Revision of Pension (Post-01.01.2016) of Teaching Staffs of Govt. Colleges

Government of West Bengal
Department of Higher Education
Appointment Branch
Bikash Bhavan, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700091

No. 211-Edn(A)/1P-20/1998(Pt.-III) Dated: 14/02/2020

MEMORANDUM

Subject: Revision of Pension/ Family Pension of post 01.01.2016 Pensioners/ Family Pensioners in respect of Teaching Staff including Librarians/ Assistant Librarians, Physical Instructors/ Instructresses and equivalent category of employees of Government Colleges.

The undersigned is directed to state that the question of modification of rules granting pensionary benefits to the Teaching Staff including Librarians/ Assistant Librarians, Physical Instructors/ Instructresses and equivalent category of employees of Government Colleges in the State has been under consideration of the Government.

After careful consideration of the matter, the Governor has been pleased to decide that the pensionary benefits in respect of teaching Staff including Librarians/ Assistant Librarians, Physical Instructors/ Instructresses and equivalent category of employees of Government Colleges in the State who retire on and after 01.01.2016 and whose pay has been fixed vide this Department’s Memo No. 1306(22)-Edn (U) dated 30.11.2019 actually or in whose favour such revised pay has been allowed notionally shall be determined as follows:-

A. Pension

(i) An employee retiring in accordance with the provisions of West Bengal Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules/ Scheme and before completion of minimum qualifying service of 10 (ten) years shall not be entitled to pension, but he/she shall continue to be entitled to gratuity.

(ii) An employee who has rendered a minimum qualifying service of 20 (twenty) years, pension shall be paid at 50% of the last basic pay drawn. For employees who at the time of retirement have rendered qualifying service for 10 (ten) years or more but less than 20 (twenty) years, proportionate reduction shall be made while calculating the amount of pension

(iii) The existing maximum amount of monthly pension of Rs. 35,000/- (Rupees thirty five thousand) only per month as laid down in the Memo. No. 195-Edn(A) dated 22.03.2010 shall be raised to Rs. 1,00,500/- (Rupees one lakh five hundred) only per month.

(iv) The existing minimum amount of monthly pension/ family pension of Rs. 3300/- (Rupees three thousand three hundred) only as laid down in the Memo. No. 195-Edn(A) dated 22.03.2010 shall be raised to Rs. 8500/- (Rupees eight thousand five hundred) only per month.

(v) Additional Pension

The quantum of pension available to the old pensioners shall be increased with effect from 01.01.2016 to 31.12.2019 notionally with actual effect from 01.01.2020 as indicated in the following table:

The Pension Sanctioning Authority shall ensure that the date of birth and the age of pensioner is invariably indicated in the Single Comprehensive Form to facilitate the Accountant General (A&E), West Bengal to record the same in the Pension Payment Order (P.P.O.) to be issued in favour of the pensioners for payment of additional pension by the Pension Disbursing Authority as soon as it becomes due. The amount of additional pension will be shown distinctly in the P.P.O. The additional quantum of Pension/ Family Pension, on attaining the age of 80 years and above, would be admissible from the 1st day of the month in which his date of birth falls.

(vi) The provisions for adding years of qualifying service for the purpose of computation of pension which has already been withdrawn vide Memo No. 195-Edn(A) dated 22.03.2010, shall continue.

B. Family Pension

(i) Family pension shall be calculated @ 30% of the basic pay drawn last actually or notionally vide this Department’s Memo No. 1306(22)-Edn (U) dated 30.11.2019. The maximum ceiling of family pension of Rs. 21,000/- (Rupees twenty one thousand) only per month as laid down in Memo No. 195-Edn(A) dated 22.03.2010 shall be raised to Rs. 60,300/- (Rupees sixty thousand three hundred) only per month at normal rate. However, the existing provision for calculation of family pension at enhanced rate for a specific period will continue.

(ii) Additional Family Pension

In addition to the Family Pension calculated in para (i) above, the quantum of family Pension available to the old Family Pensioners shall be increased with effect from 01.01.2016 to 31.12.2019 notionally with actual effect from 01.01.2020 as indicated in the following table:

C. Gratuity

The maximum amount of Death/ Retiring Gratuity of Rs. 6.0 lakh (Rupees six lakh) only as laid down in this Department’s Memo. No. 195-Edn(A) dated 22.03.2010 shall be raised to Rs. 12.0 lakh (Rupees twelve lakh) only.

