The Centre's amendment to pension rules for civil servants, prohibiting retired officials of intelligence security organisations from publishing anything pertaining to their workplace, including information relating to their experience and expertise, without clearance from the head, has rattled the security community with many calling it a virtual gag order and “retrogressive.”
Notifying the Central Civil Services (Pension) Amendment Rules, 2020,, the Department of Personnel and Training introduced this condition as a substitute clause in rules on pension subject to future good conduct.
This amendment to Rule 8 means that pension can be withheld or withdrawn if the pensioner disobeys the rules – the retired official will have to sign an undertaking to this effect.
This is likely to impact retired officials of security and intelligence organisations who write in the press or author books on their former organisations and experiences. Amending the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules,1972, the DoPT brought in a clause putting these curbs on officers working in organisations exempt under the Right to Information Act.
These include Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, DRDO and all Central Armed Police Forces such as the CRPF and BSF among others.
Former Indian Army Chief VP Malik, who led the force during the Kargil war, felt that this would be an eventual loss to the nation.
“The…
