Power to withhold or withdraw pension / gratuity in cases of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021
F. No. 38/01(05)/2022-P&PW(A) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan Khan Market, New Delhi-110 003 Dated: 26.10.2022
Office Memorandum
Subject: Power to withhold or withdraw pension/gratuity in cases of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021.
The undersigned is directed to say that Rule 8 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 has been amended vide Notification No. GSR 770(E) dated 07.10.2022. As per earlier Rule 8 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, the President had the power, in all cases, to withhold/withdraw a pension/gratuity, if in any departmental or judicial proceedings, the pensioner was found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service, including service rendered upon re-employment after retirement.
2. As per the amended Rule 8, approval of President shall be required only for ordering withholding/withdrawing pension or gratuity in the case of a pensioner who retired from a post for which President is the appointing authority and, in other cases, Secretary of the Administrative Ministry or Department shall be competent to order withholding/withdrawing pension or gratuity, if the pensioner is found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service in any departmental or judicial proceedings. Similarly, the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India shall be competent to order withholding/withdrawing pension or gratuity in the case of a pensioner who retired from the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, for which an authority subordinate to the President is the appointing authority. Consultation with UPSC will also not be necessary in cases where the President is not the appointing authority
3. A provision for appeal against an order of an authority other than the President has also been made in the amended Rule 8(6A). Provisions for revision/review of the orders by the President have also been made in Rule 8(7) & Rule 8(8), respectively.
4. All Ministries/Departments arc requested that the above amended provisions regarding power to withhold or withdraw pension/gratuity in case where the pensioner is found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits, for strict implementation.
(R.C Sethi) Deputy Secretary to Government of India
Sub: Processing of cases for authorisation of pension/family pension in respect of (i) a Government servant who is not in a position to submit the pension forms on account of any bodily or mental infirmity, and (ii) a Government servant who dies after retirement without having submitted the pension forms.
The undersigned is directed to say that Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare has notified the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 in supersession of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972.
2. In accordance with Rule 57(3)(a) and Rule 58 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, where the Head of Office is satisfied that a Government servant, who retires on superannuation or otherwise, is not in a position to submit the pension forms on account of any bodily or mental infirmity, he may allow the spouse of the Government servant or, in the absence of the spouse, the member of the family eligible to receive family pension on death of Government servant, to submit Form 4 and Form 6. If there is no member of the family eligible to receive family pension on death of Government servant, a member of the family in whose favour a nomination was made by the Government servant for payment of gratuity, may be allowed to submit the said Forms. In cases where the forms are submitted by the spouse or any other member of the family, the Government servant shall not be entitled to the benefit of commutation of a percentage of pension until he himself subsequently applies for such commutation in accordance with the Central Civil Services (Commutation of Pension) Rules, 1981.
3. In accordance with Rule 59(2) read with Rule 80(5) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, the case for authorisation of pension, gratuity and family pension in respect of a Government servant, who has died after retirement without submission of pension forms, is required to be processed in the following manner:
(1) The Head of Office shall allow the spouse of the deceased Government servant or, in the absence of the spouse, any other member of the family eligible to receive family pension on death of Government servant to submit the claim in Form 10 along with Form 4 and an undertaking to the Bank in Format 9. If there is no member of the family eligible to receive family pension on death of Government servant, a member of the family in whose favour a nomination was made by the Government servant for payment of gratuity, shall be allowed to submit Form 6 in place of Form 10 and the said member of the family shall indicate, the details of his or her Bank Account in Form 6.
(2) The Head of Office shall fill up Form 7 for payment of pension and retirement gratuity in respect of the deceased retired Government servant and he shall also make an indication in Form 7 to the effect that the case pertains to a retired Government servant, who did not submit Form 6 and other documents before his death and if a claim for family pension has been submitted in Form 10, the Head of Office shall also issue a sanction in Format 13 for authorisation of family pension to the eligible member of the family.
(3) The Head of Office shall send Form 4, Form 7, Form 10 or Form 6, as the case may be, Format 9 and Format 13 (if applicable) with a forwarding letter in Format 10 to the Accounts Officer for authorisation of pension, retirement gratuity and family pension, if applicable.
(4) The Accounts Officer shall authorise the pension, retirement gratuity and family pension (if applicable) in Part-II of the Pension Payment Order and he shall also authorise the Head of Office to make payment of arrears of pension for the period from the date following the date of retirement up to the date of death to the member of the family who is authorised to receive family pension. If there is no member of the family eligible to receive family pension, the arrears of pension shall be paid to the member of the family who has been authorised to receive retirement gratuity.
(5) If a family pension has been authorised to a member of the family, the Accounts Officer shall forward a copy of the Pension Payment Order along with the undertaking to the Bank in Format 9 to the Central Pension Accounting Office, for issuing a Special Seal of Authority and for disbursement of family pension.
