7th Pay Commission Voluntary Retirement Scheme

Voluntary Retirement Scheme in Central Government Employees and Officers: A Central Government employee has the right for applying to retire from his service after attaining the age of 50 years, 55 years, and on completion of 30 years of qualified service and 20 years of qualified service.

A Central Government employee could apply for voluntary retirement after completion of 30 years of service. He may be allowed to retire from his service under Rule No. 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972. A Central Government employee could apply for Voluntary retirement after completion of 20 years of service. He may be allowed to retire from his service under Rule No. 48-A of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972. A Central Government officer could apply for Voluntary retirement on attaining 50 years (for Group A and B), and 55 years (for other employees). He may be allowed to retire from his service under Rule No. FR 56 (k).

Retirement on completion of thirty years’ qualifying service: At any time after a Government servant has completed a qualifying service of thirty years, he may be required by the appointing authority to retire in the public interest, and in the case of such retirement, the Government servant shall be entitled to a retiring pension calculated in accordance with rule 44. Retirement on completion of twenty years’ qualifying service: At any time after a Government servant has completed twenty years’ qualifying service, he may, by giving notice of not less than three months in writing to the appointing authority, retire from service and in the case of such retirement the Government servant shall be entitled to a retiring pension calculated in accordance with rule 44.

DoPT issued an important order on 19th May 2015 regarding the above subject.

The DoPT issued an order [No. 25013/3/2010-Estt(A) – 27.02.2014] on the above subject.

Extraordinary leave is not termed as leave standing to his credit and therefore, it cannot run concurrently with the period of notice given by him for seeking voluntary retirement. The Department of Personnel and Training issued an order [No. 25013/3/2003-Estt(A) – 17.06.2003] on the above subject.

Expenditure Reforms Commission (ERC) suggested a liberal voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for the employees declared surplus. The Department of Personnel and Training issued an order [No. 25013/3/2003-Estt(A) – 28.02.2002] on the above subject.

Department of Personnel and Training issued an order above the subject on 28th July 1979.

The Administrative Reforms Commission recommended, 59(1), that A civil servant may be allowed to retire voluntarily if he has completed 15 years of service and is given a proportionate pension and gratuity. The above recommendation of the ARC on was considered by Government and it has been decided that Government servants may be allowed to retire voluntarily after 20 years of qualifying service and proportionate pension and gratuity with a weightage of up to 5 years towards qualifying service where applicable. The scheme is purely voluntary the initiative sting the Government servant himself. The Government does not have the reciprocal right to retire Government servants on its own, under the scheme. Department of Personnel and Training issued an order above the subject on 26.8. 1977.

There is no specific recommendations on this subject.

Recommendation on Voluntary retirement in 6th Pay Commission

Presently, all employees on completion of 30 years of qualifying service can take voluntary retirement by giving 3 months’ notice. Group A & B Officers who had entered service before the age of 35 years have the right to retire after attaining the age of 50 years by giving a similar notice.

Group A & B Officers who had entered the service after 35 years of age and all Group C & D employees can also take voluntary retirement at their option. Retirement becomes effective on the expiry of the notice period.

No formal approval is necessary unless the official is under suspension. An employee can also retire voluntarily by giving 3 months’ notice on completion of 20 years of qualifying service. However, in this case, acceptance by the Appointing Authority is necessary.

Pension on voluntary retirement is payable only if 20 years of qualifying service or more has been put in. In the case of superannuation, a pension is payable on completion of 10 years of qualifying service or more.

However full pension, whether on superannuation or voluntary retirement, is presently payable only on completion of a qualifying service of 33 years. Weightage of up to 5 years for purposes of reckoning qualifying service for pension/gratuity is allowed in case of voluntary retirement provided the total qualifying service including the weightage does not exceed 33 years and the period does not go beyond the date of normal superannuation.

Pension on voluntary retirement is payable only if 20 years of qualifying service or more has been put in. In the case of superannuation, a pension is payable on completion of 10 years of qualifying service or more.

However full pension, whether on superannuation or voluntary retirement, is presently payable only on completion of a qualifying service of 33 years.

Weightage of up to 5 years for purposes of reckoning qualifying service for pension/gratuity is allowed in case of voluntary retirement provided the total qualifying service including the weightage does not exceed 33 years and the period does not go beyond the date of normal superannuation.

Voluntary Retirement is optional to retire from Government Services, but if need a monthly pension, should fulfill the eligibility criteria under CCS Rules

(Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for Central and State Government Employees)

Quitting a Job with Central Government Services is not an easy procedure. Resigning from Central Government Services is a lengthy process, have to know and follow the orders under CCS Pension Rules. Voluntary retirement is generally divided into three segments, forced to retire, retirement in the public interest, and retirement on medical grounds. There are no extra benefits for voluntary retirement for Central Government employees. If you are completed 20 years of service, then you are eligible for a full pension, gratuity according to the service completed, leave salary, and Commutation amount.

• CCS Pension Rule 48 Retirement on completion of 30 years of qualifying service
• CCS Pension Rules 48-A Retirement on completion of 20 years of qualifying service
• CCS Pension Rules 48-B Addition to qualifying service on voluntary retirement
• Fundamental Rule 56 (k)

Recently BSNL announced Voluntary Retirement Scheme for its employees and issued a Notification on 4th November 2019.

Are You Central Government Employee? Know about Voluntary Retirement and Resignation from Central Government Services:

Government servants may retire from service voluntarily with pensionary benefits before attaining the age of superannuation under the following provisions of Fundamental Rules and CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

Grade – Group A & B Officers Service – Entered service before 35 years of age Age – Attained 50 years of age Other cases: Attained 50 years of age Minimum Service – None Notice Period – 3 Months Acceptance – Automatic, if non-acceptance is not conveyed before expiry of the notice period Grounds for Non-Acceptance – Suspension

Grade – Group C & D Officers Service – Entered service before 35 years of age Age – Attained 50 years of age Other cases: Attained 55 years of age Minimum Service – None Notice Period – 3 Months Acceptance – Automatic, if non-acceptance is not conveyed before the expiry of the notice period Grounds for Non-Acceptance – Suspension

Grade – Group C Officer not governed by any pension rules Minimum Service – 30 Years Notice Period – 3 Months Acceptance – Not Required Grounds for Non-Acceptance – None

Grade – All Government Servants Covered by CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 Minimum Service – 30 Years Notice Period – 3 Months Acceptance – Automatic, if non-acceptance is not conveyed before the expiry of the notice period Grounds for Non-Acceptance – Suspension

Grade – All Government Servants Covered by CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 Minimum Service – 20 Years Notice Period – 3 Months Acceptance – Acceptance is required but acceptance is presumed if nonacceptance is not conveyed before the expiry of the notice period Grounds for Non-Acceptance – Any Ground

It may be seen that a notice of voluntary retirement under FR 56(k) or Rule 48 (1)(a) of Pension Rules does not require acceptance. It is only in the case of a government servant under suspension that the appropriate authority may withhold permission to retire under these rules. This is unlike the notice under Rule 48(A) of Pension rules which requires acceptance by the appointing authority. In the case of a notice under FR 56 (m) even the right to refuse if the government servant is under suspension is not available to the Government.

1. 7th Pay Commission Leave Rules
2. 7th Pay Commission MACP Scheme
3. 8th Pay Commission Voluntary Retirement Scheme