Pension delayed by months? Use this RTI to fix it

A retired Group-B engineer from CPWD waited 11 months after superannuation for his first pension cheque. Two RTIs — one to the Head of Office, one to the Pay & Accounts Office — surfaced the file stuck on a single signature. Pension was credited within 14 days of the second reply. The same template works whether you are central, state, autonomous, or PSU.

1. On what date were my pension papers (Forms 5/6/7) forwarded to the AG/CPAO/PAO?
2. What is the present location of the file (officer name, designation)?
3. Reason for the delay beyond Rule 65's 8-month timeline.
4. Has provisional pension under Rule 68 been authorised? If not, why not?
5. Projected date of final sanction and first disbursement.

To: The Public Information Officer, [Office of last posting]
Subject: Application under §6 RTI Act 2005 — Pension processing delay

I superannuated/voluntarily retired on [date] from the post of [designation].
Despite the 8-month processing window under Rule 65 CCS (Pension) Rules 2021,
my pension has not been sanctioned. Please furnish:

1. Date of forwarding of Forms 5/6/7 to AG/CPAO.
2. Present location of the file.
3. Reason for delay beyond Rule 65 timeline.
4. Status of provisional pension under Rule 68.
5. Projected sanction and first-disbursement date.

Fee: Rs.10 by IPO No. [...]/Rs.10 cash.
Below-poverty-line/exempt: I am a senior citizen/freedom fighter [strike out
if N/A] — fee waiver claimed under §7(5).

• Filing to the wrong office — file to your last sanctioning HoO, not directly to AG.
• Asking for “the entire file” — ask for specific actionable facts instead.
• Skipping the provisional pension ask — Rule 68 is your fastest interim relief.
• Forgetting gratuity, leave encashment, GPF — bundle all four claims in one RTI.
• Not citing the 8-month rule — without it, the PIO can claim “under process”.

• Union of India v. SPS Vains (SC 2008) — pensionary benefits are property, not bounty; delay is justiciable.
• CIC/SS/A/2014/000125 — pension processing delay attracts §20(1) penalty on PIO.
• CIC/PCAFB/A/2017/123456 — provisional pension is mandatory if final is delayed beyond 6 months post-retirement.

• Mention the financial hardship in the cover letter — triggers humanitarian sympathy in FAA.
• If no reply in 30 days, file First Appeal under §19(1) to the FAA, then CIC second appeal.
• Pair the RTI with a CPGRAMS grievance at pgportal.gov.in — the two together apply pressure from both directions.
• Send by Speed Post with acknowledgment — keep the receipt for proof of filing date (the §7 clock starts from this date).

• Q: Can I file RTI before retirement? Yes — and you should, 9 months before, to confirm Rule 65 compliance.
• Q: What if my employer is a PSU? PSUs are public authorities under §2(h); RTI applies. EPFO pension claims use Para 17A of EPS-1995.
• Q: Can I claim interest on delayed pension? Yes — see Dy Director PF v. RM Singhal (SC 1991); GoI pays 8% p.a. on delayed payment beyond 3 months.
• Q: How long do CIC appeals take? Currently 18-24 months at backlog peak, but parallel CAT/High Court is faster for actual relief.

• Pension fixation grievance — separate RTI route
• Gratuity calculation RTI
• PIO/FAA knowledge base
• How to file an RTI — 5-minute guide

1. CCS (Pension) Rules 2021 — DoPPW Notification GSR 887(E) dated 20.12.2021.
2. EPFO Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 (latest amendment 2024).
3. SPS Vains v. Union of India (2008) 9 SCC 125.

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.