4. All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above provisions regarding processing of cases for authorisation of pension/family pension in respect of (i) a Government servant who is not in a position to submit the pension forms on account of any bodily or mental infirmity, and (11) a Government servant who dies after retirement without having submitted the pension forms, may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits in the Ministry/Department and attached/subordinate offices thereunder, for strict implementation.
(अशोक कुमार सिंह) अवर सचिव, भारत सरकार फोन: 23310108
To
All Ministries/Departments/Organisations (As per standard list).
Timelines for completion of various activities in the process of authorisation of pension and gratuity on retirement on superannuation of a Government servant: DOPPW O.M
सं. 11(15)/2022-P&PW(H)-8363 (1) भारत सरकार पेंशन और पेंशभोगी कल्याण विभाग
Sub: Timelines for completion of various activities in the process of authorisation of pension and gratuity on retirement on superannuation of a Government servant.
The undersigned is directed to say that Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare has notified the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 in supersession of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972. Chapter X of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 deals with the procedure for determination and authorisation of the amounts of pension and gratuity on retirement of a Government servant.
2. The process of authorisation of pension and gratuity involves various activities to be performed by different offices/authorities. Timelines have been prescribed in the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 for completion of each of these activities. The details of the offices/authorities involved, the action to be taken by each of these offices/authorities and the timeline for completing these actions are summarised below:
Preparation of list of Government servants due for retirement– As per Rule 54, every Head of Department (HOD) is required to have a list prepared by 15th day of every month, of all Government servants who are due to retire within the next fifteen months of that date.
Intimation to the Directorate of Estates regarding issue of “No Demand Certificate’– As per Rule 55, complete details regarding the Government accommodation are required to be obtained from the Government servant at least one year before retirement and send these details, within 10 days to the Directorate of Estates for issuing a “No demand certificate’ in respect of the period preceding eight months of the retirement of the Government servant. If the Government servant is/was not in occupation of any residential accommodation, HOO shall issue the ‘No Demand Certificate’ on the basis of a declaration from the Government servant in this regard and after verification of the records and no separate ‘No Demand Certificate’ from the Directorate of Estates shall be necessary in such cases.
Preparation for processing of pension case– Elaborate procedure has been laid down in Rules 56 and 57 for preparatory work for processing of pension case on superannuation during the period of one year before retirement. This includes verification of service, making good the omissions, imperfections or deficiencies in the service book. In order to ensure that the emoluments during the last ten months of service have been correctly shown in the service book, the Head of Office shall verify the correctness of emoluments only for the period of twenty-four months preceding the date of retirement of a Government servant, and not for any period prior to that date. At least, eight months prior to the date of retirement of the Government servant, the HOO shall furnish to the retiring Government servant a certificate regarding the length of qualifying service and the emoluments/average emoluments to be reckoned for retirement gratuity and pension and advise the retiring Government servant to submit/fill the required pension Forms
The Government servant shall submit the completed Forms not later than six months prior to his date of retirement.
Completion of pension case.-Detailed procedure for completion of pension papers (i.e. Form 7) by the HOO has been laid down in Rule 59 and 60. The HOO is required to send the pension case to the Pay & Accounts Office with a covering letter in Format 10, within two months from the date of receipt of pension forms from the Government servant.
Authorisation of pension and gratuity by the Accounts Officer– On receipt of pension case the Accounts Officer shall apply the requisite checks and issue the pension payment order not later than two months in advance of the date of the retirement of a Government servant on attaining the age of superannuation. The Accounts Officer shall indicate in the PPO, the name of the spouse of the Government servant, if alive, as family pensioner. The names of the permanently disabled child or children and dependent parents and disabled siblings Accounts Officer shall also be indicated in the PPO, the as family pensioners, if there is no other member of family to whom family pension may become payable before such disabled child or children or dependent parents or disabled siblings.
Issue of Special Seal of Authority and disbursement of pension– The Accounts Officer shall forward a copy of the Pension Payment Order to the Central Pension Accounting Office, within two months from the date of receipt of pension papers from the HOO. The CPAO shall issue the Special Seal of Authority and forward the same to the Pension Disbursing Authority along with the copy of the Pension Payment Order within twenty one days from the date of receipt of the Pension Payment Order. The Pension Disbursing Authority shall thereafter take action to disburse the pension to the retired Government servant on the date on which it becomes due.
3. All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above provisions regarding timelines for processing of a pension under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits in the Ministry/Department and attached/subordinate offices thereunder, for strict implementation.
(अशोक कुमार सिंह) अवर सचिव, भारत सरकार फोन: 23310108
To All Ministries/Departments/Organisations (As per standard list).
Sub: Nation-wide Campaign for Submission of Digital Life Certificate – reg.
The undersigned is directed to say that submission of Life Certificate is an important activity to be carried out by pensioners every year in the month of November (with special provision for pensioners aged 80 years and above to submit their Life Certificates mm the month of October) to ensure continuity of their pension.
