Widows’ And Orphans’ Pension’ Scheme (Armed Forces) (Amendment)

(1) Any person who became a member of the armed forces on or before September 30, 1968, and who continued to serve as such member after the said date, or who may have subsequently retired, and who under the provisions of subsection (1) of section 3, had elected not to be a contributor to the Pension Scheme established in accordance with the regulations, may, within a period of two years from the date of coming into operation of this section, elect to be a contributor to ‘ the said Pension Scheme:

Provided that, where any person who was a member of the armed forces in the circumstances specified above, has died prior to the coming into operation of this section, or dies before making an election under the preceding provisions of this subsection, such person shall if he leaves a wife or child, or a wife and child, or a wife and children, be deemed to have elected to be a contributor to the Pension Scheme.

(2) Any person who elects to become a contributor, or in the case of persons who are deemed to have elected to become contributors of the Pension Scheme, the person administering the affairs of such deceased person shall, pay to the Scheme all arrears of contributions for the period commencing from October 1, 1968, until the date of election, retirement or death, as the case may be, with interest thereon at four per centum per annum.

(3) An election made under the provisions of subsection (1) shall be final.

(4) The provisions of this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 3 of this Act. “.