Latest news with #NewPensionScheme
United News of India
3 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
HC directs Himachal govt to release pension dues of retired forest department worker
Shimla, Aug 8(UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered the State Government to release the pending pension and retirement dues of Narender Kumar, a retired Forest Department employee, by counting his work charge towards qualifying service under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The judgment, delivered by Justice Sandeep Sharma in the matter (CWP No. 193 of 2024), came on a petition filed by Narender Kumar against the State of Himachal Pradesh and others. According to the verdict passed on August 4, Kumar, who began as a daily wager in the Chamba Forest Division in January 1990, was granted work charge status with effect from January 1, 2000, and regularized as a peon on August 25, 2006. He retired on February 28, 2017. The petitioner argued that his work charge service should be included for pension eligibility, which would qualify him for OPS benefits. The State opposed, citing his post-2003 regularization, which placed him under the New Pension Scheme (NPS). The court, relying on earlier rulings including Prem Singh vs State of UP and Viyas Dev vs State of HP, held that work charge service must be counted towards pension. Justice Sharma rejected the state's plea for delay and laches, noting that the cause of action was recurring and that the petitioner had earlier secured a 2015 High Court order for grant of work charge status. Directing the government to calculate Kumar's qualifying service by including his work charge period, the court ordered release of pension and arrears under OPS within two months, subject to the deposit of NPS amounts already received. Failure to comply will attract 6 percent annual interest. UNI ML MI AAB
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
No plan to restore Old Pension Scheme: Govt
Bhopal: The state govt has no intention of reverting to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), deputy CM and finance minister Jagdish Dewda told the assembly on Tuesday. Replying to a question raised by Congress MLA Sena Patel during Question Hour, Dewda said state employees appointed after 2005 would continue to receive retirement benefits under the New Pension Scheme (NPS). There was no proposal under the consideration of the state govt to restore the OPS, he said. In her supplementary question, Patel asked that the pension under NPS was market-based and the govt should reconsider reverting to the OPS to ensure financial security of its employees after they retire from jobs. She further said several states, including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab, were going back to the OPS, but Dewda maintained that he had made it clear in his written reply that no proposal to restore OPS was under the consideration.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Nagaland govt employees join national strike, submit 5-point demands
Kohima, The Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association , in solidarity with All India State Government Employees Federation , observed a one-day national strike here on Wednesday. Nagaland govt employees join national strike, submit 5-point demands Addressing a press conference to voice concerns over employee welfare and pension reforms, CANSSEA general secretary Yhunsenlo Kent outlined a five-point charter of demands submitted to the Governor of Nagaland through the Chief Secretary. The protest in Nagaland is part of a nationwide agitation coordinated by AISGEF demanding a rollback of the New Pension Scheme and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme , along with 11 national-level demands. In the Nagaland context, government employees submitted five specific demands, Kent said. Demanding repeal of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act and the scrapping of the NPS, Kent said employees want the state to abolish the market-linked pension system and bring all employees under the defined-benefit OPS. Fund managers should return deposited amounts to the state government, and all subscribers should be covered under EPS-95, he added. Calling for the constitution of a State Pay Commission, Kent said it should be set up immediately to align with the 8th Central Pay Commission and ensure pay revisions every five years instead of 10. While lauding the implementation of the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme for enabling cashless treatment to regular, pensioned, and contractual employees, CANSSEA officials urged the government to upgrade the infrastructure of empanelled hospitals under the scheme to improve accessibility and quality of healthcare in Nagaland. They also demanded full implementation of eligibility norms for induction to higher cadres, including IAS, as per the March 10, 2025, Vacancy Circular, citing irregularities in senior-level appointments. President of the Nagaland NPS Forum, Avizo Nienu, highlighted disparities between OPS and NPS. "Under OPS, employees receive 50 per cent of their last drawn salary as pension without contributing. But NPS employees, despite contributing 10 per cent of their monthly salary, face an uncertain future with no guaranteed pension," he said. Citing data from the Treasury and Accounts Department, he revealed that over ₹200 crore remains unaccounted for in NPS accounts of state employees. "More than 1,000 