2. In the traditional mode, pensioners had to present themselves before the Pension Disbursing Authority for physical submission of their Life Certificate which entailed waiting at the bank branches in queues for this purpose. This was found inconvenient for the old, ailing and infirm pensioners. Further, there was no mechanism for the pensioners to get a sluts regarding updation of their Life Certificates in the records of the Pension Disbursing Authority.
3. To enhance “Ease of Living’ of Central Government pensioners, this Department has been promoting Digital Life Certificate (DLC) i.e. Jeevan Pramaan extensively. Initially, submission of DLCs using biometrics was commenced. However, issues regarding authentication processes of DLCs were faced by older pensioners due to non-capturing of finger bio-metrics on account of aging.
4. This Department therefore engaged with MeitY to develop a face-recognition technology system based on UIDAI Aadhaar database whereby it is possible to submit Life Certificate from any Android based smart phone. As per this facility, the identity of a person is established through face recognition technique. The UIDAI server identifies the same and DLC gets generated. This breakthrough technology launched m November 2021 has reduced the dependence of pensioners on external bio-metric devices and has made the process more accessible and affordable to masses by leveraging smartphone-based technology. The SOP regarding the DLC/Face Authentication technique is attached for reference.
5. With a view to spread awareness amongst all the Central Government pensioners as well as the Pension Disbursing Authorities for use of DLC/Face Authentication Technology to submit Digital Life Certificate, DoPPW is launching nation-wide campaign for whole month of November 2022 for their ‘Ease of Living.’
6. The Nation-wide Campaign for DLC may be carried out as per guidelines mentioned below to reach out to the maximum number of pensioners to avail the service as a request to the following stake-holders:-
(i) Role of Banks:
A nodal officer. not below the rank of Assistant General Manager, may be nominated for the Nation-wide DLC Campaign.
Spread awareness, give due publicity to DLC/Face Authentication technique through banners‘ posters placed in digi-huts, ATMs and branches.
Where Doorstep banking services are availed, the Bank Correspondent should use DLO Pace Authentication technique as tar as possible. This technique is beneficial since it avoids paper work and does away with the need to verify physical LCs,
Similarly, dedicated staff at branches should be equipped with an Android phone ta use this technology when pensioners visit the branch for submission of Life Certificate.
Camps should be held by bank branches to enable pensioners to submit their DLCs without delay.
However, where DLC docs not work due to any reason no Pensioner shall be returned and traditional manual LC can be submitted.
(ii) Role of Ministries/Departments:
A nodal officer, nol below the rank of DS-‘Dir, may be nominated by all Ministries/Departments.
Provision should be made for generating Digital Life Certificates using DLC/Face Authentication technique by providing an Android phone to the designated person at every field office for the entire month of the campaign. GLC should be issued for all Central Government pensioners visiting the Ministry Department, field offices, and subordinate organizations.
Wide publicity should be given to this campaign by spreading awareness through banners/social media/whatsapp groups/SMS Messages/through staff unions.
Photographs to be taken for posting of tweets of such campaigns.
In case of request from bed ridden pensioners, an officer shall be deputed for DLO submission.
Weekly PIB notes giving information about the campaign should be published.
(iii) Role of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:
All CGHS Wellness centers/Dispensaries/Hospitals may be directed to set up camps in their premises for submission of Digital Life Certificates using DLO Face Authentication technique/biometric.
A dedicated person should be equipped with an Android phone for issue of Digital Life Certificate of the pensioners visiting the camp.
Pictures taken during the process are to be forwarded to DoPPW.
(iv) Role of Pensioners’ Associations:
Special DLC camps should be organized through the month using DLC/Face Authentication technique
DoPPW officials. in collaboration with Pensioners’ Associations, will visit 37 centers where a large number of pensioners can be facilitated in issuance of their DLCs using DLC/Face Authentication technology.
Pictures are to be taken and posted on twitter and also sent to DoPPW.
(v) Role of IPPB:
A nodal officer may be nominated at a senior level.
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to utilize its network of access points in Post Offices and Postmen & Gramin Dak Sevaks to provide doorstep DLC facility to pensioners as per their earlier arrangement.
Pictures are lo be taken and posted on twitter and also sent to DoPPW.
Encl: As Above.
अशोक कुमार सिंह) अवर सचिव, भारत प्रकार फोन: 23310108
Consolidated guidelines on Rotational Transfer Policy for Central Secretariat Service
No. 21/19/2022-CS.I(P) Ministry of Personnel, Pension and Public Grievances Department of Personnel and Training Government of India
Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi Dated the 2nd November, 2022
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Consolidated guidelines on Rotational Transfer Policy (RTP) for Central Secretariat Service – Regarding.
