Pension Rule No.97: Authorization Of Final Family Pension And Balance Of The Gratuity By The Accounts Officer

97.  Authorization Of Final Family Pension And Balance Of The Gratuity By The Accounts Officer:-

(1)   On receipt of the documents referred to in sub-rule (1) of rule 95, the Accounts Officer shall, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the documents apply the requisite checks and complete Section I of Part II of Form 16 and assess the amount of family pension and gratuity;

[Authority: RBE No.70/2016, No.2015/F(E)III/1(1)/4, 17.06.2016]

Provided that if the Accounts Officer is, for any reason, unable to assess the amount within the period aforesaid, he shall communicate the fact to the Head of Office to continue to disburse for such period as may be specified by the Accounts Officer.

(2)   (a)   If the family pension is payable in his circle of accounting unit, the Accounts Officer shall prepare the pension payment order.

(b)   The payment of family pension shall be effective from the date following the date of which the payment of provisional family pension ceased.

[Authority: RBE No.  /2000, No.F(E)III/99/PN 1/(Modification), 23.05.2000]

(c)   Arrears of family pension if any, in respect of the period for which provisional family pension was drawn and disbursed by the Head of Office shall also be authorized by the Accounts Officer.

(2-A)The Accounts Officer shall, while authorizing the family pension for the first  eligible member of the family, indicate the names of the permanently disabled child or children and dependent parents and disabled siblings as family pensioners in the Pension Payment Order, if there is no other member of family to whom family pension may become payable before such disabled child or children or dependent parents or disabled siblings.;

[Authority: RBE No.70/2016, No.2015/F(E)III/1(1)/4, 17.06.2016]

(3)  (a) The Accounts Officer shall determine the amount of the balance of the gratuity after adjusting the amount, if any, outstanding against the deceased railway servant.

(b)   The Average Officer shall determine the amount of the balance of the gratuity determined under clause (a) with the remarks that the amount of the balance of the gratuity may be drawn and disbursed by the Head of Office to the person or persons to whom the provisional gratuity has been paid.

(c)   The amount of gratuity adjusted under sub-clause (a) for non- vacation of Railway accommodation shall be adjusted by the Head of Office against the outstanding licence fee and the balance, if any, refunded to the person or persons to whom gratuity has been paid.

(4)   The fact of the issue of the pension payment order shall be promptly reported to the Head of Office by the Accounts Officer and the documents which are no longer required shall also be returned to him.

(5)   OMITTED ;

[Authority: RBE No.70/2016, No.2015/F(E)III/1(1)/4, 17.06.2016]

(6)   If the amount of provisional family pension as disbursed by the Head of Office is found to be in excess of the final family pension assessed by the Accounts Officer, it shall be open to the Accounts Officer to adjust the excess amount in installments by the short payments of family pension payable in future.

(7)   (a)   If the amount of gratuity disbursed by the Head of Office proves to be larger than the amount finally assessed by the Accounts Officer the beneficiary shall not be required to refund the excess.

(b)   The Head of Office shall ensure that chances of disbursing the amount of gratuity in excess of the amount actually admissible are minimized and the official or officials responsible for the excess payment shall be accountable for the over-payment.