The rates for payment of death gratuity shall be revised as under:

D. Regulations of the cases of pensioners/ family pensioners during the period from 01.01.2016 to 31.12.2019

1. The Pension Sanctioning Authority (PSA) will sanction Revised Pension/ Family Pension, balance Amount of Revised Death/ Retiring Gratuity and Commuted Value of Pension in Annexure-II (Format for sanction of Revised Pension. Revised Gratuity and Commuted Value of Pension)/ Annexure-III (Format for sanction of Revised Family Pension and Revised Death Gratuity) in the Revised Formats annexed herein and send the same to A.G (A&E) West Bengal for issuance of Revised PPO with copy to the Pension Disbursing Treasury/ Public Sector Banks in Kolkata.

2. Pension Disbursing Treasury in districts/ Public Sector Banks in Kolkata shall on receipt of sanction in Revised Annexure-II/III (as the case may be) start disbursement of Revised Pension/ Family Pension provisionally w.e.f. 01.01.2020.

3. On the basis of revised Annexure-II/III from PSA, A.G (A&E) West Bengal being the ‘Audit Officer’ shall issue ‘Revised Pension Payment Order (PPO)’ for Payment of balance amount of Revised Retiring Gratuity/ Death Gratuity, Commuted Value of Pension and Revised Pension/Family Pension w.e.f. 01.01.2020.

4. On the basis of Revised PPO issued by A.G (A&E) West Bengal, Pension Disbursing Treasury/ Public Sector Banks in Kolkata shall draw and disburse the balance amount of Revised Retiring/ Death Gratuity and Additional Commuted Value of Pension.

5. Revised Amount of Pension/ Family Pension already paid provisionally by the Pension Disbursing Authority w.e.f. 01.01.2020 as per Annexure-II/III shall have to be adjusted with the final Revised Basic Pension/ Family Pension as per Revised PPO issued by A.G (A&E), West Bengal. Overpayment, if any, already made shall have to be adjusted accordingly.

6. Pension Disbursing Authority shall after making payment of Additional Commuted Value of Pension on the basis of Revised PPO issued from A.G(A&E), West Bengal shall start deducting the ‘Amount commuted additionally’ w.e.f. from the 1st date of the month in which such Additional Commuted Value of Pension will be paid to the Pensioner. Such amount of additional commutation shall be restored after 15 years from the 1st date of the month of disbursement.

7. The effective date for calculating the commuted value of additional commutation shall be considered the date on which Pensioner had already opted for commutation during retirement: i.e. the age reckoned for calculation of Commuted Value of Pension at the time of original application. [Refer Clarification No. 1 of Memo No. 680-F(Pen) dated- 23.12.2019].

8. Pensioners who want to commute for the first time after coming into Revised Pay Structure as per WBS (ROPA) Rules, 2019 w.e.f. 01.01.2020 shall also be eligible to commute a part of the Revised Basic Pension subject to maximum 40 percent. In their case Commutation value expressed as number of years purchase for the age as on next birthday on or after 01.01.2020 shall be taken into account. Such commuted amount shall be restored after 15 years from the date of retirement. [Refer Sl. No. 4 of Memo No. 690-F(Pen) dated- 30.12.2019]

9. In cases where Pensioner/ Family Pensioner is residing in other States, A.G (A&E), West Bengal shall on receipt of sanction in Annexure-II/III (as the case may be) issue authority to the Other States for revision of Pension/ Family Pension. Payment of balance amount of Revised Retiring/ Death Gratuity, Commuted Value of Pension under special seal and signature of authorized officer.

10. Pension Sanctioning Authority shall obtain the Date of birth of the Family Pensioner in Annexure-I at the time of receipt of application for revision of family pension and shall invariably include the same in the format of Sanction of Faintly Pension in Annexure-III. The documents already authorized vide Memo No. 635-F(Pen) dated- 14.07.2010 as proof of birth may be taken into consideration. However the Pension Disbursing Authorities shall also be eligible to extend the benefits of Additional Quantum of family Pension following the directions contained in Memo No. 1025-F(Pen) dated- 24.10.2010 in cases where the date of birth of the family pensioner will not be available in the original PPO as well as Revised PPO without referring the same to the Pension Sanctioning Authority further.

11. While sending the Sanction of Revised Pensionery benefits in Annexure-II/III, the DDO of Pension Sanctioning Authority shall give a declaration in Annexure-IV that ‘No Payment of balance amount of Revised Gratuity and/or Commuted Value of Pension has been made from this end vide Para-D(i) of the Memo No. 536-F(Pen) dated- 01.10.2019‘.

