The Haryana Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2016 clearly prescribe strict time limits for sanction and payment of pension under Rule 68 (Chapter IX). These time limits ensure that every government employee receives his/her pension, gratuity, and other retirement benefits on the first working day after retirement. Delays caused by negligence are treated seriously and can lead to departmental action against responsible officers.
1️⃣ Purpose of Rule 68
Rule 68 ensures timely completion of all pension-related formalities — from service verification to issue of Pension Payment Order (PPO). It fixes responsibility and accountability on every level of authority, including:
- Head of Office
- Administrative Department
- Accountant General (A&E), Haryana
- Treasury/Bank for payment
The goal is to eliminate delays and ensure smooth transition from service to retirement benefits without financial hardship to employees.
2️⃣ Timeline for Pension Processing (As per Rule 68 & Related Rules)
| Stage | Action Required | Authority Responsible | Time Limit (Before Retirement) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preparation of list of employees retiring within next 12 months | Head of Office | 12 months |
| 2 | Verification of Service Book, Leave Account, and Nomination Forms | Head of Office | 12–10 months |
| 3 | Issue of Pension Application Form (Form 5) to retiring employee | Head of Office | 8 months |
| 4 | Submission of completed Form 5 by employee | Employee | 6 months |
| 5 | Preparation and verification of pension calculation (Form 7) | Head of Office | 5 months |
| 6 | Forwarding complete pension case to Accountant General (A&E) | Head of Office | 4 months |
| 7 | Verification and authorisation of pension and gratuity | Accountant General (A&E), Haryana | Within 2 months |
| 8 | Issue of Pension Payment Order (PPO) and Gratuity Authority | Accountant General | Before date of retirement |
| 9 | Payment of pension and gratuity to the employee | Treasury/Bank | On first working day after retirement |
3️⃣ Key Provisions of Rule 68 Explained
➡️ (a) Advance Preparation of Pension Cases
- Rule 68(1) directs that every department must maintain a list of employees who are due to retire within the next year.
- All verification and rectification of service records must be completed in advance.
- This ensures no discrepancies remain at the time of retirement.
➡️ (b) No Delay in Submission to Accountant General
- Complete pension papers (Form 5–8) must reach the Accountant General at least four months before retirement.
- This allows sufficient time for verification and PPO authorisation.
- If delay occurs, the Head of Office must record specific written reasons.
➡️ (c) Pension Payment on Time
- As per Rule 68(2), the pension and gratuity must be paid immediately on retirement.
- The government aims for “Zero Delay” — pension should be credited on the first working day after retirement.
➡️ (d) Provisional Pension in Case of Delay
- If for any reason, the pension cannot be finalised in time, provisional pension must be sanctioned under Rule 69.
- Provisional pension equals 100% of the likely admissible pension until finalisation.
- This prevents financial hardship to the retired employee.
4️⃣ Departmental Responsibility for Delay
Rule 68 places full accountability on officers responsible for preparing and forwarding pension cases.
- If delay is caused due to negligence, carelessness, or late action by any officer:
- The case is reported to the Administrative Department.
- Disciplinary action may be initiated under the Haryana Civil Services (Conduct) Rules.
- If the delay causes financial loss to the employee, the responsible officer may be made liable for interest or damages (Rule 68(3)).
Note: The Haryana Government considers delayed pension cases as administrative lapses subject to vigilance review.
5️⃣ Responsibilities of Authorities Under Rule 68
| Authority | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Head of Office | Verify service records, prepare pension papers, ensure timely forwarding to AG. |
| Administrative Department | Monitor all subordinate offices for compliance with deadlines. |
| Accountant General (A&E), Haryana | Verify service, calculate pension, and authorise PPO & gratuity. |
| Treasury Officer/Bank | Make prompt pension & gratuity payments on PPO receipt. |
6️⃣ Monitoring and Compliance
- Departments must maintain a “Pension Progress Register” for all upcoming retirements.
- Quarterly reports must be submitted to the Finance Department showing compliance with Rule 68 deadlines.
- The Accountant General periodically reports delayed cases to the State Government.
7️⃣ Example – Standard Timeline for a 2025 Retiree
Suppose an employee is retiring on 31 December 2025. According to Rule 68, the time schedule will be:
| Step | Task | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Include in retirement list | January 2025 |
| 2 | Verify service book, leave, pay entries | February–March 2025 |
| 3 | Issue pension forms to employee | April 2025 |
| 4 | Employee submits completed forms | June 2025 |
| 5 | Department forwards to A.G. | August 2025 |
| 6 | PPO authorised and issued | November 2025 |
| 7 | Pension credited | 1 January 2026 |
8️⃣ Rule 68(3) – Responsibility and Disciplinary Action
If pension papers are not submitted in time or if payment is delayed due to negligence, Rule 68(3) allows for:
- Warning or adverse entry in the officer’s service record.
- Disciplinary action under Haryana Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules.
- Recovery of interest paid to the employee (if ordered by Government).
✅ Summary – Rule 68 Time Limits for Pension Sanction
| Process | Responsible Authority | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Service Verification | Head of Office | 12 months before retirement |
| Pension Forms Issued | Head of Office | 8 months before retirement |
| Forms Submitted by Employee | Employee | 6 months before retirement |
| Pension Case to AG | Head of Office | 4 months before retirement |
| PPO Authorisation | Accountant General | 2 months before retirement |
| Final Payment | Treasury/Bank | 1st day after retirement |
FAQs – Pension Sanction Time Limits (Rule 68)
1. What is the time limit for pension sanction in Haryana?
All pension formalities must be completed so that payment starts from the first working day after retirement (Rule 68).
2. Who is responsible for delay in pension?
The Head of Office and other responsible officers in the department are held accountable under Rule 68(3).
3. What if pension is not finalised before retirement?
The department must sanction Provisional Pension under Rule 69 to avoid hardship.
4. Can the employee claim interest for delayed pension?
Yes. In exceptional cases, the Government may grant interest or compensation for administrative delay, and recover it from responsible officials.
5. Does the Accountant General have a fixed time limit?
Yes. The A.G. (A&E), Haryana must authorise the PPO within two months of receiving the complete case.
Conclusion
Rule 68 of the Haryana Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2016 ensures that pension, gratuity, and retirement benefits are processed and paid without delay. Departments must adhere to strict timelines, and officers are held personally accountable for delays. Every government employee should ensure that service records, nominations, and forms are complete at least one year before retirement to guarantee timely pension payment on the very first day of retirement.
Source: Official Haryana Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2016 – Finance Department, Government of Haryana.