Recovery of excess pension made to pensioners: Big decision! Important notification by RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued an important notification. The notification is titled - "Withdrawal of circulars - on Recovery of excess pension made to pensioners." In the notification, RBI says, "It has been brought to the notice of RBI that the recovery of excess /wrong pension payments from the pensioners are being made in a manner that is not in keeping with the extant guidelines / Court orders."

Further, RBI's notification says, "This issue has been examined by RBI and it has been decided that the following circulars issued by Department of Government and Bank Accounts, Reserve Bank of India related to the recovery of excess pension paid by agency banks stands withdrawn with effect from the date of this circular -

Circular no DGBA.GAD.No.2960/45.01.001/2015-16 dated March 17, 2016
Circular no CO.DGBA (NBS) No.44/GA.64 (11-CVL) 90/91 dated April 18, 1991
Circular no CO DGBA (NBS) No.50/GA.64 (11-CVL) 90/91 dated May 6, 1991."

Moreover, RBI adds, "It may please be noted that though the above-mentioned circulars issued under the signature of RBI stand withdrawn, agency banks are requested to seek guidance from respective Pension Sanctioning Authorities regarding the process to be followed for recovery of excess pension paid to the pensioners, if any."

"As regards the issue of refund to be made to the government of excess/wrong pension payments, banks may be guided by the guidelines laid down in our Circulars Nos.DGBA.GAD.H10450/45.03.001/2008-09 dated June 1, 2009 and DGBA.GAD.H.4054/45.03.001/2014-15 dated March 13, 2015. Agency banks are again advised that, where excess pension payment has arisen on account of mistakes committed by the bank, the amount paid in excess should be refunded to the Government in lumpsum immediately after detection of the same and without waiting for recovery of any amount from the pensioners," RBI concluded in its notification.