Guidelines for conducting Pension Adalats
1. Objective
The intention of conducting Pension Adalats is to look into the
grievances of Pensioners so as to redress the same by taking on-the-spot
decisions there by reducing the delays, if any, in the settlement of
their legitimate dues. This kind of interaction with the Pensioners
would instill in them a sense of being cared for and attended to, thus,
dispelling their feelings of isolation and neglect. It will also give an
idea of the kind of problems/difficulties that are being faced by the
pensioners and help in identifying the areas of concern in policy that
require our urgent attention for amendment, etc.
2. Frequency, Date and Time
2.1 Pensioners’ Adalats may he held twice around January and July every
year. Venue and date will he fixed by the concerned organization in
consultation with the stakeholders and notified through advertisements
inleading newspapers/other media. For this purpose, the following time
frame may be adopted:
(a) Issue of notice by respective
organisations through print and visual media and other means about
holding of Pension Adalats indicating date, venue, time of Adalat and
the name of Officer to whom the grievances have to be submitted.At least
4 months in advance of the proposed date of Adalat.
(b) Last date
for submission of grievances by Pensioners, which should be indicated
in the Notification mentioned above.Within 90 days from the date of
issue of notice.
2.2 About 4 to 6 weeks time is considered
adequate to investigate most of the complaints/representations though
some cases may take a little longer. However, keeping in view the fact
that the aim of the Adalat is to promote credibility and generate
confidence amongst the pensioners, the last date for receiving the
complaints/representations to be heard in the Adalat may be suitably
fixed and announced at the time of giving the publicity. Only one
officer will be nominated to receive the complaints/representations. The
officer to whom the complaints/representations should be sent will also
he indicated in the advertisement.
3. Publicity for the Adalat
3.1 Wide and adequate publicity through print and visual media and
other means like posters at prominent places, may be given in advance to
enable the pensioners to send their cases in time for consideration in
such Adalats. Doordarshan and A.I.R. can also be requested to
telecast/broadcast the same through appropriate programmes. This is
considered necessary, as reference to various records is very often
essential before a grievance can be considered/redressed.
3.2 The
most important aspect of the publicity campaign is to reach out to the
individual pensioners. For this purpose a set of hand outs, posters and
press releases may be prepared and sent to the following agencies three
months in advance. Bank branches, Post Offices and Treasury Offices for
display at their respective premises. Respective organizations at
regional level for display at their premises and other crucial points.
Pensioner’s
Associations & Leagues of pensioners at the station of the Adalat
and its adjoining states for dissemination of information to the
pensioners. Special efforts for publicity in the interior villages may
be made by the respective organizations located at the station of the
Adalat, which are also expected to liaise with the local print and
electronic media. For publicity of the Adalat for the information of
Pensioners, press releases be issued in various print and electronic
media in local/regional languages.
The above exercise may be repeated through several rounds of press releases to above mentioned agencies.
4. Admissibility of cases in Pension Adalats
4.1 Cases involving purely legal points e.g. succession, etc., cannot
he taken up in the Adalat. This aspect need to be adequately publicized.
4.2 Grievances involving policy matters need not he taken up in such Adalats.
4.3 In the cases of grievances not being tenable, the Pensioners may be suitably advised in writing.
4.4
Normally, no case should be held up for the sake of
consideration/decision in the Adalat unless the delay is absolutely
inescapable.
5. Advance action
5.1 The representalions/grievances of Pensioners may be acknowledged indicating the date, venue and time of Pension Adalat.
5.2
The concerned Officers will examine the grievances/representations
admitted and submit necessary reports at least two weeks before the
Adalalt meets, to the members of the Adalat. The
grievances/representations may be examined in detail and prompt action
to finalize the cases be taken. Wherever necessary, liaison may be done
with other concerned agencies for prompt settlements of the grievances.
The cases which do not fall within the scope of the Adalat, will he
required to be communicated to complainants indicating the result of
enquiry/investigation, ete. and the decision taken thereon.
6. Representation in Pension Adalats
6.1 All Officers dealing with pension viz. Senior Officers of
Personnel/Administrative Branch and Accounts Department and Managers of
the pension-disbursing Banks from Zonal or Divisional Headquarters
should be present with all the relevant records so that decisions are
not postponed for the sake of referring to the records.
