PRE-1996 AF PENSIONERS PENSION ORDERS RELEASED - MOST IMPORTANT CIRCULAR NO.430 DATED 10.3.2010 ISSUED BY THE PCDA (PENSIONS), DRAUPADI GHAT ALLAHABAD

AT LAST THE GOD AND THE GOVT IS KIND TO AMELIORATE THE WOES OF POOR EX-SERVICEMEN. OUR SALUTES TO THE RAKSHA MANTRI FOR HIS CONTINUOUS AND WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT TO OUR CAUSE. MAY GOD BLESS HIM.

ALL VETERAN BROTHERS MAY KINDLY NOTE THAT THEE MOST IMPORTANT CIRCULAR NO.430 DATED 10.3.2010 ISSUED BY THE PCDA (PENSIONS), ALLAHABAD IS POSTED BELOW FFOR THE INFORMATION AND  GUIDANCE.
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Circular No.430 Dated: 10.03.2010.

To,

1. The Chief Accountant, RBI, Deptt. Of Govt, Bank Accounts,
Central office C-7, Second Floor, Bandre- Kurla Complex, P B
No. 8143, Bandre East Mumbai- 400051
2. All CMDs, Public Sector Banks including HDFC Bank
3. CMD ICICI Bank
4. CMD IDBI Bank
5. CMD AXIS Bank
6. Military and Air Attache, Indian Embassy, Kathmandu, Nepal
7. The Defence Pension Disbursing Officer
8. The Treasury Officer
9. Pay and Accounts Officer
10. Pay and Accounts Office, Govt of Maharastra, Mumbai
11. The Post Master Kathua (J&K), Camp Bell Bay

Subject: Improvement in the pension to bridge the gap in pension of Pre-01.01.2006 and Post 01.01.2006 discharged Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) of Armed Forces.

A copy of Government of India, Ministry of Defence letter No. PC10 (1)/2009-D (Pen/Pol) dated 08.03.2010 on the above subject is forwarded herewith for information and necessary action which is self explanatory.

2. The above Government letter provides improvement in pension to bridge the gap in pension of Pre- 1.1.2006 and Post 1.1.2006 discharged PBOR of the Armed Forces.

3. The revision of pension as per the above Government Order is to take effect from 01.07.2009 and payment is to be made in a time bound manner at the earliest in any case within 2 to 3 months.

NON-APPLICABILITY

4.1 The provisions of the Government letter, however, do not apply to the Commissioned officers and their families and to all family pensioners of PBOR. These orders also do not apply to UK/HKSRA pensioners, Pakistan and Burma Army pensioners.

4.2 The provisions of this letter, do not apply to JCOs granted Hony. Commissioned rank of Lieutenant and Captain in Army and equivalent rank in Navy and Air Force vide Para 5.1 of MOD letter dated 08.03.2010.

4.3 These order also do not apply to Reservist Pensioners.

APPLICABILITY

5.1 These orders apply to the PBOR pensioners discharged prior to 1st January, 2006 and who were/are in receipt of the following types of pension as on 01.07.2009-

(a) Service Pension
(b) Special Pension
(c) Invalid Pension
(d) Ordinary Pension/Mustering Out Pension to Pre 01.06.1953 retirees.
(e) Service Element of Disability Pension
(f) Service Element of War Injury Pension
(g) Service Element of Liberlised Disability Pension.

These orders also apply to TA personnel and non combatants (enrolled) (NC’s (E)) of regular Army and Air Force and Ex-State Forces Pensioners drawing pension as on 1.7.2009 under the respective Pension Regulations as well as pension rules of erstwhile state forces and under various orders issued from time to time.

5.2. Special pension/Invalid pension/Service element of disability pension in r/o PBOR discharged with less than 15 years qualifying service and service Pension to TA personnel irrespective of their qualify-ing service would also need to be revised in terms of these orders by PSA. Specific table indicating revised rate of pension for the purpose have not been prepared. PDAs will refer such cases to PSAs concerned as per specimen given in Annexure-A to Ministry of Defence letter dated 08.03.2010.

5.3. Similarly revision of Service element of war injury pension and Service element of liberalised disability pension cases will also be required to be done by the PSAs concerned. Such cases will also be forwarded by the PDAs to the PSAs concerned through respective Record office in the enclosed Annexure- B to Min of Defence letter dt.08.03.2010. The addresses of Record offices are given below
Annexure-B to this circular. Revision of Pension with reference to Pension Tables Matching of Existing
Pension.