12. In cases where the payment of balance amount of Revised Retiring Gratuity/ Death Gratuity and Additional Commuted Value of Pension has already been made and Revised Pension/Family Pension has already been commenced w.e.f. 01.01.2020 vide Para-D(i) of Memo No. 536-F(Pen) dated- 01.10.2019 read with Serial No. 1 of the Notification No. 690-F (Pen) dated- 30.12.2019, such cases shall not be sent to A.G(A&E), West Bengal for issuance of Revised PPO. A.G (A&E), West Bengal shall check those cases from the copy of Annexure-II/III already received at their end and issue a certificate in this regard. In case any recovery is required to be made due to wrong calculation, A.G(A&E), West Bengal shall intimate the same to Pension Disbursing Authority for recovery.

13. No further payment of balance amount of Revised Gratuity and Additional Commuted Value of Pension shall be made by the DDO of Pension Sanctioning Authority as per the Para-D(i) of Memo No. 536-F(Pen) dated- 01.10.2019. Similarly no further bills shall be processed for payment by the Treasury Officer/ Pay & Accounts Officer consequent upon issuance of this Memorandum.

14. A.G (A&E), West Bengal shall ensure that Revised PPOs are issued preferably within 30 (Thirty) working days from the date of receipt of sanction in Annexure-II/III from the Pension Sanctioning Authority. Similarly Pension Disbursing Treasuries/ Public Sector Banks in Kolkata shall ensure the payment of balance amount of Revised Gratuity and Additional Commuted Value of Pension within 15 (fifteen) working days from the date of receipt of Revised PPO from A.G (A&E), West Bengal and start deducting the ‘Additional Amount of Commutation’ as stated in Sl. No. 6 above.

15. The bills of Retiring/ Death Gratuity and Commuted Value of Pension of those employees who will retire/have died on or after 01.01.2020 after coming into the Revised Pay Structure w.e.f. 01.01.2020. shall however be drawn by the DDO of Pension Sanctioning Authority as usual on the basis of Gratuity Payment Authority and Commuted Value of Pension Payment Authority to be issued by A.G(A&E), West Bengal.

16. Pension Sanctioning Authorities (PSA) shall also sanction the Revised Pension/ Family Pension of those cases mentioned in Para-4.4 of the Memorandum No. 535-F(Pen) dated- 01.10.2019 read with Point No. 5 of Memo No. 681-F(Pen) dated- 23.12.2019. The copies of previous pension papers, service book and initial pay fixation papers shall be sent to A.G (A&E), West Bengal for issuance of Revised PPO from A.G(A&E), West Bengal in modification of Point No. 5 of Memo No. 681-F(Pen) dated- 23.12.2019.

17. Relevant Provisions of the Memo No. 536-F(Pen) dated- 01.10.2019, 681-F(Pen) dated- 23.12.2019 and 690-F(Pen) dated- 30.12.2019 hereby stand modified. The revised format of Annexure-II and Annexure-III attached herewith shall be considered to come into effect from the date of issue of this order in discontinuation of the formats of Annexure-II & III notified vide Memorandum No. 660-F(Pen) dated- 16.12.2019.

18. This order shall take immediate effect. Necessary amendments in W.B. DCRB Rules, 1971 and W.B. Treasury Rules-2005 shall be made in due courses.

E. Commutation of Pension

(i) An employee shall continue to be entitled to commute for a lump sum payment upto 40% of his pension.

(ii) The table showing commutation value for pension is given in Annexure -V.

(iii) The table as given in Annexure-IV will be used for all commutations of pension which become absolute as per this order.

(iv) In the case of those pensioners who retired after 01.01.2016 but prior to 01.01.2020 shall have an option to commute the amount of pension that has become additionally commutable on account of retrospective revision of pay/pension on implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

2. The relevant rules in the respective Death-cum-Retirement Benefit Rules and Commutation of Pension Rules shall be deemed to have been amended to the extent indicated in this order.

3. This order is issued with the concurrence of Finance Department (Pension Branch) vide their U.O. No. 13-F(Pen) dt. 12.02.2020 read with U.O. No. Gr.-P1/2019-2020/0397 dated 12.02.2020.

4. The Accountant General (A&E) and concerned others are being informed.

By order of the Governor,

Sd/- Manish Jain
Principal Secretary to the
Government of West Bengal

No. 211-Edn dated 14.02.2020, Source