The notification that the Himachal government was waiting for from the Chhattisgarh Government on old pension has been released.
It has also become clear from this notification that old pension will be implemented from the year 2004 only in Himachal Pradesh.
It may be noted that on the formula of Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu had decided to restore the old pension in the first cabinet meeting held on January 13, 2023.
An office memorandum has just been issued in this regard, while the notification of the Chhattisgarh Government and a response from the Central Government were awaited to issue the notification.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had prepared a strategy for the Congress in Himachal in the assembly elections. Taking lessons from the experience of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh has issued a more favorable notification regarding old pension.
According to this notification, old pension has been kept optional in Chhattisgarh and all the employees appointed after April 1, 2022 will be directly taken in old pension and their GPF accounts will also be opened.
Earlier, the employees appointed from November 1, 2004 to March 31, 2022 will have to submit a notarized application form to the State Government, in which they will choose either Old Pension or NPS. The right to exercise the option will be given only once.
However, the Himachal government will have to decide from which date the facility to open GPF account is to be given here.
Such employees coming from NPS to OPS will have to deposit the entire amount of NPS contribution deposited by the State Government, amount withdrawn and dividend earned by the State Government.
These employees will be taken in old pension only after surrendering this money. The Government of Chhattisgarh has also said that in the event of retirement or death of the employees opting for the Old Pension Scheme due to the amount deposited in the NPS account from the PFRDA not coming into the account of the state government, the government grant deposited in their NPS account will also be deposited in the treasury.
This deposit will be kept in a separate fund under the Public Account for payment of future pensionary liabilities and an amount equal to 4% of the pensionary liabilities will be invested in the pension fund every year.
However, it has become clear from the notification of Chhattisgarh that old pension will be implemented in Himachal as well from the back date i.e. from the year 2004. (hdm)
Awaiting reply from Government of India as well
Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has given instructions to the Finance Department regarding the Standard Operating Procedure being prepared regarding old pension.
The Chief Secretary says that a letter has also been sent again to the Central Government and the reply is awaited. Earlier, the Central Government has refused to return the contribution of the Himachal Government.
Now it will be seen how the notification of Chhattisgarh fits in Himachal. Himachal government will also have to issue notification now. Here 1,36,000 employees are waiting for notification on Old Pension.