Modi government amends old policy on suspension of family pension | All you need to know

The Government of India on Wednesday (September 22) announced that that the family pension to a minor child, either of whose parents are charged with the offense of murdering or abetting in the murder of their Government servant spouse, shall be paid their family pension via a duly appointed guardian, news agency ANI reported.

As per the new rule, other eligible members of the family would be entitled to receive the family pension till the disposal of the criminal proceedings against the spouse of the deceased employee. In case, the spouse is proved not guilty of the murder charge, the family pension would be payable to him or her from the date of acquittal.

The decision comes after almost a month when The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) had said that in cases where a person eligible to receive family pension is charged with murdering a Government servant or abetting in the commission of the offense, the family pension won’t be allowed to another eligible member till the criminal proceeding ends.

“If a person, who is eligible to receive family pension on death of a Government servant or a pensioner, is charged with the offense of murdering the Government servant/ pensioner or for abetting in the commission of such an offense, the payment of family pension remains suspended till the conclusion of the criminal proceedings instituted in this regard,” read an office memorandum (OM) released by the DoPPW on July 13.

Earlier, under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, if a person who is eligible to receive family pension on death of a government employee or a pensioner is charged with offenses of murdering the government employee or pensioner or for abetting in the commission of such an offense, the payment of family pension shall remain suspended till the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

It has now been decided that in cases where a person eligible to receive family pension is charged with the offense of murdering the government servant or for abetting the commission of such an offense and the payment of family pension to him or her remains suspended, family pension may be allowed to another eligible member of the family till the conclusion of the case.

In case, the other eligible number is a minor child of the deceased government servant, the family pension to such should be payable through a duly appointed guardian.