GUWAHATI: Retired government employees in Assam facing long delays in receiving pension benefits may finally see faster processing, with the state government introducing financial penalties against officials responsible for holding up pension files.
The Administrative Reforms, Training, Pension and Public Grievances Department has issued a notification stating that officials responsible for delays in pension processing will face recovery of ₹250 per day, subject to a maximum of ₹5,000. The order has come into effect immediately.
According to the notification, delayed pension cases will be identified every month through the Kritagyata portal and the list will be circulated to concerned Heads of Offices (HOOs), District Commissioners and senior-most secretaries of departments for necessary action.
The notification stated that financial recovery would be made from officials responsible at each stage of pension processing. The amount will be deducted directly from salary bills through the FinAssam portal and reflected in the following month’s salary statement.
Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) have also been directed to ensure implementation of the recovery provisions and submit details of deductions to the Administrative Reforms, Training, Pension and Public Grievances Department.
The move follows long-standing government concerns over delays in pension settlement. An Office Memorandum issued by the Pension and Public Grievances Department on June 23, 2003 had highlighted the hardship faced by retired government servants and their family members because of delays in pension processing.
The 2003 memorandum had directed departments and offices to maintain superannuation registers, notify employees about retirement two years in advance and process pension papers at least six months before retirement to ensure timely issuance of Pension Payment Orders (PPOs).
It had also warned that delays caused by administrative lapses could invite disciplinary action against responsible officials and may make the government liable to pay interest on delayed pension payments.