Punjab Government has issued strict direction to all departments to ensure settlement of pension cases of its employees for disbursement of all retiral benefits to them on the date of retirement.
As per the communiqué issued to all departments, it has been reiterated that where disbursement on the date of retirement was not possible because of procedural formalities, the same should be cleared within two months of date of retirement.
laying down the detailed procedure to meticulously follow the timeframe to be adhered by all controlling or drawing and disbursing officers, directions have also been issued that pension case of each employee should be taken up at least one year before the retirement of the employee.
After the completion of all formalities, the same may be sent to accountant-general at least six months before the retirement of an employee along with complete record, said the spokesperson.
He said that in case the authorisation of accountant-general is not received within a month, the matter may be taken up by head of office or department with AG to get the same to be expedited.
Spokesperson said that as per procedure, if the case can not be completed because an enquiry is pending or service record is not complete or for any other reason, action should be initiated to fix the pension on provisional basis and simultaneously all efforts should be made to complete the formalities so that full pension, gratuity and other benefits can be released in time.
If the case of pension and other retiral benefits gets delayed because of employee not providing or furnishing any documents which are required to be furnished by him or her under the rules, six months before retirement, a fortnightly reminder against proper acknowledgment should be issued and complete record of correspondence be maintained to ensure that employee can not complain at a later stage, he said.
He said that all assistance may be rendered if the employee is not able to complete any form etc. In case the employee still defaults, controlling officer/ drawing and disbursing officer may bring the matter to the notice of head of department.
He said that if in spite of above precautions, delay still occurs, a case for payment of interest at the specified rate may be taken up with the finance department stating the detailed facts of the case immediately after payment of retrial benefits has been made.
Cautioning the department, the spokesperson said that in case any litigation in such cases results from the default on the part of any departments and penal interest is awarded by a court along with costs etc, the controlling officer or drawing and disbursing officer shall be personally liable for the loss caused and the amount shall be recovered from him.