URGENT for (1) Pre-06 pensioners getting a pension lower than their juniors & (2) Personnel who retired between 01-01-06 and 02-09-08

There are some urgent guidelines which need to be amplified for pre-06 pensioners of senior ranks who have been granted a pension that is lower than that of junior ranks and for personnel who retired between 01 Jan 2006 (implementation date for 6th CPC) and 02 Sept 2008 (acceptance date for 6th CPC). These are explained in the following paragraphs. Though emails are welcome on any issue, individual queries or requests for calculations may please not be endorsed to me due to paucity of time at my end, such requests may be posted as comments to this post which in turn can be answered in the public domain by all of us.

Pension of pre-2006 pensioners who have been granted a revised pension lower than that of junior ranks.

In the revised Annexure-II of the new pension tables as per Govt of India, MoD Letter dated 11 Nov 2008, there are instances wherein the pension of lower ranks has been reflected higher than that of higher ranks. For example, the basic pension for each rank is 50% of the total of minimum of pay band + Grade Pay + MSP. Now by this formula, the basic pension of a Brig is bound to be more than those of Maj Generals and Lieut Generals since MSP is not admissible to Maj Gens and Lt Gens. It has however been decided by the Hon’ble Apex Court that the pension of a Maj Gen cannot be lower than that of a Brig and keeping this in view, in the pension tables initially issued, the MoD had rightly stepped up the pension of Maj Gens and Lt Gens to a level equivalent to that of a Brig (Rs 26150). But strangely these tables were revised and in the latest tables again the pension of Maj Gens and Lt Gens is reflected as lower than Brigadiers. This however is in conflict with the law of the land as laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the MoD has also resultantly added a little disclaimer as a Note under Annexure-II which may escape the naked eye. It says :

“In case the pension of a senior rank happens to be less than the revised pension of a lower rank, which may happen in rare cases, such cases may be referred to pension sanctioning authorities concerned”

Practically the above means that in case a higher rank is getting pension lesser than a lower rank, it is to be stepped up by the Pension Sanctioning Authority. So please peruse the pension tables meticulously which are available at the MoD website by clicking here and undertake the following in case your pension is being reflected lesser than any lower rank :-

(a) Inform the bank (Pension Disbursing Authority – PDA) in writing requesting them to take up your individual case with the PCDA(Pensions) Allahabad (Pension Sanctioning Authority – PSA).

(b) Immediately inform the PCDA(P) through an individual letter explaining that your pension is lesser than that of a lower rank. Please inform them of all details such as your PPO number, Bank account / name and address.


Personnel who retired between 01-01-2006 and 02-09-2008.

Personnel who retired between 01 Jan 2006 and 02 Sept 2008 have been granted a commutation of pension at the old (5th CPC) rates. Such personnel now have an option of re-calculating their commutation under the authority of this MoD letter dated 12 Dec 2008 which is available on the MoD website by clicking here.

The following is important in this letter :

“In the case of those pensioners in whose case commutation of pension became absolute on or after 1.1.2006 but before 2.9.2008, the pre-revised Table of Commutation Value for commutation of pension has been used for payment of commuted value of pension based on pre-revised pension. Such pensioners 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 Central Pay Commission. On exercising such an option as per Annexure-II by the pensioner, the revised Table of commutation value of pension will be used for the commutation of the additional amount of pension that has become commutable on account of retrospective revision of pension with reference to age next birthday already reckoned for commutation of pre-revised
pension.”

“The Armed Forces personnel who had already retired/discharged/invalided out from service during 1.1.2006 and 1.9.2008 and have availed of the benefit of commutation of pension not exceeding maximum permissible limit (i.e. 43% & 45% in respect of commissioned officers and PBOR respectively) within one year of retirement/discharge/invalidment, the benefit of commutation of additional pension (i.e. 50% less the percentage already commuted), will be allowed with reference to the age next birthday as on the date of fresh option as per Annexure-II without medical examination by applying revised commutation value Annexed to this letter. In case of Armed Forces personnel retired/discharged/invalided out during 1.1.2006 to 1.9.2008 and had not availed the commutation of pension upto maximum permissible limit within one year of retirement/discharge, the benefit of commutation of additional pension as at Para 9.3 above may be allowed with reference to age next birthday as on date of fresh option after medical examination. The pensioners who have already undergone medical examination in the latter case need not be medically examined again for this purpose.”

Exercise your option after going into the modalities by perusing the said letters which are available on the official MoD website http://www.mod.nic.in/

“Choose wisely and you’ll find me in the mellow of your mind” – Prince (2001)