Postal Dept. clarification on Rs.10 lakh compensation on COVID 19 death on duty

No.100-4/2020-Pen(pt)
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
(Pension Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi – 110 001
17th November 2020

To

1.CPMG of all Postal Circles
2.Chief General Manager (BD&M). Dak Bhawan
3.Chief General Manager (PLI), Chanakya Puri, New Delhi
4.Secretary(PSB), Dak Bhawan
5.Director, Rail Ahmad kidwai National Postal Academy, Ghaziabad
6.All Directors/Dy. Directors of Accounts (Postal)
7.Principal Director of Audit (Postal), Delhi-54
8.Addl. Director-General, Army Postal Service Corps, APS Bhawan, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Delhi Cantt.-10
9.Chief Engineer (HQ), Dak Bhawan

Subject: Provision of Rs.10 lakh to GDS and Departmental employees of Department of Posts to cover death due to Covid-19 while discharging official duties – clarification regarding extension of guidelines dated 01.06.2018 – reg.

Madam/ Sir,

I am directed to refer to this Directorate’s letter of even number dated 17.04.2020 whereby original guidelines for payment of compensation of Rs.10 lakh were extended to Departmental employees and GDS to cover death due to Covid-19 while discharging official duties. We have been receiving representations seeking clarification on the applicability of para 6 of the said Guidelines which bar a claimant from claiming additional compensation’ from the Department.

2.The matter has been examined in detail and it is stated that guidelines dated 01.06.2018 were meant for individuals other than the government employees and GDS i.e. persons engaged on a contract or the private individuals whose death can be attributed to accidents related to works of the Department of Posts. However, in the exceptional circumstances, these guidelines were extended vide letter dated 17.04.2020 to the Departmental employees and GDS who succumb to Covid-19 in performance of their duties. Thus, para 6 of the Guidelines dated 01.06.2018 is not applicable in case of Departmental employees and GDS. Therefore, their wards/next of kin will continue to be eligible for all such benefits, as per the Rules, what would have been available to them otherwise.

Yours faithfully
( Tarun Mittal )
Asstt. Director General (Pension)
Tel.No.011-2304 4768

No.100-4/2020-Pen.
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
Pension Section

Dak Bhawan/Sansad Marg
New Delhi – 110 001
21st May 2020

To
1. Heads of all Postal Circles
2. Chief General Manager (BD)/Parcel/PLI Directorate
3. Director, Rafi Ahmad Kidwai National Postal Academy, Ghaziabad
4. Chief Engineer (HQ), Dak Bhawan

Subject: Provision to extend the benefit of payment of compensation of Rs.10 lakhs to all Departmental employees of Department of Posts and all categories of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) to cover death due to COVID-19 while discharging official duties – appointment of `Designated Officer’ – reg.

Madam/ Sir,

I am directed to refer to this Department’s letter of No.100-4/2020-Pen. dated 17.04.2020 extending the benefit of payment of compensation of Rs.10 lakhs to all Departmental employees of Department of Posts and all categories of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) to cover death due to COVID-19 while discharging official duties.

2. In terms Section 4(e) of the Guidelines, there is a provision for appointment designated Officer’ by the Competent Authority for receiving, processing and disposal of claims. The extension of the Guidelines for the purpose of COVID-19 cases were only for a specific purpose and for the time being only. Therefore, to keep a close watch on the total number of cases and expenditure involved, it has been decided that all such cases may be approved at the Directorate level.

3. To ensure expeditious and prompt settlement of claims, the Competent Authority has appointed Director(Welfare), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-01 as “Designated Officer”.

4. In view of above, all Circles are requested to submit all claims of compensation for death due to COVID-19 cases ensuring that the requisite certificate of cause of death issued by the District Administration and the Death Certificate issued by the concerned Municipal Authority is attached with each proposal. Each proposal should be forwarded to Director( Welfare) with the recommendation of Head of the of Circle.

Yours faithfully,

(Tarun Mittal)
Asstt. Director General (Pension)