§ Mr. GWYNNEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can see his way to issue a statement of account to pensioners of the uncovenanted services of India when payment is made, in view of the fact that under the present system pensioners are unable to tell how the instalments, which vary according to the rate of exchange of the rupee and deductions for Income Tax, are calculated?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe matter referred to has been under consideration, and I have approved arrangements which will, I hope, meet the difficulty at present experienced by pensioners. I hope to issue a statement in a few days.
§ Mr. GWYNNEasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India, in their Memorandum of November, 1919, retain the right to either refuse an officer of the uncovenanted services of India to retire until he reaches the age of 55, or to forcibly retire him, without giving reasons or compensation, after he has completed 25 years' service; and, if so, whether he will reconsider this arrangement?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Government of India have reserved the powers in question. They have stated that they will not exercise these powers except in the public interest. I append a copy of relevant parts of the Resolutions—
EXTRACT from Resolution by the Government of India, dated 15th November, 1919.
II. Ordinary Pensions.
(1) Subject to the absolute right of Government to decline to permit any officer to retire before reaching the age of superannuation should it be necessary in the public interest to retain his services, Imperial officers of the Forest, Geological Survey, Public Works, Railway and Telegraph Departments and any others who would be covered by Article 635 of the Civil Service Regulations will be allowed to retire optionally after 20 or more years' service, and in that event they will ordinarily be entitled to draw a pension not exceeding thirty-sixtieths of average emoluments subject to the following maxima.
RESOLUTION by Government of India, dated 9th August, 1920.
In Rule II (4) of the new pension rules published in Resolution No. 1085-E.A., dated the 15th November, 1919, it was laid 440W down that Government would have an absolute right to retire any officer after he had completed twenty-five years' service, without necessity to give reasons and without any claim for compensation in addition to pension. It appears that this rule has given rise to some misapprehension as to the intention of Government and the Government of India think it necessary to declare that the right reserved to Government under this rule will not be exercised except when it is in the public interest to dispense with the further services of an officer.