CAT relief to 80 PGI retirees against reduction in pension

Chandigarh: The retired employees at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI Chandigarh) have received a temporary relief after the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) put a stay on the institute's order to deduct the pension amount of the retirees using the Punjab Civil Service Pension Rules on Wednesday, June 7.

The institute's decision to reduce the pension amount has affected around 630 retirees. They stated that those who retired between 2007 and 2014 were paid pension, gratuity, commutation of pension and leave encashment under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

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However, they alleged that in April, their pension was suddenly deducted without any prior notice or official order. When the officials began enquiring about the sudden decision, they were told that their pension was reduced from January 1, 2016, under the Punjab Civil Service Pension Rules. But the petition alleged that they were not given any reason or document before, as per a media report in the Hindustan Times.

Earlier, five retired employees of the institute had already approached the tribunal against the deduction of the pension amount, and the court had passed similar order at that time as well. However, except for the five pensioners, the rest of the retired employees received the deducted pension amount, following which the latter decided to go to court.

Subsequently, on June 5, a plea was filed by Vijay Aggarwal and 79 other retirees against PGIMER’s financial adviser for not following the May 26 order of the court.

Under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, nearly 500 retired employees have been receiving their pension for around 35 years. And those who retired before 1975 were not given pensions under the Punjab Civil Service Pension Rules, as they were under the CPF Scheme.

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