This is an almost 100% reproduction of a telecon I had recently with an Indian Public Sector Corporation from which my father had retired in 1975.
Me: Hello, Is that Ms.ABC?
Ms. ABC. Yes, it is. How may I help you?
Me: This is Ramana Rajgopaul, son of late Mr. K. Rajgopaul, Employee number xxxxxx calling from Pune. I wish to inform you that my father expired on the 6th of September and you may stop sending his pension henceforth.
Ms. ABC. Sir, please send me an email attaching a scanned copy of his death certificate.
Me. Madam, the death certificate will be delivered to me only after four weeks. If I don’t send the scanned copy, will you continue sending his pension till I do?
Ms. ABC. Sir, those are the rules. Please send the scanned copy of the death certificate.
Me. Rightho! I shall send it to you when I get it. In the meanwhile, you may continue sending his pension.
Ms. ABC. Sir, how about your mother?
Me. My mother died 13 years ago Madam.
Ms. ABC. I am sorry to hear that.
Me. Why? She was not your mother!
Ms.ABC. No sir, I meant that the spouse is entitled to get the pension till she is alive.
Me. Now, I am sorry. She has been dead the last 13 years.
Ms. ABC. Sir, this is not a joking matter.
Me. No, death is most certainly not, particularly of parents. I shall send you the email announcing my father’s death, and leave you to follow your rules. Good day to you Madam.
Ranjan, hearing my side of the conversation suggests that I must have been the first ever in their experience wanting to stop a pension till the next “Existence Certificate” was due. Very likely indeed.
