Central government employees and pensioners have received major relief after a recent clarification.
The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), under the Ministry of Personnel, has stated that once a pension or family pension is fixed, it cannot be reduced.
However, there is one exception — if a clerical error such as a writing or calculation mistake is found.
According to the rules, if such an error is discovered after two years, then the approval of the Department of Pension
and Pensioners’ Welfare is required before reducing the pension or family pension. This means that no pension can be reduced without high-level approval.
Why This Decision Matters
This clarification is significant because many pensioners had faced issues in the past.
In several cases, the department claimed that pensioners were receiving more pension than they were entitled to, even years after retirement.
This led to pension cuts and recovery notices, causing financial difficulties for retirees.
The new directive brings relief to pensioners by clearly stating that pension reductions will only be allowed in cases of clerical errors, and that too within two years of the pension being fixed.
What Happens if You Receive Excess Pension by Mistake?
According to an Office Memorandum issued on October 30, if a pensioner receives excess pension due to a calculation error, and it is not their fault, the concerned ministry must decide whether to waive off or recover the excess amount.
The DoPPW clarified that under Sub-Rule 1 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, the pension or family pension cannot be reduced after final assessment or revision, except when it has been increased due to a clerical error.
Even then, after two years of fixation, no reduction is allowed without the department’s approval.
How the Government Can Recover Excess Pension
If a pensioner has received excess pension and agrees to return it, the ministry must first consult the Department of Expenditure. The pensioner will then receive a two-month notice to repay the extra amount.
If the amount is not returned within this time, the department can recover it in installments from future pension payments.