Rule 71 - Pension Claims
Original Rule Text
71. Obtaining of claims for family pension and gratuity.- (1) Where the Head of Office has received an intimation or information about the death of a Government servant while in service, he shall ascertain whether any death gratuity or family pension or both is or are payable in respect of the deceased Government servant.
(2)
(a) Where the family of the deceased Government servant is eligible for the death gratuity under rule 45, the Head of Office shall ascertain,
(i) if the deceased Government servant had nominated any person or persons to receive the gratuity; and
(ii) if the deceased Government servant had not made any nomination or the nomination made does not subsist, the person or persons to whom the gratuity may be payable.
(b) The Head of Office shall, then, address the persons concerned in Format 11 and send the letters to those persons for making a claim for gratuity in Form 9.
(3) Where the family of the deceased Government servant is eligible for family pension under rule 50, the Head of Office shall address the eligible member of the family or the guardian, as the case may be, in Format 12 for making a claim for family pension in Form 10 and to submit an undertaking to the Bank in Format 9.
(4)
(a) If on the date of death, the Government servant was an allottee of Government accommodation, the dues pertaining to outstanding licence fee payable in respect of the period before the date of death of the Government servant shall stand waived off.
(b) Any dues relating to damages in respect of the Government accommodation shall be recovered from the death gratuity payable to the family and if the Government accommodation is retained by the family of the deceased Government servant, the licence fee for the month in which the Government servant has died and the first three months thereafter, shall not be recovered from the family.
(c) The Head of Office shall address the Directorate of Estates within seven days of the date of receipt of intimation or information of death of a Government servant for the issue of "No Demand Certificate" in accordance with the provisions of sub-rule (1) of rule 77.
(5) Where the Head of Office has received an intimation that a Government servant has gone missing, he shall ascertain whether any gratuity or family pension or both is or are payable in respect of the missing Government servant in accordance with sub-rule (1) of rule 51 and sub-rule (4) of rule 51.
(6)
(a) In the case of a missing Government servant, the Head of Office shall take action in accordance with sub-rule (2) and sub-rule (3) in respect of the missing Government servant and shall address the member of the family eligible to receive the amount of gratuity in Format 11 advising him or her for making a claim for gratuity in Form 9.
(b) The Head of Office shall also address the eligible member of the family or the guardian, as the case may be, in Format 12 for making a claim for family pension in Form 10.
(c) The Head of office shall inform the eligible members of the family that claims for payment of family pension and gratuity shall be submitted to the Head of Office after a report has been lodged with the concerned Police Station in the form of a First Information Report or a Daily Diary Entry or a General Diary Entry and a report has been obtained from the police to the effect that the Government servant could not be traced so far despite all efforts made in that regard.
(d) The claims shall be accompanied by an undertaking to the Bank in Format 9, an Indemnity Bond in Format 8, a copy each of the report lodged with the concerned Police Station and a copy of the report obtained from the police to the effect that the Government servant could not be traced so far despite all efforts made in that regard.
(e) The Head of Office shall not wait for a death certificate issued by an appropriate authority and shall initiate action under this rule on receipt of an intimation or a credible information, in any form, about the death of the Government servant.
(f) The Head of Office shall make special efforts to get the claims from the family of the deceased Government servant in the respective forms as early as possible and where the family is residing in the place of duty of the deceased Government servant, the forms and documents may be got completed by the family personally and if the family is residing outside the place of duty, all the blank forms and other documents should be forwarded to the family with clear instructions, so as to avoid unnecessary correspondence and consequent delay.
(g) In order to decide the eligibility for family pension, a member of the family, other than the widow or widower of the deceased Government servant or pensioner, shall be required to submit, along with the claim for family pension, the documents referred to in the clause
(b) of sub-rule (12) of rule 50.
What This Means
Rule 71(f) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 focuses on the Head of Office's responsibility in processing pension claims after a government employee's death. Essentially, it emphasizes the need for swift and proactive action to assist the deceased employee's family in completing the necessary paperwork for pension and other benefits. The goal is to minimize delays and ensure the family receives the benefits they are entitled to as quickly as possible during a difficult time.
This rule applies immediately upon the death of a government servant. It affects the Head of Office directly, placing a duty on them to actively facilitate the claim process. It also indirectly affects the family of the deceased, as it aims to streamline the process and reduce the burden on them. The rule acknowledges that the family may be grieving and unfamiliar with the procedures, so it requires the Head of Office to take extra care in guiding them.
In essence, Rule 71(f) is about compassionate and efficient administration. It's a reminder that government service extends beyond the employee's lifetime and includes a responsibility to support their family in their time of need.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Head of Office must proactively assist the deceased employee's family with pension claims.
- 2Special efforts should be made to obtain necessary forms from the family as quickly as possible.
- 3If the family resides at the place of duty, facilitate personal completion of forms.
- 4If the family resides elsewhere, send all forms and clear instructions to avoid delays.
- 5The rule aims to minimize delays and ensure timely disbursement of benefits.
Practical Example
Mr. Sharma, a Section Officer, unfortunately passed away. His wife, Mrs. Sharma, resides in the same city. The Head of Office, Mr. Verma, immediately contacted Mrs. Sharma and arranged a meeting. He personally explained the required forms and documents, helping her fill them out correctly. He ensured she understood the process for claiming family pension, gratuity, and other benefits. If Mrs. Sharma had lived in a different city, Mr. Verma would have sent all the necessary forms with a detailed cover letter explaining each document and providing contact information for any questions. This proactive approach ensured Mrs. Sharma received the benefits promptly, avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and emotional distress. He also helped her with the process of claiming the pending salary of Mr. Sharma, amounting to Rs. 45,000.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Cross References
Frequently Asked Questions
What constitutes 'special efforts' by the Head of Office?▼
What if the family is uncooperative or unable to provide the necessary documents?▼
Does this rule apply to all types of government employees?▼
What happens if the Head of Office fails to comply with this rule?▼
Where can I find the specific forms mentioned in this rule?▼
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Test Your Knowledge
Question 1 of 3
According to CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, Rule 71(f), whose responsibility is it to make special efforts to obtain pension claims from the family of a deceased government servant?