THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S PENSION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2002

a

BILL

further to amend the Vice-President’s Pension Act, 1997.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-third Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1.  Short title and commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the Vice-President’s Pension (Amendment)  Act, 2002.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2.  Amendment of section 2.-In section 2 of the Vice-President’s Pension Act, 1997 (30 of 1997) (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-

“(1A) The spouse of a person who dies-

(a) while holding the office of Vice-President, or

(b) after ceasing to hold office as Vice-President either by the expiration of his term of office or by resignation of his office,

shall be paid a family pension at the rate of fifty per cent. of pension as is admissible to a retiring Vice-President, for the remainder of her life.”.

3. Insertion of new section 3A.-After section 3 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely:-

“3A. Free accommodation to spouse of Vice-President.-Subject to any rules that may be made in this behalf, the spouse of a person who dies-

(a) while holding the office of Vice-President, or

(b) after ceasing to hold office as Vice-President either by the expiration of his term of office or by resignation of his office,

shall be entitled to the use of unfurnished residence without payment of licence fee, for the remainder of her life.”.

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT  OF  OBJECTS  AND  REASONS

The Vice-President’s Pension Act, 1997, inter alia, provides for pension to retiring Vice-Presidents.  Section 3 of the Act provides for medical attendance and treatment, free of charge, to the spouse of a retired Vice-President for the remainder of her life.  At present, the spouse is not entitled to any other pensionary benefits.  It would be just and proper that a provision be made for suitable pension and accommodation for the surviving spouse of an ex-Vice-President who dies while holding office or after retirement.

3. The Bill seeks to achieve the aforesaid objects.

 

L.K. ADVANI.

New Delhi;

The  4^th March,  2002.

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

 

Clause 2 of the Bill provides for family pension to the spouse of a person who dies while holding the office of Vice-President or after the expiration of his term of office or by resignation of his office.  Clause 3 of the Bill provides that in the event of death of a person who holds, or has held, office as Vice-President, the surviving spouse of such person shall be entitled, for the remainder of her life, to the use of unfurnished residence without payment of licence fee.

 

2. The Bill, if enacted, will involve an expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.  It is estimated that the expenditure on pension under clause 2 of the Bill shall be rupees one lakh twenty thousand per annum in each case.  The expenditure on accommodation under clause 3 of the Bill cannot be estimated at present.

 

 

 

 

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

 

Clause 3 of the Bill empowers the Central Government to make rules for the purposes of providing accommodation to the surviving spouse of an ex-Vice-President who dies while holding office or after retirement, without payment of licence fee.  This is a matter of detail and the delegation of legislative power is, therefore, of a normal character.