Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Sept. 23: The Centre has decided to change a decade-old policy that prohibits the spouse of a deceased government employee from receiving a family pension if he or she is charged with murdering the employee or aiding and abetting the commission of such an offence.
As per the new provision, other qualified family members will be entitled to the family pension until the criminal procedures against the deceased employee’s spouse are resolved. If the spouse is found not guilty of murder, the family pension will begin to be paid to him or her from the date of acquittal.
Denying payment of family pension to any other family member until the criminal processes were completed, particularly dependent children or parents who are not charged with the crime, was not regarded as appropriate. The issue was taken up by the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare with the Department of Legal Affairs for a review because the completion of the criminal proceedings may take a long time and the eligible children or parents of the deceased employee may suffer due to a lack of financial support in the form of a family pension.
It has now been ruled that if a person qualified for family pension is charged with murdering a government servant or aiding and abetting the conduct of such an offence, family pension may be granted to another eligible member of the family until the case is resolved.
If the other eligible number is a minor child of a deceased government employee, a validly constituted guardian shall be established to pay the family pension.
