Retired from government service, not from service to nation: Dr Jitendra

In a significant move aimed at reducing pension-related legal disputes and ensuring swifter justice for India's growing population of retired government employees, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Wednesday, while chairing the first-ever "National Workshop on Pension Litigation" organised by the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare at Vigyan Bhawan here, said that in no case should the vital energies of our elder citizens be allowed to be consumed inconsequentially for avoidable reasons because they may be "retired from government service but not retired from service to the nation".

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Addressing a packed hall of senior officials, legal experts and pension administrators, Dr. Jitendra underlined the Centre's firm commitment to pensioners’ welfare, while also drawing attention to the mounting pressure on government finances due to litigation.

He noted that with over 60 lakh pensioners today - a figure that now exceeds the number of serving Central Government employees the challenges of pension administration have entered a new phase that requires urgent institutional coordination and systemic reforms.

"Pension-related litigation often arises from misinterpretation of rules, and unresolved grievances can lead to unnecessary hardship for senior citizens," Dr. Jitendra said.

Currently, over 300 pension-related cases are pending in various forums, with nearly 70% before Central Administrative Tribunals (CAT). The Minister acknowledged that the Government is impleaded in nearly all of these cases, indicating the systemic nature of the problem.