6.1 PDAs are required to revise the pension on their own as per these tables after ascertaining the qualifying service and rank and group for which pensioned from the initial grant PPO matching Existing Pension as shown in relevant columns of the tables without calling or waiting for any applications from the affected pensioners. Existing pension as on 01.01.1996 in respect of Pre- 96 pensioners is the same as shown in RCP Column of respective Tables to MOD letter No. 1(2)/98/D(Pen/Sers) d/D 14.7.1998.
There may be instances where Existing Pension in these cases may not match because of either of the following reasons: -

(i) PDAs may not have revised pension wef 1.1.1996, correctly as per ibid- MOD letter No.1(2)/98/D(Pen/Sers) dated 14.7.98 and wef 1.1.2006 under orders of improvements in pension vide Circular No. 350 and under 6th CPC orders as contained in Circular No.397. In such cases, correct amount of RCP may be ascertained as per MOD letter dated 14.7.1998, MOD ltr No.14(3)/2004-D(Pen/Sers)/VOL-V d/d 2.5.2006(Circular No. 350) and MOD letter No.17(4)/2008(1)/D (Pen/Policy) dated 11.11.2008 (Circular No. 397 dated 18.11.2008).

(ii) Pension may have been sanctioned as per special orders of the Government in individual cases.

6.2 Existing Pension of Post 1.1.1996 and Pre – 10.10.1997 pensioners and Post 10.10.1997 pensioners will be the one as notified in the original Pension Payment Orders issued by PSAs. For this, PDAs have to carefully see the relevant PPOs of the pensioners for matching the pension notified in PPOs with the existing pension (EP) shown in the Pension Tables.

6.3 The Government had also merged 50% of DR as Dearness Pension (DP) with basic pension w.e.f 1.4.2004. Therefore the appended tables indicate the improvement rate of pension with as well as without Dearness Pension (DP) as per Min of Defence letter No. 14(3)/2004-D (Pen/ser)/Vol-V dated 02.05.2006 circulated vide this office circular No. 350 dated 19.05.2006 which has been paid by the PDAs are also shown separately.

6.4 Consolidated/Revised pension (Annx–I or Annx–III) of MOD ltr No.17(4)/2008/(1)/D(Pen/Ser) dated 11.11.2008 (Circular No. 397 dated 18.11.2008 VI th CPC) is also shown separately. Wherever the revised pension as per Circular No. 397 dated 18.11.2008 is not matching with that shown in the enclosed tables, then exiting revised pension may be revised and corrected. Such corrected pension should be then used as the basis for pension revision as per the present circular.

Qualifying Service.

7.1 The PSAs have shown qualifying service rank & group for pensioner for whom PPOs have been issued since year 1988. Therefore qualifying service can be ascertained from PPO & revised pension as appearing against the qualifying service as per last column of relevant table can be arrived at and paid.

7.2 In case of pensioner who was discharged prior to 1988 or in cases of discharge in 1988 onwards, where the qualifying service for which pensioner was pensioned is not available from records,PDA may ask the pensioner to produce his discharge certificate (IAFA-369)where qualifying service rendered is endorsed. In such a case, the PDA will also match the pension paid to pensioners at different intervals for qualifying service (available from discharge certificate) as shown in respective table with reference to rank and group and period of discharge. If the existing pension at different dates does not match, the case may be referred to PSA concerned on Annexure -A for intimation of qualifying service and revised rate of pension w.e.f 1.7.2009 and applicable table. If in this case the pension paid by PDA at different interval differs from the relevant Tables the same may be adjusted.

7.3 PBOR of Army who were discharged on or after 10.10.1997while serving in undermentionedTrades in the Group D or Group E have been regrouped in Z and Group Y respectively wef 10.10.1997. Pay Group E equated to group Y on 10.10.1997. Trade - Religious Teachers (RT, Lab Asstt in AMC, Dresser in RVC and Driver MT. Pay Group D equated to Group E on 10.10.1997 Trade - Sowar, Horse Cart Rider in Armored Crops, Cook Hospital in AMC, upholster in EME, Farrier in AVC and Cook special. Therefore such PBOR who were discharged during period 1.1.1973 to 9.10.1997 their pension will be revised as for Group Y and Z from Table No. 4 and Table No. 5 respectively. In these cases exiting pension as on different dates will not match in the respective Tables. Accordingly, where PPO indicates qualifying service or corroborative evidence for qualifying service is available, revised pension may be paid with reference to the qualifying service only. Where qualifying service is not available/ascertainable, such cases may be referred to PCDA (P), Allahabad.

