New Delhi, Apr 16: In a significant policy shift, now, female government employees in the All India Services can now nominate their children instead of their husbands to receive family pensions.
The change stems from an amendment made to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, which enabled female government employees to designate their children (both sons and daughters) as beneficiaries.
This amendment is particularly aimed at supporting women involved in marital disputes, especially those fighting cases under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
Earlier, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare had issued an order on January 1, 2024, permitting female government employees to nominate their children in cases of ongoing family disputes. Now, through a recent order, the DoPT has extended these provisions to female officers of the AIS, stating: “The provisions mentioned in the aforementioned O.M. dated 01.01.2024 of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare are now applicable mutatis mutandis to members of All India Services.”
The government has also amended its family pension rules to allow divorced or separated daughters to claim their deceased father’s pension directly, without the need for a court ruling.
Additionally, a female retiree can now nominate her children over her spouse if she has initiated divorce proceedings or is seeking protection under domestic violence or dowry laws.
Further, the updated regulations allow a widow without children to remarry while continuing to receive her late husband’s pension, provided her income is below the minimum pension threshold.
These modifications emphasize the government’s commitment to women’s financial rights, ensuring economic security and autonomy, irrespective of marital status.
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