RTI for Delayed Pension, Gratuity, GPF, NPS and Family Pension

Use this guide if (a) you retired but pension is not yet credited; (b) gratuity was not paid within three months; © GPF withdrawal is pending despite Form 31; (d) NPS exit is stuck after PRAN authorisation; (e) family pension after death of an employee or pensioner is delayed; (f) commutation amount has not been released. The legal framework changed materially with the CCS (Pension) Rules 2021 (replacing 1972 Rules) and continues with PFRDA exit regulations for NPS subscribers.

• CCS (Pension) Rules 2021: timelines for retiring office to send pension papers (Form 5, Form 6) to Pay and Accounts Office (PAO) and CPAO.
• CCS (Pension) Rules 2021, Rule 64: provisional pension if final settlement is delayed.
• CCS (Pension) Rules 2021, Rule 68: interest on delayed gratuity beyond three months.
• General Provident Fund (Central Services) Rules 1960, Rule 34: withdrawal procedure.
• PFRDA Act 2013 and PFRDA (Exits and Withdrawals) Regulations 2015 as amended.
• RTI Act 2005, Section 6 and Section 7(1): 30-day reply.
• DoP&PW office memoranda: regularly updated; the consolidated 2024 OM on grievance redressal is binding on all ministries.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly held in DS Nakara v Union of India (1983) and State of Punjab v Rafiq Masih (2014) that pension is property and cannot be denied or delayed without due process.

1. Identify your authorities. For central employees: the head of office where you retired, the Pay and Accounts Officer (PAO), the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) and your pension-disbursing bank. For state employees: equivalent state agencies plus the Treasury Officer. For NPS: your Nodal Office and the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA: Protean or KFin).
2. List the forms involved. Form 5 (particulars), Form 6 (HOD's pension calculation), Form 7 (gratuity), Form 8 (commutation), Form A (family pension), Form 14 (re-marriage / re-employment declaration), Last Pay Certificate, Service Book, No-Demand Certificate from estate office.
3. Send a reminder first. A short letter to the head of office gives them the chance to fix it without RTI. If no response in 15 days, file RTI.
4. Draft the RTI. Ask for the present location of your pension file, copy of each form, certified extract of the file movement register, sanction order, PPO number, and reason recorded for the delay.
5. Pay ₹10 fee (state-specific where applicable) and post by Speed Post AD to the PIO of the head of office. For NPS, also file a parallel RTI to the PFRDA PIO and the CRA's grievance cell.
6. Wait 30 days then escalate.

To,
The Public Information Officer,
Office of [Head of Office where applicant retired]
[Full address]

Subject: RTI under Section 6 regarding delay in finalisation of pension and gratuity of [Full name], [Designation], [Employee Code], retired on [DD/MM/YYYY]

Sir / Madam,

I, [Full name], a citizen of India, request the following information under the RTI Act 2005. Fee of Rs. 10 paid by IPO no. [number, date].

1. Date on which Form 5 was forwarded by my office to the PAO.
2. Date on which Form 6 (with pension calculation by HOD) was forwarded to PAO.
3. Date on which Form 7 (gratuity) was forwarded.
4. Date on which the Last Pay Certificate was issued.
5. PPO number issued by CPAO and the date of dispatch to my disbursing bank.
6. Special Seal Authority number, if applicable, and date of issue.
7. Certified copy of every noting on my pension file.
8. Present location of the file and name, designation, section of the present custodian.
9. Calculation sheet for gratuity, commutation amount and DCRG.
10. Reason recorded in writing for the delay beyond the timelines in CCS (Pension) Rules 2021.
11. Action taken on my representation dated [DD/MM/YYYY], if any.
12. Whether provisional pension under Rule 64 has been sanctioned, and if not, why not.

I invoke Section 10 (severability) and Section 6(3) (transfer to right office). I undertake to pay further fee under Section 7(3).

Yours faithfully,
[Signature, name, date]

For NPS subscribers, replace the items above with: PRAN number; date of submission of withdrawal request; date PAO authorised; date CRA processed; date funds were credited; reason for delay beyond the PFRDA Exit Regulations timeline.

• Filing the RTI with the bank. Banks are usually disbursing agents, not the holder of pension records. The right PIO is the head of office or the PAO.
• Mixing pension and EPFO. Government pension is governed by CCS Rules; EPFO covers private sector EPS-95. Use the right rule book in the application.
• Not asking for provisional pension. Rule 64 entitles you to provisional pension if final settlement is delayed. Ask for it explicitly.
• Missing gratuity interest. If gratuity is paid more than three months after retirement, you are entitled to interest under Rule 68. Ask for the interest calculation sheet.
• Confusing GPF with NPS. GPF applies to employees recruited before 1 January 2004 (with state variations). NPS applies to those recruited after that date. The forms and rules are different.

• No reply in 30 days → First Appeal under Section 19(1) within 30 days.
• CPGRAMS in parallel → File on pgportal.gov.in addressing the Pension Adalat cell.
• Pension Adalat → DoP&PW conducts Pension Adalats periodically. Submit your case with RTI replies attached.
• Writ in High Court → Article 226 for delay beyond reasonable period; pension is property and the Court has often ordered interest at 6 to 9 percent for delay.
• NPS subscribers → PFRDA grievance cell at CRAV or SIM, then Ombudsman appointed under PFRDA (Redressal of Subscriber Grievance) Regulations 2015.

The CCS (Pension) Rules 2021 expect Form 5 to be initiated eight months before retirement, and Form 6 with calculations to be sent six months before. The PPO should reach the disbursing bank at least one month before retirement so that pension starts the very next month.

PPO is the Pension Payment Order issued by CPAO (or state AG). Special Seal Authority is the corresponding authority sent to the bank. Without the SSA, the bank cannot credit pension even if PPO is in your hand.

Yes, subject to conditions in CCS (Pension) Rules 2021, unmarried, widowed, divorced daughters are eligible if dependent. Use the rule citation in your RTI to nudge the office.

Yes. Rule 68 of CCS (Pension) Rules 2021 entitles you to interest if gratuity is paid more than three months after retirement, at the rate notified by the Ministry of Finance.

Ask the controlling ministry. Records of disbanded offices are usually transferred to the parent department or the Department of Personnel.

Yes. PFRDA, CRA (Protean / KFin) and your Nodal Office are public authorities. CRA private bodies are tricky; address PFRDA as the PIO of last resort.

No. Most accountants and DDOs treat an RTI as a deadline. Filing it usually accelerates, not slows, the file.

• CCS (Pension) Rules 2021: doppw.gov.in
• Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare: doppw.gov.in
• Central Pension Accounting Office: cpao.nic.in
• PFRDA: pfrda.org.in
• CPGRAMS: pgportal.gov.in

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026.

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