Implementation of Supreme Court Judgement on Rank Pay Case

Press Information Bureau
Government of India

Implementation of Supreme Court Judgement on Rank Pay Case

   In compliance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated 04.09.2012 which dealt with the rank pay matter, the Government has issued an order on 27.12.2012 for implementing the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

   2840 serving officers and 33814 retired officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force have been paid a total amount of Rs.347 crores as their admissible dues. Additionally, Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) in respect of 12129 Army officers, 2187 Navy officers and 5557 Air Force officers have been revised.

Implementation of income criteria for dependent parents of Armed Forces Personnel for grant of two family pensions.

O/o THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSION)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No. 516

Dated: 6.11.2013

Subject: Implementation of income criteria for dependent parents of Armed Forces Personnel for grant of two family pensions.

Reference: This office Circular No. 400 dated 05.12.2008.

   As per para 11.2 of MOD letter No.-17(4)12008(2)/D(Pen/Pol) dated 12.11.2008 the dependency criteria for the purpose of family pension shall be the minimum family pension along with dearness relief. Now the Ministry of Defence has clarified that the GOI, Ministry of Personnel, PG& Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioners' welfare no.- 1/11/2011- P&PW(E) dated 30th November 2011 (copy enclosed) is applicable mutatis mutandis on family pensioner of Armed Forces wherein the family pension admissible to beneficiary in respect of one deceased employee/pensioner is not to be counted as income for the purpose of determination of eligibility for another family pension which is admissible in connection with another deceased employee/pensioner. However, any other income/earning of the beneficiary under consideration will be counted towards income for deciding eligibility for family pension.

Status of Implementation of One Rank One Pension.

   Government has always been sensitive to the demand for One Rank One Pension. Keeping in view the spirit of the demand, several Commissions/Committees have gone into the matter. Their recommendations have resulted in improving the pension of past pensioners.

   The 5th Central Pay Commission did not recommend grant of 'One Rank, One Pension' by stating that every Pay Commission gives certain benefits in pay which are over and above the impact of inflation. The additional benefit is given either due to upgradation of recruitment qualifications or change in job contents.

   The benefits accorded on this account need not necessarily be passed on to the pensioners. It, however, recommended partial parity. Similarly the 6th Central Pay Commission recommended modified parity and not full parity in the matter of revision of pension of the past retirees. Further a Committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary in June, 2009.

   The Committee made several recommendations aimed at narrowing the gap between earlier and current pensions. This has benefited about 12 lakh retired Personnel Below Officer Ranks (PBORs)/Officers at an annual cost of Rs.2200 crores approximate. Another Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary was set up in July, 2012 for looking into the pay and pension related issues of relevance to Defence service personnel and ex-servicemen.

   The Committee made recommendations for bridging the gap in pensions of pre and post 2006 Armed Forces pensioners, enhancement of family pensions, dual family pension and continuation of pension to physically/mentally challenged son/daughter of Armed Forces personnel on marriage. All the recommendations of the Committee have been implemented by issue of Government letters on 17.01.2013.

   This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singhin a written reply to Shri NareshGujral in Rajya Sabha.

PIB