The central government has introduced amendments to the Pension Rules. The revised benefits from the Pay Commission will apply only to individuals retiring after the recommendations are implemented. This new regulation will not extend to existing pensioners.
On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha passed the amendments to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, which were included in the Financial Bill despite opposition protests. The date of retirement will determine eligibility for the revised benefits.
The government will decide the eligibility criteria. The opposition staged a walkout objecting to the amendments.
Benefits limited to future retirees
They were introduced without being incorporated into the financial bill. Once ratified by the Rajya Sabha, these changes will come into effect. This will allow the government to classify and decide eligibility criteria for pensioners.
Kerala MPs N K Premachandran and K C Venugopal raised concerns in the Lok Sabha. They criticized the move to deprive millions of pensioners of their rightful benefits. They demanded clarity on the government’s intention behind the differential treatment of pensioners.
The Central Government maintains that the retrospective application of Pay Commission benefits for pensioners has long been debated. The government also cited varying interpretations by the Supreme Court on this issue, highlighting the need for further clarification.
