7th Pay Commission on Ex-gratia Lump Sum Compensation

The Commission has received representations seeking enhancement in Ex-gratia lump sum compensation for Next of Kin (NoK) of CAPF, Assam Rifles and defence forces personnel who die in harness in performance of their bona fide official duties

The circumstances in which the Ex-gratia lump sum compensation is currently admissible and the quantum in each category are as under:

10.2.72 As may be seen, there are four circumstances listed for payment of Ex-gratia lump sum compensation in case of Next-of-Kin (NoK) for CAPF/Assam Rifles personnel while there are five circumstances listed for such payout to NoK in the case of defence forces personnel.

[Read:7th CPC on Additional Quantum of Pension with Advancing Age for Defence pensioners]

10.2.73 The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought the doubling of Ex-gratia lump sum payable to the Next of Kin (NoK) of CAPF and Assam Rifles personnel from the existing ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh and from the existing ₹15 lakh to ₹30 lakh, depending on the circumstances.

10.2.74 The Defence Services, in their memorandum, have sought quadrupling of the amount of lump sum compensation. They have also suggested inclusion of some additional categories in the list of identified circumstances in which Ex-gratia lump sum compensation is paid. The proposal of the Services in this regard is summarised below:

Analysis and Recommendations

10.2.75 The Commission has considered the existing regime regulating the Ex-gratia lump sum compensation and the demands made before the Commission and observes that while the set of circumstances in which defence forces personnel and those in CAPFs and Assam Rifles are accorded Ex-gratia payment are broadly similar, some variations do exist. In this regard, the Commission is of the view that as far as possible these should apply identically to all the personnel covered by these orders.

10.2.76 As regards the new categories sought to be added by the Defence Services to the existing circumstances, the Commission recommends the following:

10.2.77 The Commission recommends a common regime for payment of Ex-gratia lump sum compensation for civil and defence forces personnel, payable to the Next of Kin at the following rates: