Pension arrears will be paid to lakhs of ex-employees-pensioners. The Supreme Court has ordered for this. Pensioners are to be paid in various instalments. The same pensioners have been instructed to pay the amount of the first installment in the account by April 30.
One Rank One Pensioners, OROP Arrears: There is big news for former employees-pensioners. He will be paid the arrears of pension soon. For this, an important hearing has been held by the Supreme Court on Monday. Along with this, the Central Government has been given time till 28 February 2024. During this, the central government has asked the former employees and pensioners to pay the arrears of Rs 28,000 crore.
Set a timetable
The Center is bound to comply with its 2022 order on payment of One Rank One Pension arrears to ex-servicemen, the Supreme Court said on Monday. In such a situation, the arrears should be paid to the pensioners by February 28 next year. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and headed by JB Pardiwala also provided a timetable to the Ministry of Defense for making payments to various groups.
SC order
Not only this, the Supreme Court, during the hearing on the petition of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement regarding the payment of One Rank One Pension dues, said that on March 13, an order was issued for the payment of One Rank One Pension in four installments, which is extremely It was an inappropriate act. The Supreme Court has also reprimanded the government for this.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Center to pay the first installment of arrears to eligible family pensioners and gallantry winners of the Indian Armed Forces under the One Rank One Pension scheme by April 30. Along with this, the Supreme Court said that the Center will have to pay the arrears in equal installments to the eligible pensioners above 70 years by 30 June and to the remaining eligible pensioners on 30 August, 30 November and 28 February.
During the hearing of the petition, the Supreme Court said that the sealed cover note will not be accepted at the Centre. At the same time, the CJI said that there should be transparency in the court personally against the sealed envelope and the implementation of the orders is being discussed here. So there is no need for any kind of confidential envelope here. Giving information in the court, it was said that there were 2500000 pensioners, out of them 400000 are not eligible for One Rank One Pension Scheme as they are getting the benefit of enhanced pension.
Payment of arrears in installments
Justice PS Narasimha Pardiwala directed that gallantry award winners of six lakh pensioners be paid their One Rank One Pension arrears by April 30. Also, about 45 lakh retired servicemen above the age of 70 years can be paid their One Rank One Pension arrears in one or more installments till June 30. Along with this, one rank one pension arrears of 10 to 11 lakh cess pensioners will be paid in three equal installments till February 28, 2024.
Extension given thrice
Earlier, the Supreme Court in its March 2022 judgment had confirmed the November 2015 notification with the Center on One Rank One Pension. At the same time, instructions were given to implement this scheme from July 2014 and to envisage revision every 5 years. After this, the government was given extension thrice by the court. The first extension of 3 months was given in June 2022 and the second was given in September the same year. On January 9 this year, the bench had directed the government to pay the function dues of about 25 months past servicemen by March 15.
Court reprimanded
However, on January 20, an order was issued by the ministry. In which a demand was made to extend the deadline till March 15, making provision for payment of arrears in 4 half-yearly installments. Court hearings were held on 27 February and 13 March. In which the bench reprimanded the government on the Centre’s letter dated January 20 and asked to consider extending the time only after withdrawing the letter.
The same ministry has given its application on 18 March. In which the court was informed to initiate the process of withdrawal of the January 20 letter and additional time was requested for sanction of payment. On which the time period has now been extended to 28 February 2024.
Government decision
Earlier in December, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the revision of pension of ex-servicemen and family pensioners under One Rank One Pension Scheme. was made effective from 1 July 2019. The same instructions were given to pay the outstanding amount for the period from July 2019 to June 2022.
Will get this amount
In this matter, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur had announced on 23 December. It was said that more than 2.5 million defense pensioners will get its benefit. At the same time, the outstanding amount of Rs 23638 crore will be paid. Retired jawans will get Rs 87000 as arrears of One Rank-One Pension Scheme while Colonel will get Rs 4 lakh 42 thousand and Lieutenant General Rs 4 lakh 32 thousand as arrears.
