New Delhi: Pensioners who retired before the Central Pay Commission's recommendations will no longer be eligible for the revised benefits. Only those retiring after the Pay Commission’s report will receive the revised benefits. The government will now have the authority to determine when to implement the recommendations.

Amendments introduced by the government to the Financial Bill for revising the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules were passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, despite opposition protests. The opposition staged a walkout, objecting to the move to amend the rules without incorporating it into the Financial Bill. Once the Rajya Sabha also passes the Bill, the changes in the pension rules will come into effect.

The principles and methods of pension revision based on the Pay Commission’s recommendations will take effect from the date determined by the government. The government will also have the authority to classify and decide eligibility for pensioners.

Raising a point of order in the Lok Sabha, Kerala MP N K Premachandran criticised the move, stating that it was unacceptable to deprive millions of pensioners of their rightful benefits through backdoor legislation. Kerala MP K C Venugopal also demanded that the government clarify its underlying intent in amending pension rules to differentiate between pensioners.

The Central Government maintains that the retrospective applicability of Pay Commission benefits for pensioners has always been a subject of debate. The government also pointed out that the Supreme Court has taken differing positions on the matter, necessitating further clarification.