Female govt workers can now choose child over spouse for pension

In a progressive move, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions announced on Tuesday that female government servants or pensioners will now have the authority to nominate their children for family pension in precedence over their husbands, particularly in cases of marital discord.

The current protocol grants family pension primarily to the spouse following the death of a government servant. Only after the spouse becomes ineligible or passes away does eligibility extend to the children and other family members.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare within the ministry has noted a significant number of inquiries from various Ministries/Departments regarding the possibility of allowing a female government servant to nominate her eligible child or children for family pension instead of her spouse in instances of marital discord.

Under the new guidelines, a female government employee has the eligibility to nominate her children for family pension before her spouse if there is an ongoing divorce case in any court. This provision is particularly applicable if the female has filed a case against her husband under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, or under the Indian Penal Code.