SRPF(C) Rules – Exercise of Fresh Option by the Railway Employees
No.F(E)III/85/PN1/15, dated 18.06.1985
Sub: Exercise of fresh option by the Railway employees governed by the SRPF(C) Rules – to come over to the pensionable service.
1. Consequent upon the treatment of the entire Dearness Allowance upto the price index level of 568 as pay for retirement benefits w.e.f. 31.03.1985, removal of the ceiling limit of Rs.1500 p.m. on pension and raising of the ceiling of DCRG from Rs.36000 to Rs.15000 as issued by this Ministry’s letter No.PCIII/85/DP/1, dated 17.05.1985 and F(E)III.82.PN1/3, dated 17.05.1985, the Ministry of Railways with the approval of the President have decided that another opportunity for pension option be given to the Railway staff who were in service on 31.03.1985 and onwards and still governed by the SRPF(C) Rules to come over to the pension scheme including Family Scheme. This option will remain valid upto six months from the date of issue of the orders i.e. upto and inclusive of 17.12.1985.
2. The above orders will also be applicable to the Railway staff who have retired on or after 31.03.1985 under SRPF(C) Rules. In the case of Railway employees, who were in service on 31.03.1985 but who died before the issue of the above orders or die before exercising the option by the prescribed date, their families/ dependents may also be allowed the above pension option provided a request for the same is specifically made by the person validly nominated by the subscriber or in absence of the nomination, by all the members of family of the deceased. If the family includes minor children, the request on their behalf can be made by their guardian.
3. In the case of retired Railway employees and the deceased Railway employees, if the Government contribution together with interest thereon has already been paid, the person concerned should be apprised of the amount due to be recovered and asked to refund the same within one month from the date of receipt of the intimation to this effect. The special contribution to PF if paid to the person concerned, should be adjusted against the DCRG and the excess, if any, of special contribution over the DCRG be also advised to them to arrange refund thereof. The pension option will be valid only after the above amount has been refunded by the person concerned. If the retired Railway servant or the family members in question desire to take advantage of these orders, the request from them to that effect, duly accompanied by the amount to be refunded by them as aforementioned, must be received before the last date for exercise of option for within a period of one month from the date of receipt of the communication of these orders to them, whichever is later. General Managers may extend the above limit of one month to 3 months in consultation with their FA&CAOs, on the merit of individual cases. It should be ensured that in above cases the requisite advice is issued as early as possible so that it reaches the retired Railway servant/ family in time to enable them to opt for pension before the expiry of the last date.
4. The Railway servant who does not exercise an option within the prescribed period or quits service without exercising an option or whose option is incomplete or conditional or ambiguous, shall be deemed to have opted to remain under SRPS(C) Rules. It should be made clear to all concerned that this is the last opportunity for them to opt for pensionary scheme and no further option would be granted.
5. In the case of Railway servant who elects to be governed by the Railway Pension Rules, the Government contribution with interest thereon standing to his credit in the SRPF(C) shall revert to the Government and his Provident Fund account will be converted into SRPF (non-contributory) and he shall continue subscribing thereof under the rules of the fund.
6. The past service rendered by such a Railway servant shall be deemed to have been rendered ab-initio in a pensionable establishment and shall count as service qualifying for pension in the manner and to the extent provided for in the Pension Rules in force from time to time.
7. The Railway Administration should take urgent steps to bring the contents of this letter to the notice of all concerned employees under their administrative control, including those on leave or on deputation or on foreign service. To facilitate prompt circulation of these orders, the Ministry desires that the contents of this latter should also be published by the Railways in their Gazettes, in an extraordinary issue (in English, Hindi and regional languages, as necessary) as early as possible and copies furnished to the recognized Unions. Suitable press release should also be issued.
8. It would be desirable to obtain an acknowledgement from each individual so that ignorance of this order is not pleaded at a later stage.
9. After the period of option is over, a statement may be furnished to the Ministry advising the number of staff who have opted (a) to retain the SRPF Scheme or (b) to come over to the Pension Scheme, separately in respect of Grade ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ & ‘D’ staff. The statement should reach the Ministry latest by 28th February, 1986.
10. These orders have the sanction of the President.
Download Railway Board Circular dated 18.06.1985
Forward reference ⇒ RBE No. 18/2021, 18/2021