The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) is managed centrally in CS.I Division of Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) for all matters relating to appointment, promotion, posting/transfer etc. CSS provides a permanent bureaucratic set up in the Central Secretariat and officers of the service provide continuity in the Central Secretariat. As a part of the cadre management , the officers of the Service can be posted to any Ministry/Department under Central Secretariat and other offices participating in CSS in Delhi and also located outside Delhi.
2. In order to manage transfer/ posting of the officers of the CSS in a definite framework, a Rotational Transfer Policy (RTP) has been in existence for quite some time. As various amendments in the policy have since been made at different times, it is felt to consolidate the same and accordingly , the consolidated guidelines with certain amendments on RTP in CSS have been drawn up and annexed herewith for information and compliance.
(P.B. Sahu) Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India
To:
All Cadre Units of CSS through website of DoPT.
Consolidated Guidelines on Rotational Transfer Policy (RTP) for Officers of Central Secretariat Service (CSS)
1. Grouping of Ministries/ Departments
(i) Ministries/ Departments have been divided into two groups — Group `A’ and Group ‘B’ vide Annexure-I. If an officer has served his tenure in Group ‘A’, he/she will be eligible for transfer to Group ‘B’ and vice versa.
(ii) However, an officer posted in Group ‘A’ Ministry/ Department may also opt for posting to another Ministry/ Department in Group ‘A’ on promotion. On his posting in the new Ministry/ Department in Group ‘A’, tenure will be counted afresh for future transfer under RTP.
2. Tenure
The minimum tenure required in a particular Ministry/ Department to be eligible for transfer from one cadre to another is as under:
(i) On promotion, an officer at any level shall be posted out of the Ministry/ Department if he/she has served in the same Ministry/ Department in any capacity for a period exceeding the prescribed tenure for the promotion post.
(ii) If the officer is due for superannuation within two years, he/she will be retained in the same Ministry/ Department against an existing vacancy of the promotional post. In case of no vacancy of the promotional post, then the officer will be transferred to another Ministry/ Department.
(iii) If the officer is due for superannuation within six months on promotion, he/she will not be transferred as in such a short period one cannot be expected to contribute usefully in another Ministry/ Department. Further, such a transfer may result in delay in finalisation of pension papers. Such an officer will be retained in the same Ministry/ Department against an available vacancy of the promotional post. In the absence of a vacancy, the post held by him/her will be upgraded on personal basis by keeping one post in another Ministry/ Department vacant so as not to exceed the cadre strength. On retirement, the post will revert to its original level.
4. Officers exempted from transfer under RTP
(i) Officers of all grades within two years of superannuation will be exempted from rotational transfers.
(ii) Officers likely to be promoted within one year shall be exempted from the RTP as on promotion officers are transferred if they have completed the prescribed tenure for the promotional post.
5. Offices exempted under RTP
Officers serving in PMO, Cabinet Secretariat, O/o Solicitor General & Attorney General, Addl. Solicitor General will be exempted under RTP. It is considered necessary that these offices may be allowed to retain officers of choice beyond the prescribed tenure under RTP. However, before issue of transfer orders under RTP, these offices will be notified about the officers matured for transfer and if the office concerned decides to retain any of the officers also keeping in view the willingness of the officers concerned, it will inform DoPT and such officers will be exempted from RTP. This exercise will be repeated every year.
6. Surrender of Officers
(i) Unilateral surrender or relieving of officers on any ground is not allowed as surrender or relieving of an officer poses several problems to the Cadre Controlling Authority. If an officer is not performing, Ministries/ Departments concerned are expected to initiate appropriate action either to penalize or to reform the officer. Moreover, the officer surrendered/ relieved has to be posted somewhere and it will be difficult for the Ministry/ Department, where he/she is posted to work with such an officer. If situation warrants that an officer has to be surrendered/ relieved, then a request should be made to DoPT with detailed reasons and DoPT will consider the request on merits, whether to transfer the officer or not.
(ii) If despite the instructions, any Ministry/ Department surrenders an officer unilaterally, then such surrender would be presumed to have been made along with the post and the sanctioned strength of the concerned Ministry/ Department would be reduced accordingly and no replacement would be provided to the cadre unit concerned for one year. After expiry of one year, the position will be reviewed for restoration of the post and posting of an officer.
7. Posting of Officers on return from Deputation/Long Leave/Long Term Training
(i) An officer of any grade is required to report to CS.I Division (DoPT) on his/her return from deputation/long leave/long term training and will be posted to any Ministry/ Department based on the administrative exigencies. In such cases, this posting will be treated as a fresh tenure. In case it is decided that an officer is to be posted back to the same Ministry/ Department he last served, then his tenure will be limited to the balance period of the tenure prescribed for the grade subject to the availability of the vacancy and subject to the condition that at least one year of balance tenure is left.
(ii) Period of leave/ training exceeding six months will be treated as long leave/ long term training for the purpose of posting under RTP.
