SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has allowed employees appointed against posts advertised or notified before December 24, 2009, but who later joined service under the New Pension Scheme (NPS), to opt for coverage under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
The decision was implemented through a government order issued on Monday following approval by the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah earlier this month.
Under the order, eligible employees have been granted a one-time option to switch from the NPS to the OPS. The option must be exercised through the proper channel within three months from the date of issuance of the order.
The government said the choice, once exercised, would be final. Employees who do not opt for the switch within the stipulated period will continue to remain under the New Pension Scheme.
According to the order, the move covers employees whose posts were advertised or notified before December 24, 2009, but who entered government service after the introduction of the NPS and were consequently enrolled under the contributory pension system.
The decision is expected to benefit thousands of employees across Jammu and Kashmir who had been seeking pension benefits under the old system on the grounds that the recruitment process for their posts had begun before the NPS regime came into force.
