A pensioners’ association has appealed to Indian President Droupadi Murmu to intervene in disputes over EPS-95 higher pension claims, seeking faster settlements, an end to contested litigation and relief from interest penalties.

Key Takeaways

  • The National Confederation of Pensioners’ Associations wrote to the president on October 23, 2026.
  • The group wants the EPFO to withdraw a circular that links eligibility in certain cases to provident fund trust rules.
  • It also seeks a litigation audit and a time-bound process for settling claims.

Why EPS-95 higher pension claims are disputed

The National Confederation of Pensioners’ Associations, which says it represents 1 million public- and private-sector pensioners, argues that some retirees from exempted establishments are being denied higher pensions because of their employers’ historical provident fund trust rules.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation’s January 18, 2025 circular says eligibility in higher-wage pension cases should be determined using the relevant trust rules. It also says applications from members of trusts whose rules were amended after the Supreme Court’s November 4, 2022 decision may not be considered.

The association says the circular conflicts with a July 9, 2026 Madras High Court ruling. It argues that internal trust rules cannot override the legislation governing the Employees’ Pension Scheme, known as EPS-95.

What the pensioners’ group wants

In its letter, the association asks Murmu to direct the labour ministry and EPFO to withdraw the circular, audit litigation and withdraw appeals it considers frivolous. It also seeks acceptance of joint options for higher pensions without interest penalties that it says arose solely from EPFO administrative delays.

The group says some retirees receive higher pensions while others from different units of the same public-sector undertaking face rejection. It says some litigants receive monthly pensions of Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 while pursuing their cases.

The labour ministry told Parliament on August 10, 2026 that more than 149,806 higher-wage pension orders had been issued, the association said. It has proposed a time-bound mechanism to give ageing pensioners relief.

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