Retired Government Servants Worked in Intelligence Organisation be Careful ! – New 2023 Rules Threaten Pensions Over Government Criticism !

A query was brought up in the Rajya Sabha by Shri Saket Gokhale concerning the amendments that limit Retired Government Servants from expressing opinions or criticisms that may result in the cancellation of their pensions.

Pensions of Retired Government Servants who criticize the government will be cancelled

On 6th July 2023, a notification was issued amending the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958. This amendment imposes restrictions on retired public, government, and civil servants from making comments that criticize the government, with potential consequences including the revocation of their pensions.

The amendment specifically targets Retired Government Servants who have served in any intelligence or security-related organization. It aims to regulate the publication of any material or sensitive information post-retirement that could prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests of the State, or relations with a foreign State.

The intention behind this amendment is to prevent the dissemination of sensitive information that could compromise national interests, thereby ensuring the protection of India’s security and diplomatic relations.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 434
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2024)

AMENDMENTS TO ALL INDIA SERVICES (DEATH-CUM RETIREMENT BENEFITS) RULES, 1958

434 SHRI SAKET GOKHALE:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) the grounds based on which the Ministry amended the All India Services (Death cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, vide a notification dated 6th July, 2023 that imposes restrictions on retired public/ government/civil servants from making comments criticizing Government which could lead to revocation of their pensions; and

(b) the number of retired government officials/civil servants who have been penalized or action has been taken against them by Government since June, 2021 till date, for indulging in hate speech on social media and/or for making communal statements or sharing communal content on social media, and/or for sharing fake news?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a): The amendment dated 06th July, 2023 was in respect of the members of All India Services, who have worked in any Intelligence or Security-related organisation in order to regulate the publication of any material/sensitive information after retirement which might prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State or relation with a foreign State. A similar provision is also available in Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 for those Central Government officers who have worked in any Intelligence or Security-related organisation.

(b): In so far as the All India Services officers are concerned, information sought may be treated as NIL.

View the Rajya Sabha Q & A pdf