6.2 The
Officers present in the Pension Adalats should be able to take decisions
on the spot to redress the grievances. In this connection it is
pertinent to note that such meetings are not to take up policy matters
but they should deal with specific grievances of the individual
pensioner, when represented by him personally or by a family member of
the Pensioner.
6.3 The authorized representatives of the Standing
Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) and the recognized Trade
Unions/Pensioner Associations may also be invited to attend the Pension
Adalats. But they should not be permitted to present the grievances of
the Pensioners.
6.4 However, in the case of illiterate Pensioners,
widows, minors etc. it may not be possible for them to effectively
prepare and present cases before the Adalat. In such cases, if the
pensioner/family pensioner seeks the assistance of the representatives
of the SCOVA / Pensioners Associations attending the Adalat, the
SCOVA/Pensioners Associations representatives may be permitted to
present the grievances of such pensioners/family pensioners. It may so
happen that the Office bearers of the SCOVA/Trade Union/Pensioners
Associations may not be available when Pension Adalats are held on
different dates, at different places. In such cases even the
representatives of SCOVA / Trade Unions/Pensioners Association, as
authorized by the SCOVA/Trade Unions/Pensioners Associations and whose
credentials are sent in advance to the concerned Organization, may be
allowed to attend the Pension Adalats and to present the cases, if
necessary.
6.5 It needs to be ensured that all the cases which are
tenable are settled at the time of Pension Adalat itself. But in cases
where it is not possible to settle the same on the spot, it should be
settled and finalized within a period of approx. three months from the
date of holding the Pension Adalat.
7. Composition and conduct of Pension Adalat
7.1 The Adalat will comprise of concerned stake holders al the Regional
level, which may have minimum five members chaired by the Head of the
concerned Organization/Bank. The Head of the Pension Adalat would be
assisted by the concerned officer of the Region concerned. The other
three members will be one each from the Operational Wing and Finance
Wings and the Bank/Post office (pension disbursing authority), it may
also have a representative of DoP&PW. However, modifIcation in the
composition of the members can be made if the Head of the respective
Organization/ Pension Adalat feels so in the circumstances.
7.2
The business of the Adalat is conducted through benches which comprise
of experts in pension matters from various authorities. The Pension
Adalat would be more beneficial if the representatives of DoP&W and
all the concerned stakeholders are included in it.
7.3 The Pension
Adalats should be conducted at the level of very senior Officers
including Officers of Personnel. Accounts, Finance and other Departments
concerned. The representatives of Banks/other Pension Disbursing
Authorities should also be co-opted in the Pension Adalats. The officers
comprising the Adalat should be those who have been authorized to take
decisions on the various aspects of pension.
8. Jurisdiction and Venue
The Adalats are generally held at places where there is large
concentration of Pensioners who draw their pensions from Public Sector
Banks, Post offices and Treasuries. There will be one Adalat at least at
regional level, which will cover a wide range of
organizations/stakeholders. The Adalats may be held at the Headquarters
Station of the Regional Officc of the respective organization.
9. Evaluation & Monitoring
9.1 A Summary of outstanding cases may be compiled at the end of the
Adalat and the unsettled cases referred to the concerned agencies for
appropriate action in a time bound manner. A periodical review of
outstanding cases is conducted and follow up action is taken with the
internal and external agencies.
9.2 A review of the performance of
the Adalat may be completed within 3 months of the ADALAT DAY. The
items for evaluation could be
(a) Total no. of grievances/cases.
(b) number of cases decided on-the-spot.
(b) disposal of cases where decision could not be given on-the- spot and another date has been given.
(c) Users satisfaction generated through the Adalat.9.3 An evaluation
report after the first Adalat meeting may be prepared by the Head of the
Pension Adalat assisted by the concerned officer at regional level
clearly indicating further steps. it any, required for improvement, and
the same submitted within a month from the date of Adalat to senior
officers of the respective organization.
9.4 Efforts should always
be made to make payment of settlement dues immediately on retirement as
per normal practice. No case should be held up for decision in Pension
Adalats unless the delay is absolutely inescapable.
9.5 As the
conduct of Pension Adalat is being monitored at the highest level of the
respective organization including stakeholders, the guidelines should
be followed scrupulously to ensure that the grievances of Pensioners /
Family Pensioners are settled promptly without giving any room for
complaint whatsoever.
Source :
www.pensionersportal.gov.in
