of employees of a Ministry or Department and the employees of its attached and subordinate offices shall be considered by the Secretary of that Ministry or Department or any other officer authorized by him, and where it is found that the delay in the payment of pension/family pension/gratuity was caused on account of administrative reasons or lapse, interest shall be required to be paid to the affected pensioner/family pensioner. In such cases, responsibility shall be fixed and disciplinary action shall be taken against the Government servant or servants who are found responsible for the delay on account of administrative lapses."

"Although as per Rule 62 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, payment of provisional pension shall not continue beyond the period of six months from the date of retirement of the Government servant, the Rule further provides 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," the memorandum further added.

As per the memo "All Ministries/Departments and their Account Officers are advised to strictly comply with the provisions of Rule 62 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021. It is further emphasized that pension should not be discontinued under any circumstances, if, for any reason, PPO for regular pension could not be issued by the Accounts Officer till the expiry of the aforesaid period of six months."