West Bengal Govt Includes Married Daughters in Family Definition for Death Gratuity Benefits
Married Daughters in Family: The Finance Department (Pension Branch) of the West Bengal Government has issued a significant notification that brings relief to lakhs of state government employees and pensioners. In a major amendment to the ‘West Bengal Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1971’, the state has aligned its policies with changing social dynamics and Central Government norms. This amendment has been enacted under the powers conferred by Article 309 of the Constitution.
Redefining ‘Family’ for Death Gratuity
The core of this amendment lies in the expansion of the definition of ‘Family’ concerning Death Gratuity benefits. Previously, the eligibility criteria often excluded married daughters, considering them outside the immediate dependency circle. However, the new directive explicitly includes ‘Married Daughter’ as a legitimate family member eligible for these benefits.
Under the revised rules, the following individuals are considered family members for Death Gratuity:
- Spouse: Wife or Husband, depending on the gender of the government employee.
- Parents: Both father and mother.
- Sons: Including step-sons.
- Daughters: Unmarried, widowed, divorced, and significantly, married daughters (including step-daughters).
- Siblings: Brothers under the age of 18 and unmarried or widowed sisters.
Mandatory Retention in Service Book
Historically, it was common practice to remove a daughter’s name from a government employee’s Service Book once she got married, treating her as no longer part of the household unit for official purposes. The new notification strictly prohibits this action. Departments must now retain the names of daughters in the Service Book even after their marriage. This ensures their record as a relative is preserved for any future claims or benefits.
Directive for Pending Cases
According to the notification dated February 20, 2026, the government has also addressed retrospective concerns. Administrative departments have been instructed to process any pending or undisposed cases involving divorced or married daughters based on these new rules. This move is expected to clear the backlog of claims that were previously stuck due to ambiguity in the definition of family members.
