Higher pension for PSC members; Order in favor of former PSC chairman, members

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has issued an order granting higher pension to PSC chairman and members, who were government employees. The explanation is that the decision was following high court order. The state public administration department issued the order on Friday. The order says that the period of service as a PSC member can be considered along with government service for pension benefits. The decision was taken at the cabinet meet convened here today.

The order increasing the salary of PSC chairman to Rs 3.87 lakh and that of the members to Rs 3.80 lakh was issued earlier. Accordingly, the PSC chairman will get a pension of Rs 2.50 lakh and the members Rs 2.25 lakh. However, according to the new order, the pension amount will increase further.

The government order came after P Jameela, Dr Greeshma Mathew and Dr K Usha, who were PSC members, approached the high court over their pension. All three of them had taken charge as PSC members from government service. They were receiving pension from government service. However, when PSC raised salaries, they demanded a higher pension, stating that they were also entitled to a higher pension. The government rejected this demand citing the previous rule. Subsequently, the three approached the high court.

After they pointed in the court that those previously in government service were getting a higher pension, the court directed the government to take an appropriate decision. Based on this, the matter came to the consideration of the cabinet meeting. After the finance department pointed that filing an appeal would not be of any use, the cabinet decided to give higher pension.