NPS employee accounts still show nil balances," he stated. Employee bodies warned that failure to address their demands could lead to escalated agitation. "If the government continues to ignore our pleas, we will be forced to take further steps," said B Imtiwabang Jamir, member of the Core Committee, Nagaland NPS Forum. The protest aligns with similar movements across the country, as eight states have already reverted to OPS, he added. Nagaland implemented the NPS for government employees appointed on or after January 1, 2010. Since then, a growing section of the workforce has voiced concerns over the scheme's sustainability, lack of assured benefits, and inadequate family coverage. With approximately 35,000 NPS subscribers currently in Nagaland, employees have called for urgent reforms before more retirees are left vulnerable. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Trade and farmers' unions in Dakshina Kannada to join the nationwide general strike on July 9
Various trade unions and farmers' organisations in Dakshina Kannada will join the nationwide general strike called for by the Joint Committee of Trade Unions and Samyukta Kissan Morcha, pressing for their various demands, on July 9. A procession will be taken out from Dr. B R Ambedkar (Jyothi) Circle to Clock Tower, where a protest meeting will be held, said office bearers of the trade unions. The office-bearers told reporters here on Thursday that the Central Government has codified 29 labour legislations into four Codes, thereby denying workers their right to protest or hold strikes. Labour legislation would not be applicable to over 70% of the workforce in the country with this codification that also denies the right to form associations and hold protests. The Codes also permit enhancing the work hours from 8 to 12 per day and overtime from 50 hours to 125 hours per month. Instead of paying a ₹9,000 pension to workers, the Code left the ESI and Provident Fund payment choice to the employers. Various trade Unions, including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, SEWA, LPF, and others, have called for a general strike. Their key demands include the abrogation of the four labour codes, retaining work timings of eight hours per day, job regularisation to ensure job security, and the right to form associations, all of which were under threat following the labour laws that favour corporate bodies, they said. The unions have also demanded a minimum wage of ₹26,000 across the country and ₹36,000 in Karnataka in the unorganised sector, along with the abrogation of hired or contract labour. Expressing their solidarity with the farmers who have sought pension for senior citizens among them, the trade Unions demanded that agricultural workers be paid a ₹9,000 pension a month. The nationwide strike was also an effort to get the New Pension Scheme annulled and urge the government to revert to the Old Pension Scheme. They have urged the State government to withdraw the proposed amendment to the Factories Act that increases the daily working hours to 12. The office bearers also urged the government to withdraw amendments to various agriculture-related laws, including the APMC Act. Leaders Sunil Kumar Bajal (CITU), K Seetharama Berinja (AITUC), K. Phanindra (Bank Employees Union), Yadav Shetty (AIKS) and Oswald Prakash Fernandes (Raita Sangha) spoke
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Joint Committee of Trade Unions in Mysuru extends support to all-India general strike on July 9
The Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) in Mysuru has expressed their support for the all-India general strike called by various trade union organisations on July 9. Addressing media persons here on Thursday, office-bearers of the trade union organisations said that the government has adopted 'anti-worker' policies under the guise of 'ease of doing business'. The government was accused of diluting trade union laws and the protection to the working class by the introduction of four labour codes, which, the organisations said, was inimical to their collective interest. Hence, a general strike has been called by INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, SEWA,LPF, and other organisations in support of their demands. Their key demands include abrogation of the four labour codes, retaining work timings to 8 hours per day, job regularisation to ensure job security, right to constitute associations, etc., — all of which are under threat due to the labour laws leaning towards corporate bodies, they said. The trade unions have also sought a minimum wage of ₹26,000 in the unorganised sector across the country, along with abrogation of the practice of hired or contract labour. The trade unions also criticised the governments for outsourcing workers. Expressing their solidarity with the farmers who have sought pension for senior citizens among them, the trade unions said that agricultural workers should be given a monthly pension of ₹9,000. The nation-wide strike is also an effort to get the New Pension Scheme annulled, and urge the government to revert to the Old Pension Scheme. The State government was also urged to withdraw the proposed amendment to the Factories Act, as per which, the daily working hours will increase to 12. The office bearers of the trade union organisations also urged the government to withdraw amendments to various agriculture related laws, including the APMC Act, and termed those inimical to the interest of the farmers.
