A switch from CGHS to fixed medical allowance is effective only from the date the option is exercised.

The applicant retired from the 508 Army Base Workshop on 31 March 2004.

During preparation of his pension papers, he opted for medical facilities under CGHS and gave an Allahabad address, although he stated that he intended to settle in Nainital district.

In 2017, he sought Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) from April 2004.

After submitting a change-of-option form on 27 February 2018, he began receiving FMA from that date.

The respondents refused his request for arrears for the earlier period, relying on the date of his change of option.

The applicant challenged that refusal under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985.

1. Whether the applicant was entitled to FMA arrears from April 2004 to 26 February 2018, despite having opted for CGHS medical facilities on retirement.

2. Whether the respondents’ refusal to grant retrospective FMA was contrary to the applicable rules or circulars.

The application was brought under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985.

The Tribunal relied on the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare Office Memoranda dated 14 August 1998 and 30 December 1998, PCDA (Pension) Allahabad Circular No. 3 dated 30 March 1999, and PCDA Circular No. 117 dated 16 January 2014.

Under Circular No. 117, a pensioner who initially opted for CGHS or a corresponding medical scheme may change the option to FMA, but FMA is authorised from the date of the change-of-option form, through a corrigendum PPO; the change does not operate retrospectively.

The applicant had opted for CGHS when his pension papers were prepared, and the recorded address was in Allahabad.

The Tribunal held that his stated intention to settle in Nainital did not itself change his medical-benefit option; he was required to submit the prescribed change-of-option form.

Since he did so only on 27 February 2018, Circular No. 117 supported payment of FMA from that date, not from retirement.

The fact that he had neither obtained nor applied for a CGHS card did not alter the option he had exercised.

The Original Application was dismissed; the associated miscellaneous applications were disposed of, with no order as to costs.