Release of pensionary benefits to employees against whom Personal Court Case (other than departmental) is pending in the court

DoT: Release of pension benefits to employees (other than departmental) against whom Personal Court Case is pending at court

File No.36-9/2002- Pen(T)Pt.
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Telecommunications
(Pension Section)

516, Sanchar Bhawan,
20, Ashoka Road, New Delhi
Dated: 12th June, 2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Release of pensionary benefits to employees against whom Personal Court Case (other than departmental) is pending in the court.

The undersigned is directed to refer to DoT letter No. 36-9/2002-Pen(T) dated 24.03.2003 (copy enclosed) vide which clarification was issued regarding the above mentioned subject.

2. The matter has been examined afresh and the DoT letter dated 24.03.2003 has been superseded by DoT letter No. 36-9/2002-Pen(T)Pt. dated 05.06.2020 (copy enclosed).

Encl: As above.

(Asha Wadhwani)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Ph. 011 23036260

No. 36-9/2002-Pen({T)Pt.
Government of India
Ministry of Communication
Department of Telecommunication
(Pension Section)

516, Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashoka Road,
New Delhi-110001, dated 5” June, 2020

To,

The Chairman and Managing Director,
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL),
Bharat Sanchar Bhavan, Harish Chandra Mathur Lane,
Janpath, New Delhi-110 001.

Subject: Release of Pensionary benefits to employees against whom Personal Court Case (other than departmental) is pending in the court.

Sir,

This refers BSNL letters No. 1-15/2019- PAT (BSNL) (Part) dated 30.01.2020, No. 22-92/2017/ General/Vol.I dated 5.7.2018 mentioned therein, and earlier references from BSNL on the subject. :

2. The matter has been examined in light of the advice rendered by Department of Pension & a Pensioners Welfare vide ID Note No. 4-9/2018-Vig.I (pt) dated 28.09.2018 (copy enclosed).

3.. Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare vide the above referred ID Note on the question whether judicial proceedings initiated against a Government servant by the state police on the basis of a complaint by a private party for any action-other than in any official capacity would come under the ambit of Rule 69 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 – conveyed the following:

• If a Government servant is convicted during the period of service, action is taken under Rule 19 of the CCS (CCA) Rules and a penalty under Rule 11 of the CCS (CCA) Rules is imposed. Such action under said Rules is taken irrespective of whether the conviction is on account of charges connected with his official capacity or otherwise. Once a Government servant retires, action cannot be taken against him under CCS (CCA) Rules. After retirement, if the Government servant is found guilty of misconduct during service action can be taken under Rule 9(i) of the CCS (Pension) rules and his pension/ gratuity can be withhold/ withdrawn.
• DoP&PW is of the view that all misconduct under CCS (Conduct) Rules for which the Government servant could be punished under the CCS (CCA) Rules, during the period of service would be covered by the provisions of Rule 9 and Rule 69 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. Therefore, after retirement, in cases where the judicial proceedings for any act during service (whether in official capacity or otherwise) which could be termed as misconduct under the provisions of CCS (Conduct) Rules are continued after retirement, such judicial proceedings shall come under the purview of Rule 9 and Rule 69 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

4. The applicability of the above advice on other cases of similar nature has been examined. In view of the explicit advice rendered by Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare reproduced above, the previous DoT letter No. 36-9/2002- Pen(T) dated 24.03.2003 in this regard is hereby superseded by the above advice rendered by Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare.

5. As regards the applicability of the above to VRS optees under BSNL VRS-2019, it is to intimate that there is no ruling for any differential treatment to these retirees.

6. This issues with the approval of Secretary (T).

Encl: As above.

(Asha Wadhwani)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India