Select central govt employees get one-time option to opt for old pension scheme
New Delhi (PTI): In a major move, a select group of central government employees have been given a one-time option to opt for old pension scheme, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
The employees who joined the central government services against posts advertised or notified before December 22, 2003, the day National Pension System (NPS) was notified, are eligible to join the old pension scheme under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), said the order on Friday.
This option may be exercised by the government servants concerned latest by August 31, 2023.
The move came following various representations/references and court decisions in this regard, it said.
"Representations have been received...from the government servants appointed on or after 01.01.2004 requesting for extending the benefit of the pension scheme under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) on the ground that their appointment was made against the posts/vacancies advertised/notified for recruitment prior to notification for National Pension System, referring to court judgments of various Hon'ble High Courts and Hon'ble Central Administrative Tribunals allowing such benefits to applicants," the order said.
The matter has been examined in consultation with the Department of Financial Services, Department of Personnel & Training, Department of Expenditure and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of the various representations/references and decisions of the courts in this regard, it said.
"It has now been decided that, in all cases where the central government civil employee has been appointed against a post or vacancy which was advertised/ notified for recruitment/appointment, prior to the date of notification for National Pension System i.e. 22.12.2003 and is covered under the National Pension System on joining service on or after 01.01.2004, may be given a one-time option to be covered under the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021)," the order said.
Those government servants who are eligible to exercise option, "but who do not exercise this option by the stipulated date", shall continue to be covered by the National Pension System, it added.
The option once exercised shall be final, the order said.
The matter regarding coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), based on the option exercised by the government servant, shall be placed before the appointing authority.
In case the government servant fulfils the conditions for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), necessary order in this regard shall be issued latest by 31st October, 2023, it said.
The NPS account of such government servants shall, consequently, be closed with effect from December 31, 2023.
The National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS), an umbrella body of more than 14 lakh central and state government employees, has welcomed the government decision.
"It is a good news for the eligible central government employees. We again ask the central government to amend the existing NPS to ensure that the benefits of old pension scheme can be extended to all central government staff," NMOPS Delhi unit head Manjeet Singh Patel said.
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Dharmasthala mass burial allegations: Excavation begins at spots identified by complainant
Belthangady: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has begun excavation work at multiple locations in Dharmasthala after a man claimed he had buried several bodies across the temple town. The complainant was brought to the site by officials to help identify the alleged burial spots.
On Monday, the man pointed out 13 different locations near the Netravati bathing ghat, stating that he had personally interred human remains there. Acting on his claims, the SIT returned to the area on Tuesday morning with labourers and began digging at the marked sites using manual tools.
The operation is being conducted under tight police security, with media access strictly denied. Red ribbons now cordon off each location, and night patrols were deployed on Monday to guard the sites.
Senior officials including Internal Security Division SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama, ED Mangaluru Zone SP C.A. Simon, Puttur AC Stella Varghese, and others are present at the location.
A medical team from KMC Hospital, Mangaluru, led by Dr. Jagadish Rao and Dr. Rashmi has also joined the SIT at the site.
