Increment after retirement
Sanjeev Goyal
PMOPG/E/2024/0084736
17/05/2024
Department of Expenditure
Increment after retirement
As per a recent Supreme Court Judgement Government officers those retire one day prior to the day fixed for getting annual increment may also be granted increment for the purpose of fixing enhanced pension.
It is understood that a task force has been constituted to examine the implications of this order. In this regard, it is submitted that in the case of a Government servant, the pay is protected from inflation through periodic grant of DA. So increment is not for protecting the pay but the theory of granting annual increment is the improved efficiency with which an employee is expected to discharge his official duty by getting more & more experience on the post. So essentially increment is given in advance in expectation of better & efficient discharge of duty in the next one year.
A retired public servant would not execute any official job, so there is no prima-facia rationale for any increment after the date of retirement. Tomorrow someone may say that gratuity & leave encashment working should also be done after post retirement increment. In yet another case there could be a demand that notional promotion may also be given. The exchequer is already overburdened with the load of pension, that is why the Government in its wisdom has stopped it for new joinees. Had it been on a reasonable level it would have continued.
Any such increment after retirement would give a wrong message to society about compliance with the principle of propriety and the concept of value for money.
For consideration, please.