The Secretary of the National Council (Staff Side) Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) has formally requested the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Department of Expenditure (DoE) to issue a general order for granting a notional increment to central government employees for pension calculation purposes.
This appeal follows a recent Supreme Court judgment aimed at benefiting retirees.
In a letter referencing the Supreme Court ruling dated September 6, 2024, the secretary, Gopal Mishra, emphasised the need for a comprehensive government order that would apply to employees who retired on the last working day of June or December.
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Background of the issue:
Many retirees, facing challenges in accessing their rightful pension increments, have had to approach various Central Administrative Tribunals (CATs) across the country.
Courts have generally ruled in favor of these employees, but the government has only implemented changes for those who filed petitions, leading to inconsistencies and further complications.
To address this ongoing issue, the Supreme Court issued an interim order outlining key directives:
From May 1, 2023, eligible retirees will have their pensions calculated with an additional increment, but no back payments will be issued for periods prior to this date.
Those who successfully filed writ petitions will receive the enhanced pension without delay.
The order does not apply to cases still under appeal or where a final judgment has not been reached.
Retired employees who have applied to intervene in ongoing cases may receive enhanced pensions from the date of their application.
In light of the Supreme Court’s directives, the Secretary has called for immediate action to ensure that all eligible retirees benefit from the notional increment. This would provide clarity and fairness to the pension calculation process for Central Government employees.