(iii) Officers to be retained on promotion in the same Ministry/ Department in terms of the RTP would be adjusted first and only thereafter officers returning from deputation, long leave or training would be considered for retention, subject to availability of vacancy.
(iv) In all cases not covered under existing provisions like merger and winding up of Departments/ Ministries etc., the posting to Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ of the officer would be determined as follows:
(a) If balance term in a particular Group available is 2 years or more, then the officer would be posted to the Group in which the erstwhile Department/ Ministry was categorized.
(b) If balance term in a particular Group available is less than 2 years, then the officer would be posted to the Group where his/her entire service is less.
8. Posting to the Ministry/ Department earlier worked
An officer who is to be transferred out on promotion from the current Ministry/ Department on completion of prescribed tenure or for want of a vacancy of the promotional post as the case may be, and on rotational transfer may also be allowed option for posting in a Ministry/ Department where he earlier served subject to the condition that there is a gap of period which is equal to tenure prescribed for the post.
9. Preference for posting
(i) Promotion is made against available vacancies. Preferences for posting on promotion, if allowed, shall be accommodated as far as possible within the available vacancies and in the order of seniority.
(ii) The list of officers who are in the approved panel for promotion and to be promoted in the next order will be notified on the website of this Department along with the vacancy position. Officers concerned may furnish three preferences for posting within the available vacancies within 7 days of notification of vacancies.
(iii) Occasions arise that some vacancies are to be filled up immediately on functional needs, and on such occasions, it is not possible to wait for the next promotion order. As such vacancies are filled up by the next officer in the panel approved for promotion and in such cases the question of seeking preferences will not arise.
(iv) Posting on promotion/ transfer will be recommended by a Placement Committee, as per functional need and its recommendations will be approved by the Competent Authority.
(v) The Placement Committee will recommend posting of officers either on promotion or under rotational transfer keeping in view relevant factors viz. vacancies, seniority, preference for posting, past experience, specialized training done, etc. In case of isolated postings involving few officers returning from long leave, long term training, and repatriation from deputation etc., approval of the Competent Authority will be obtained without the Placement Committee procedure to avoid delay in posting of officers.
(vi) For posting of officers to PMO, Cabinet Secretariat and Central Vigilance Commission, as identified by these offices, no willingness will be sought and the officers will be posted to these offices even without their completion of tenure in the Cadre Unit/ Ministry/ Department.
(vii) CS.I Division (DoPT) will share the list of CSS Officers eligible/ covered under RTP with UPSC in each grade and to consider the request of the Commission for retention on case to case basis and in exceptional cases. Retention, so allowed, will be for a period not exceeding 50% of the normal tenure or till the promotion of the officer, whichever is earlier.
(viii) Any Officer who is not clear from vigilance angle and who may/ may not be due for transfer under RTP may be transferred out in case a report is received from the concerned Ministry/ Department. Such an officer will be posted to a non- sensitive post in any Ministry/ Department without seeking his option for posting irrespective of the tenure of his posting in that Ministry/ Department.
10. Outstation Posting
The offices of the Central Ministries/ Departments participating in the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) are mostly located in the National Capital Region (NCR). However, there are a few posts of CSS which are located outside NCR in the various regions of the country. The CSS being a transferable service, members of the CSS are liable to be posted to such posts located outside NCR also. Posts of CSS located outside NCR will be filled up as under:
(i) Section Officers’ Grade and Assistant Section Officers’ Grade:
(a) The cadre-unit will fill up the post from amongst the officers of the Ministry/ Department by circulating the post. In case of non-availability of officers within the Ministry/ Department, the cadre unit will approach DoPT. DoPT will circulate the post and invite applications from eligible CSS officers in all the Ministries/ Departments and post the selected officer to the outstation vacancy.
(b) Once posted to an outstation office, an officer in ASO/ SO grade will have tenure of seven years i.e. the maximum proposed up to this level, irrespective of the tenure rendered in the Ministry/ Department at Delhi.
Prescription of an assured tenure in such outstation posting is considered necessary as officers seek outstation posting generally on compelling family circumstances.
(c) If no application is received after circulation by DoPT, the present incumbent will be allowed to continue on the post for one more year after which the post will be re-circulated once a year till a new incumbent is selected.
(ii) Under Secretary and above level posts:
For US and above level vacancies in offices located outside NCR, CS.I Division will invite applications from the willing officers. On the basis of applications received, an officer will be posted with the approval of the competent authority keeping in view the posting profile of the officer/ his family circumstances requiring posting to the particular station etc. The tenure of the officer in the outstation posting will be five years.
(iii) On conclusion of outstation posting, officers of all grades will report to DoPT for further posting provided they had completed the prescribed tenure under RTP i.e. tenure in the Ministry/ Department at Delhi + outstation office of the same Ministry/ Department.
(iv) In the absence of willing officers, DoPT may at its discretion post officers to such outstation postings as CSS carries all India service liability.