Pensioners in receipt of two pensions

8.1.  In case of pensioners who are in receipt of more than one service pension these should be revised as per the relevant tables.

8.2 The DSC personnel who are receiving two pensions, one from regular Army another from DSC, their pension for DSC will not be revised by the Tables No. 47 to 64. Their pension for regular Army service will be revised under these orders by the PDAs. A reference for revision of pension for DSC service will be sent to PCDA (P)on Annexure A to the Ministry of Defence letter enclosed. However, DSC pensioners receiving only one pension for DSC service their pension will be revised under these orders from Tables No. 47 to 64.

Payment of Life Time Arrears (LTA)

9.1 In cases where the pensioner was alive on 1.7.2009 and died/dies subsequently before receiving payment, his legal heir/heirs is/are entitled to the LTA with effect from 1.7.2009 till death of the pensioner. In such cases, payment will be regulated under Para 8 of MOD letter enclosed.

9.2 A suitable entry regarding revised pension should be made by the PDAs in Check Register/Payment Register/Pension Payment Scroll/Register/Pension Book/Certificate.Where qualifying service for which pensioner was pensioned is not available in PPO and qualifying service as now intimated by PSA or accepted by the PDA from corroborative document shall be noted prominently for future reference.

Miscellaneous instructions

10.1 No arrears on account of revision of pension will be admissible for the period prior to 01.07.2009.

10.2 Any overpayment of pension coming to the notice or under process of recovery shall be adjusted in full by the Pension Disbursing Authorities against arrears becoming due on revision of pension on the basis of this Government letter.

10.3 The following elements will continue to be paid as separate elements in addition to the pension revised under these orders. Payment on account of these elements will not be taken into account for purpose of revision as well as for applying minimum limit of Rs. 3500/- p.m. as the case may be.

(a) Monetary allowance attached to Gallantry Awards such as Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra etc.
(b) Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) where admissible to disability Pensioners.
(c) Disability Element,/ war injury element if any, as sanctioned from time to time.

10.4 As usual, Dearness Relief is also not payable on these elements except for the element mentioned at (c) above.

11.1. The Govt. has also desired that all Public sector Banks/ICICI Bank Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd, AXIS Bank and IDBI Bank Ltd, disbursing pension would render a monthly progress report as per proforma (Annexure- C) prescribed under Ministry’s above quoted letter dated 08.03.2010 to the office of the PCDA (P)Allahabad. All PDAs are therefore, enjoined upon to ensure rendition of said report. It is also enjoined upon them that all the columns in proforma prescribed by Ministry must be filled in complete and correct manner before its rendition to office of the PCDA(P)Allahabad by name to Shri DC Hansda, DCDA(P). It is also requested that one more copy of requisite proforma be invariable sent separately along with the pension payment scrolls regarding payment of arrears of pension.

11.2 The DPDOs will render the monthly progress report as per Annexure C to the office of the PCDA (P) Allahabad as well as to their respective CsDA i.e. CDA(PD)/CDA Chennai as the case may be.

11.3 A copy of the said Annexure C will invariably be provided by the Pension Disbursing Agencies to the pensioners concerned for their information.

Dearness Relief:

12. Dearness Relief is also payable in addition as issued by Government Order from time to time.

13 Points of doubt, if any, relating to revision of pension under the subject Govt. order may immediately be referred to the concerned PSAs, by name as under:

Army: - Shri R.K. Saroj, DCDA (P), The PCDA (P) Allahabad- 211014

Navy: - Shri V.K. Pandey, ACDA, The PCDA (NAVY), Mumbai- 400039

Air Force: - Ms Nistha Upadhayay, JCDA, The CDA (Air Force) New Delhi- 110066

A copy of this circular along with the GOI, Min of Def letter No. PC10 (1)/2009-D (Pen/Pol) dated 08.03.2010 is also available on the Website of this Office http://www.pcdapension.nic.in/

Please acknowledge receipt.

No. Grants/Tech/0167/IV

(R.K. SAROJ)DCDA
Dated:-10th March 2010 
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 PLEASE VIEW FULL TEXT OFIMPORTANT CIRCULAR NO.430 DATED 10.3.2010(ALONGWITH GOI MOD ORDER 8.3.2010)