Move to amend Public Servants (retirement) Act:Daily Sun

The government is going to amend the Public Servants (retirement) Act 1974 to provide one-third of the pension benefits to the employees facing criminal charges after retirement. Official sources said a proposal in this regard was discussed at a meeting of the public administration ministry on February 18. Later, the ministry sent the proposal to the finance ministry for its nod. The finance minis

try approved the proposal on May 11 and now, summary of the proposal will be sent to the prime minister for her consent, ministry sources said. “If the premier gives her thumbs up, the proposal will be sent to the law ministry and later, it will be placed before the cabinet for final approval,” said a source at the public administration ministry.   Earlier, the ministry in its proposal to the finance ministry sought 50 per cent benefits for the retired officials facing criminal charges, but the finance ministry turned down the proposal. At the meeting on February 18, additional secretary (rule) of the public administration ministry said a government official cannot enjoy pension under the existing law if criminal or departmental cases against him/her remain unsettled. Senior secretary of the public administration ministry Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury at the meeting batted in favour of providing all the retired government officials with pension benefits. He viewed that as per the existing rule, the retired government officials facing criminal or departmental charges are been deprived of getting pension benefits. “So, one-third or half of the pension benefits should be given to them. The recommendations of the Pay Commission may be reviewed, if necessary,” he said. The meeting decided to amend the Article 10 of the Public Servants (Retirement) Act, 1974 with a provision to pave the way for the retired employees facing criminal charges to get pension benefits.