The Supreme Court has dismissed Punjab government's petition against payment of double pension to all pensioners crossing the age of 75 years after restoration of commuted portion of pension along with all increases announced by the government for pensioners from time to time.
The Punjab government had taken the plea that under Rule 8.1 read with Rule 8.12 of the Punjab Civil Services Rules, the retired employees were not entitled to double pension after reaching the age of 75 years as only "the commuted portion of pension to the extent of 1/4th of full pension shall be restored to the pensioners on completion of the number of years for which commuted value is paid."
In its order, the three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Hussain Jilani said "for reasons to be recorded later in the detailed judgement, we are persuaded to hold that the interpretation being accorded to Rule 8.1 read with 8.12 of the Punjab Civil Services Pension Rules vide office memorandum issued by the Punjab government dated 22.10.2001 is not only violative of these Rules but also of Article 25 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. These appeals and petitions are therefore dismissed with no orders as to costs." The Punjab Government had been advising its retired employees who had crossed the age of 75 years for past one year to wait for the Supreme Court's orders on appeals against orders of the Lahore High Court and the Ombudsman Punjab.