Application of Defence Services Pension Regulation Act by SBI, Kolkata questioned in Rajyasabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

ANSWERED ON  22.07.2014

(a) whether any Pan India organisation of ex-servicemen has raised an instance of doctoring of Government Guidelines arbitrarily by official of State Bank of India (SBI), Kolkata Circle in Defence Service Pension Regulation Act, Pt.-II appendix XVIII Page-152;

(b) if so, the circumstances under which such act was done and what remedial action has been taken by the bank to mitigate the hardships faced by the ex-servicemen re-employed in the SBI in Kolkata Circle; and

(c) the action taken by the bank against the concerned officials?

(a) to (c): A reference dated 29.6.2013 was received by the State Bank of India (SBI) from National Ex-servicemen Co-ordination Committee, New Delhi regarding grievances of ex-servicemen in SBI, Kolkata including ‘Re-employing Certificate’ issued by SBI, Kolkata Circle. This certificate has, inter-alia, a bearing on payment of Dearness Relief on defence pension. Such a certificate is normally issued to the ex-servicemen re-employed in the Bank and who are fitted to the minimum of the scale of pay in which they are re-employed. In respect of some ex-servicemen re-employed in SBI whose pay was not fixed at the minimum of the scale of pay and enjoying pay protection, the certificates were issued at the instance of the ex-servicemen by some branches in Kolkata Circle by slightly modifying the clauses to state the actual position. SBI had informed the aforesaid ex-servicemen organization that the modification in certificate was referred to the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension) (PCDA) for confirmation. In the absence of confirmation from PCDA, issuance of such modified certificate has been discontinued by SBI, Kolkata Circle.

The ‘Certificate of Reemploying Authority’ issued by some branches of SBI, Kolkata Circle does not lead to doctoring of Government guidelines or material alteration of actual position and, therefore, no action has been initiated against the concerned officials by SBI.

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