The Pensions’ Act, 1871
The Pensions’ Act, 1871
The Pensions Act of 1871 is an Indian law regulating pensions and government grants of money or land-revenue. It applies to individuals receiving Union or State pensions across India. This law matters because it crucially protects a pensioner's financial security by explicitly preventing creditors from seizing or attaching a pension through court orders to satisfy debts. Furthermore, it strictly voids any agreements made by pensioners to sell or assign their future pension payments before receiving them. Finally, the Act establishes a clear administrative process by routing pension claims primarily through designated government officers rather than civil courts, and allows pensioners to legally nominate beneficiaries to receive any unpaid funds upon their death.
- 1. Short title. Extent of Act.
- 2. Enactments repealed Saving of Rules.
- 3. Interpretation-section.
- 3A. Definition.
- 4. Bar of suits relating to pensions.
- 5. Claims to be made to collector, Deputy Commissioner or other authorised officer.
- 6. Civil Court empowered to take cognizance of such claims.
- 7. Pensions for lands held under grants in perpetuity.
- 8. Payment to be made by Deputy Commissioner, Collector or other authorised officer.
- 9. Saving of rights in respect of the recovery of land-revenue.
- 10. Commutation of pensions.
- 11. Exemption of pension from attachment.
- 12. Assignments, &c., in anticipation of pension, to be void.
- 12A. Nomination by pensioner to receive moneys outstanding on account of pension.
- 13. Reward to informers.
- 14. Power to make rules.
- 15. Power of Central Government to make rules.
- 16. Laying of rules.
PDF: pending for this language.