11. Mutual Transfer
Request for mutual transfer of officers may be considered by the Department of Personnel & Training subject to the following conditions:
(i) Both of the officers applied for mutual transfer should have completed at least 50% of the tenure prescribed for the post.
(ii) The request has been recommended by the Secretary of the Departments concerned.
(iii) The officers concerned should be clear from vigilance angle.
(iv) Requests for mutual transfers will be considered on case-to-case basis keeping functional considerations in mind.
(v) Tenure on mutual transfer in the new Ministry/ Department will be counted afresh for further transfer under RTP.
12. Transfer on request
Section Officers and Assistant Section Officers on completion of five-year tenure in a Ministry/ Department may on their own volition request for transfer.
However, such transfers will be restricted to the Ministries/ Departments in Group ‘A’ i.e. the transfer will be allowed within Group ‘A’ or from Group ‘B’ to Group ‘A’ and shall further be subject to availability of vacancies. On such transfer their tenure in the new Ministry/ Department will be counted afresh and they will be required to serve the prescribed full tenure for the post before they are considered for transfer.
13. Transfer and posting requests from differently-abled officers
Physically handicapped persons suffer from a range of problems on account of mobility. There may be many peculiar issues viz., the location of bus stop/ metro station near their office, the area where they reside and the conveyance they are using to reach office etc., which may have a bearing on the performance of their official duties. Although these are minor issues for persons without disability, these can have a very huge effect on the day to day activities of a disabled person. Requests from such officers will, therefore, be considered for posting on case-to-case basis.
14. Cut-off date and tentative schedule of transfer
(i) The cut-off date for calculating the period of residency in a Ministry/ Department will be 1st July of the year in which rotational transfer is carried out. An officer for being covered under RTP should have completed prescribed tenure as on 1st July of the year. The cut-off date for calculating two years/ six months (in case of promotion/ superannuation) will be calculated as on the last date of the month in which rotational transfer order is issued.
(ii) The rotation under RTP in each grade will be undertaken once in a year.
(iii) To ensure smooth transition from outgoing to incoming staff, rotation will be done phase-wise and grade wise once in a year as under (indicative schedule):
15th May – Deputy Secretaries and above 15th July – Under Secretaries 15th October – Section Officers 15th December – Assistant Section Officers
(iv) Equal number of officers will be transferred and posted to ensure relievers are available for the officers transferred out. This is possible only if the number of officers covered under rotational transfer in both the groups is equal to ensure provision of relievers in place of transferred officers. If there is a mismatch between the number of officers covered under rotational transfer between the Groups, only equal number of officers will be transferred on the basis of higher length of service and the remaining left out officers will be covered in the next round of rotational transfer in the subsequent year.
15. Posting/ transfer of Joint Secretary (in-situ)
(i) The posts of JS in Central Secretariat are entirely filled up under the Central Staffing Scheme (C.St.S). However, CSS Directors empanelled for appointment as JS under Central Staffing Scheme are given in-situ promotion as JS in SAG Grade at their current place of posting till they are placed under C.St.S. with such in-situ promotion restricted to 40 in number.
(ii) If a Ministry/ Department is desirous of utilizing the services of a JS (in-situ) by giving the officer independent charge as JS or otherwise, it may identify an officer from among JSs (in-situ) and inform DoPT. Such an identified officer will be transferred to that Ministry/ Department against an available vacancy in DS/Dir./JS(in-situ) Grade provided he/she is willing for such transfer. In case of such transfer, the tenure prescribed for DS/Dir./JS(in-situ) Grade in a Ministry/ Department and condition of Group will not be attracted.
16. Non-compliance of orders issued by DoPT
In terms of Rule 19 of CSS Rules, 2009, the Department of Personnel and Training shall be the competent authority to transfer a cadre officer of any Grade from one cadre unit to another cadre unit and it shall be the duty of the concerned cadre unit to relieve the officer concerned within 45 days of the transfer order. If not relieved within 45 days, the officer concerned shall be deemed to have been relieved and thereafter the officer shall not be entitled to draw any salary and allowances from the Ministry/ Department from which transferred.
17. Timing of promotion/ transfer orders
DoPT will issue promotion/ transfer orders as far as possible on the last working day of the week (generally Friday) and the officer concerned stands relieved immediately and he/she will be required to join the allocated Ministry/ Department on the first working day of the next week (generally Monday). This will be equally applicable to officers posted in attached offices of the Ministries/ Departments. The onus to join the allocated Ministry/ Department on the basis of order issued by DoPT will be on the officer concerned and it will also be incumbent upon the Ministry/ Department not to release the salary to the officer beyond the stipulated date. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may attract administrative action by the DoPT.
18. Saving clause
Modification/ relaxation in implementation of the provisions of RTP will be considered by the Competent Authority in DoPT.
