Pension allowable only on completion of 20 years in service: CAT

Government employees are eligible to claim pension only after completion of 20 years of service, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has held.

The tribunal passed the order on a Delhi Transport Corporation's employee's plea on Tuesday. The employee, Mukesh, had claimed that he had not been given pensionary benefits after he opted for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) and sought directions for relief.

The tribunal, while disposing the plea, said that Mukesh was not eligible for pension as he had not completed the tenure essential for a government servant to claim pension. The tribunal headed by vice chairman M Ramachandran noted that no relaxation in the tenure was permissible for claiming pension.

The CAT noted that the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules allow a government employee to claim pension as a matter of right only after completion of 20 years of service.

The tribunal observed that Mukesh had put in only 10 years of service and it was therefore not possible for the DTC to extend pension benefits to him.

The tribunal said that Mukesh had been extended the benefits authorised by the scheme and legally due to him.

Mukesh had joined the DTC as a bus conductor in 1982 and continued in service till 1993 when he opted for retirement under the corporation's Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). He approached the tribunal claiming he had been denied pensionary benefits due to him.