Family members of missing govt employee eligible for pension

However, family members of those employees who disappear after committing frauds or crime, will not be entitled to pension.

Family members of a missing government employee or pensioner can get all benefits including pension, gratuity and leave encashment among others, the central government has said.

Family members of a government employee or pensioner kidnapped by insurgents and terrorists will also be eligible to all monetary benefits given by the government, according to a fresh set of instructions issued last week by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

However, family members of those employees who disappear after committing frauds or crime etc. will not be entitled to pension or any other benefits.

"In the case of a missing employee or pensioner or family pensioner, the family can apply for the grant of family pension, amount of salary due, leave encashment due and the amount of GPF and gratuity (whatever has not already been received) to the Head of Office of the organisation where the employee or pensioner had last served, six months after lodging of police report," it said.

According to the direction, the family must lodge a report with the concerned police station and obtain a report from the police, that the employee or pensioner or family pensioner has not been traced despite all efforts made by them.

"The report may be a First Information Report or any other report such as a Daily Diary or General Diary Entry," it said.

"An Indemnity Bond should be taken from the nominee or dependents of the employee, pensioner or family pensioner that all payments will be adjusted against the payments due to the employee, pensioner or family pensioner in case she or he appears on the scene and makes any claim," it said in the direction issued to all central government ministries.

The retirement gratuity will be paid to the family within three months of the date of application. In case of any delay, the interest shall be paid at the applicable rates and responsibility for delay shall be fixed.

The difference between the death gratuity and retirement gratuity shall be payable after the death of the employee is conclusively established or on the expiry of the period of seven years from the date of the police report, it said.

"The amount of salary due, leave encashment due and the amount of GPF will be paid to the family in the first instance as per the nominations made by the employee or pensioner on filing of a police report and submission of an indemnity bond," the directive said.