*****
Annexure-I
Group-A
S.No
Ministry/Department
1
Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances
2
Agricultural Research & Education
3
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
4
Animal Husbandry & Dairying
5
AYUSH
6
Bio-Technology
7
Cabinet Secretariat
8
Central Information Commission
9
Central Bureau of Investigation
10
Central Vigilance Commission
11
Cooperation
12
Development of North Eastern Region
13
Defence
14
Drinking Water & Sanitation
15
Earth Sciences
16
Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
17
Expenditure
18
Fisheries
19
Home Affairs
20
Inter-State Council Secretariat
21
Investment & Public Asset Management
22
Justice
23
Labour & Employment
24
Legal Affairs
25
Legislative Department
26
Lokpal Secretariat
27
Minority Affairs
28
National Disaster Management Authority
29
National Intelligence Grid
30
Panchayati Raj
31
Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
32
Personnel & Training
33
Posts
34
Prime Minister’s Office
35
Public Enterprises
36
Registrar General of India
37
Rural Development
38
Science & Technology
39
Scientific and Industrial Research
40
Social Justice & Empowerment
41
Staff Selection Commission
42
Statistics & Programme Implementation
43
Tribal Affairs
44
Union Public Service Commission
45
Unique Identification Authority of India
46
Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
Amendments to procedural rule in POSB (CBS) Manual (Corrected up to 31.12.2021)
SB Order No. 20/2022
File No. 116·17/2017-SB Government of India Ministry of Communications Department of Posts (F.S. Division)
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001 Dated: 28.10.2022
To
All Head of Circles / Regions
Subject: Amendments to procedural rule in POSB (CBS) Manual (Corrected up to 31.12.2021) – Regarding.
***
Kerala Circle in Lr. No. SB/Genl Corr./2019 dated 26.09.2022 requested for clarification on rules governing premature closure of PPF accounts. In addition, few referencing errors and conflicting contents have also come to the notice. Accordingly, the contents of the latest POSB (CBS) Manual (Corrected up to 31.12.2021) circulated in SB Order No. 03/2022 dated 18.02.2022 have been reviewed and it has been decided to amend the following procedural rules as follows.
Rule / Para No.
Text of the Amended provisions
117 (11) (iv)
Above provisions of paragraphs (i) to (iii) shall also apply on PPF accounts after maturity on expiry of each extended block period of five years.
119 (l)(ii)
The amount is required for higher education of the account holder, or dependent children on production of documents and fee bills in confirmation of admission in a recognised institute of higher education in India or abroad:
126 (2) (iv)
Withdrawal can be made in one lump or in instalments, not exceeding one per financial year for a maximum of five years subject to the ceiling prescribed in para (2)(iii) above. i.e. 50% of balance at the credit of the preceding financial year from the date of first application made for withdrawal.
172 (3) (ii)
The claim supported by legal evidence for account/certificate standing at Time Scale & LSG sub post offices, the respective SPMs can sanction claim up to the limit prescribed for sanction of claim “where no nomination exists or no legal evidence produced” in table below in rule 4 (B) of this chapter.
172 (3) (iii)
The claim supported by legal evidence and where no nomination exists for account/certificate standing at Time Scale & LSG sub post offices beyond the sanction limit of respective SPMs, those claims will .be forwarded to the Divisional Head after verifying all particulars of claim and Divisional Head will issue sanction for such claims irrespective of any limit.
172 (3) (iv)
The claim supported by legal evidence for account/certificate standing at HSG Sub Post Offices I MDGs I HO I GPO, the respective SPMs/PMs/Sr.PM/CPM/Director can sanction claim irrespective of any limit in such cases.
172 (9) (ii)
The claimant will present the sanction memo in original if the claim is sanctioned by Divisional Head and if the payment is desired by cheque. Necessary action will be taken as for the closure of savings account.
3. This may be circulated to all the Offices for information and necessary actions.
4. This is issued with the approval of competent authority.
Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Railway pensioners – change in option: Railway Board
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (Railway Board)
S.No. PC-VII/200 No. PC-V/2016/A/Med/I(FMA)(E)
RBE No. 137/2022 New Delhi, dated 27-10-2022
The General Managers co All Indian Railways and PUs, (as per mailing list)
Sub: Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Railway pensioners/family pensioners – change in option.
In terms of Railway Board’s letter No. PC-V/98/I/7/1/1 dated 15-7-2002 (RBE No. 107/2002), the Railway pensioners/family pensioners eligible to opt for FMA had been provided, once in a life time, an opportunity to change their option to avail the benefit of FMA or otherwise on furnishing proof of change in residence. The issue of allowing this one time opportunity to change option for FMA/OPD facility had been under consideration with DoP&PW for quite some time. It has now been decided that the Railway pensioners/family pensioners residing beyond 2.5 kms from Railway Hospital/Health Unit and eligible for RELHS shall be allowed opportunity to avail change in option, once in a life time, from FMA to OPD or a vice versa without linkage to change in residence.
