Under the Haryana Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2016, a government employee earns the right to pension only for the period of service that qualifies under Rules 24 to 30. This chapter defines what constitutes qualifying service, how it is verified, and the circumstances under which service may be forfeited or excluded. The purpose is to ensure pension benefits are granted only for genuine and continuous government service.
1️⃣ Rule 24 – Definition of Qualifying Service
- Qualifying Service means the service rendered under the Haryana Government which counts for pension or gratuity.
- It includes all periods of duty and leave (with or without pay) which are specifically declared to count for pension.
- The service of an employee commences from the date they take charge of a post under government.
- No service before attaining the age of 18 years shall count as qualifying service.
2️⃣ Rule 25 – Verification of Qualifying Service
- Each Head of Office must verify the service of every employee annually in April.
- Verification ensures that all service entries in the Service Book are supported by:
- Appointment or promotion orders,
- Leave sanction records, and
- Pay fixation orders.
- Before retirement, a final verification must be made one year prior to the employee’s superannuation.
Note: Pension cannot be sanctioned unless qualifying service has been duly verified and certified by the Head of Office.
3️⃣ Rule 26 – Commencement and Counting of Service
- Service begins to count from the date an employee takes charge of a post under Government after proper appointment.
- Service on probation counts if followed by confirmation without interruption.
- Temporary or officiating service also counts if followed by confirmation or continuous regular service.
- Periods spent on training (if followed by regular appointment) are treated as qualifying service.
Example: A clerk appointed temporarily on 10.03.1998 and confirmed on 01.04.2000 gets full qualifying service from 10.03.1998 onward.
4️⃣ Rule 27 – Conditions for Counting of Service
- The service must be under the Government of Haryana and remunerated by it.
- Service under local bodies, corporations or boards does not count unless absorbed under government and pension contributions are paid.
- Periods of suspension count as qualifying service only when:
- The employee is fully exonerated, and
- The period is treated as duty for all purposes.
- Service rendered before permanent absorption in another department or body ceases to count after absorption unless transferred pension liability is accepted.
5️⃣ Rule 28 – Service Which Does Not Qualify for Pension
- Service before attaining the age of 18 years.
- Service rendered in a post paid from contingencies or work-charged establishment (unless declared pensionable).
- Service rendered on daily wages, ad-hoc, or contract basis.
- Service forfeited due to:
- Dismissal or removal from service,
- Resignation (except for taking up another qualifying appointment), or
- Break in service not condoned by Government.
- Periods of unauthorised absence or overstay treated as “dies non”.
6️⃣ Rule 29 – Counting of Leave and Suspension Periods
- Leave with pay always counts as qualifying service.
- Extraordinary Leave (EOL) counts only if specifically allowed to do so for pension purposes.
- Suspension counts when treated as duty or when the employee is reinstated with full pay and benefits.
- If suspension is treated as “not duty”, that period does not count for pension.
7️⃣ Rule 30 – Verification Certificate & Record
- After verifying qualifying service, the Head of Office must record the following certificate in the employee’s service book:
“Service from __________ to __________ verified with reference to pay bills and records and is qualifying for pension.”
- Signature, designation, and date of the verifying officer are mandatory.
- Employees must be shown verified entries annually and sign in acknowledgment.
✅ Quick Reference Table – Qualifying Service Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Subject | Key Provision |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Definition | Service under Government that counts for pension; starts after attaining 18 years. |
| 25 | Verification | Annual & final verification by Head of Office. |
| 26 | Commencement | Counts from date of charge after appointment. |
| 27 | Conditions | Must be under Government pay; suspension counted if exonerated. |
| 28 | Non-Qualifying Service | Daily wage, ad-hoc, contract, or dismissed service excluded. |
| 29 | Leave & Suspension | Leave with pay counts; EOL counts only if approved. |
| 30 | Verification Certificate | Annual certificate recorded in Service Book. |
FAQs – Qualifying Service for Pension in Haryana
1. What is the minimum qualifying service for pension in Haryana?
Generally, 10 years of qualifying service is required to earn pension, and 20 years for voluntary retirement pension.
2. Does temporary or officiating service count for pension?
Yes, if it is followed by confirmation or continuous service under Haryana Government.
3. Is extraordinary leave (EOL) counted for pension?
Only if the competent authority declares it to count for pension purposes under Rule 29.
4. What happens if service verification is incomplete?
Pension cannot be finalized until the Head of Office certifies qualifying service in the employee’s service book.
5. Is contract or work-charged service pensionable?
No, unless the Government specifically issues an order declaring it as qualifying service.
6. Does suspension period count for pension?
Yes, only if the employee is exonerated and the period is treated as duty.
Conclusion
The concept of qualifying service under Rules 24–30 of the Haryana Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2016 is the foundation of all pension calculations. Every employee must ensure that their service book is updated, verified annually, and all leave and suspension periods are properly recorded to avoid issues at retirement. A properly verified qualifying service guarantees timely pension and gratuity benefits under Haryana’s official pension framework.
Source: Official Haryana Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2016 – Finance Department, Government of Haryana.