DA for Bank Employees from Nov 2022 to Jan 2023, IBA Order
Indian Banks’ Association
HR & Industrial Relations
HR&IR/MBR/76/D/2022-23/11592 November 1, 2022
All Members of the Association (Designated Officers)
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Dearness Allowance for Workmen and Officer Employees in banks for the months of November, December 2022 and January 2023 under XI BPS/ Joint Note dated 11.11.2020
The confirmed All India Average Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers (Base 1960=100) for the quarter ended September 2022 as published by Govt. of India in its website Labour Bureau are as follows:-
July 2022
8539.44
August 2022
8559.16
September 2022
8631.48
The average CPI of the above is 8576.69 and accordingly the number of DA slabs are 556 (8576 — 6352= 2224/4= 556 Slabs). The last quarterly Payment of DA was at 526 Slabs. Hence, there is an increase in DA slabs of ‘30’ i.e. 556 Slabs for payment of DA for the months November, December 2022 and January 2023.
In terms of clause 7 of the 11th Bipartite Settlement dated 11.11.2020 and clause 3 of the Joint Note dated 11.11.2020, the rate of Dearness Allowance payable to Workmen and Officer employees for the months of November, December 2022 and January 2023 shall be 38.92% of ‘pay’. While arriving at dearness allowance payable, decimals from third place may please be ignored.
5th CPC Dearness Relief from July 2022 to CPF beneficiaries in receipt of basic ex-gratia payment
No. 42/07/2022-P&PW(D) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003 Dated 31st Oct, 2022
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub:- Grant of Dearness Relief in the 5th CPC series effective from 01.07.2022 to CPF beneficiaries in receipt of basic ex-gratia payment – reg
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM of even no. dated 11.05.2022 and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief admissible to the CPF beneficiaries in receipt of basic ex-gratia payment in the 5th CPC series shall be enhanced w.e.f 01.07.2022 in the following manner :-
(i) The surviving CPF beneficiaries who have retired from service between the period 18.11.1960 and 31.12.1985, and are entitled to basic ex-gratia @ Rs.3000, Rs.1000, Rs.750 & Rs.650 for Group A, B, C & D respectively w.e.f 4th June,2013 vide OM No. 1/10/2012-P&PW(E) dtd. 27th June, 2013 shall now be entitled to enhanced Dearness Relief from 381% of the basic ex-gratia to 396% of the basic ex-gratia w.e.f 01.07.2022.
(ii) The following categories of CPF beneficiaries shall be entitled to enhanced Dearness Relief from 373% of the basic ex-gratia to 388% of the basic ex-gratia w.e.f 01.07.2022:-
(a) The widows and eligible dependent children of the deceased CPF beneficiary who had retired from service prior to 01.01.1986 or who had died while in service prior to 01.01.1986 and are entitled to revised ex-gratia @ Rs.645/-p.m w.e.f 04 June, 2013 vide OM No 1/10/2012-P&PW(E) dated 27th June,2013.
(b) Central Government employees who had retired on CPF benefits before 18.11.1960 and are in receipt of Ex-gratia payment of Rs. 654/-, Rs.659/-, Rs.703/- and Rs.965/-.
2. Payment of DR involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.
3. It will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authorities, including the nationalized banks, etc. to calculate the quantum of DR payable in each individual case.
4. In so far as the persons serving in Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution of India.
5. This issues in pursuance of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure’s OM No. 1/3(2)/2008-E.II(B) dated 12th October, 2022.
6. Hindi version will follow.
(Charanjit Taneja) Under Secretary to the Government of India
Admissibility of Dearness Relief on additional pension/additional compassionate allowance and additional family pension
No. 42/15/2022-P&PW(D)/8 Government of India Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110003 Date:- 31st Oct, 2022
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub:- Admissibility of Dearness Relief on additional pension/additional compassionate allowance and additional family pension – Clarification regarding
In accordance with Rule 52 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, Dearness Relief on Pension and Family Pension against price rise is granted to Pensioners including the persons drawing compassionate allowance under Rule 41 and Family Pensioners at such rates and subject to such conditions as the Central Government may specify from time to time.
2. References/Representations have been received in this Department seeking clarification whether the Dearness Relief is also payable on additional pension/additional compassionate allowance and additional family pension.
3. It is clarified that the terms pension/compassionate allowance and family pension refer to in Rule 52 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 also include additional pension/additional compassionate allowance and additional family pension.
4. Reference is also invited to this Department’s OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A).pt.I dated 03.10.2008 wherein it was clarified that Dearness Relief will also be admissible to additional quantum of pension available to the old pensioners in accordance with the orders issued from time to time.
5. The above clarification may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits for strict implementation.
(Charanjit Taneja) Under Secretary
All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India
