No.22-15/2018-S-I (APAR)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
2nd Floor. A Wing, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated the 9th Dec 2019
MEETING NOTICE
As per the timelines for recording of APARs for the FY 2018-19 on ‘SPARROW’ the entire process of recording, reviewing, disclosure etc of the APARs is to be completed by 31st December, 2019. It has been observed from the data available on SPARROW system that a large number of APARs of the officers are still pending at different levels. In order to review the status of APARs and to facilitate the Ministries/ Departments to complete the process by the end of December, 2019. a meeting under the chairpersonship of Joint Secretary (CS) will be held on 12th December, 2019 from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. in the Conference Room No.190. North Block.
2. All the Deputy Secretaries/Directors dealing with SPARROW are requested to please make it convenient to attend the meeting as per the time schedule mentioned in Annexure-1 & 2 A status report of APARs of different Ministries/Departments indicating the pendency at different levels is placed in DOPT website for review and identification of difficulties before attending the meeting
(P. B. Sahu)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Compensation and benefits to dependents of security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, in a written reply to a question regarding compensation to dependents of security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, in Rajya Sabha today, said that 3 security force personnel, including 1 SPO, have lost their lives since 5th August, 2019 till 5th December, 2019 and gave details of admissible benefits given to the next of kin of CAPFs personnel, Army personnel and Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel.
Benefits to the Next of Kin (NoK) of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel who sacrifice their lives in the course of duty:-
(i) Central Ex-gratia: The Central ex-gratia lump-sum compensation has been enhanced with effect from 01/01/2016 from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 35 lakh for death on active duty and from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh for death on duty, as the case may be, to the NoK of the deceased CAPF & AR personnel.
(ii) Extra Ordinary Pension: The NoK of the deceased are entitled to get Liberalized Family Pension (i.e. last pay drawn) under Central Civil Service (Extra Ordinary Pension) Rules,1939.
(iii) Service Benefits: All service benefits viz, Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG), Leave Encashment, Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme (CGEGIS), General Provident Fund (GPF) etc. are admissible.
(iv) Force Level Welfare Schemes: Each of the force has evolved / set up force level welfare schemes for the employees/ Jawans such as Benevolent Funds, Financial Assistance/Scholarship to the children for education and Financial Assistance for daughter’s/sister’s marriage etc.
(v) Funds from ‘Bharat Ke Veer’: ‘Bharat ke Veer’ is an online portal which enables people to donate voluntarily to the NoKs of CAPF personnel who sacrifice their lives. Such contributions are made directly to the accounts of NoKs online. In addition, funds received in Bharat Ke Veer corpus are also distributed to the NoKs of such personnel.
(vi) ‘Operation Casualty Certificate’: The CAPFs personnel killed in action get ‘Operational Casualty Certificate’ on the line of ‘Battle Casualty Certificate’ as available to Armed Forces. NoKs are entitled to certain benefits viz Air and Rail travel fare concession and allotment of Oil Product Agencies etc on the line of benefits that NoKs of the Defence personnel get on being conferred ‘Battle Casualty Certificate’.
(vii) Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme (PMSS): Under PMSS, an amount Rs.2250/- per month for girls and Rs.2000/- per month for boys is released to the wards of serving / Ex-CAPFs, AR and National Security Guard (NSG) personnel. The amount of Scholarship has now been increased from Rs. 2000/- per month to Rs. 2500/- per month for boys and from Rs.2250/- per month to Rs.3000/- per month for girls from the academic year 2019-2020 onwards.
(viii) Provision of Ex-gratia compensation by the States/UTs: Many States/Union Territories have also made provision to pay compensation /assistance to NoKs as per their rules.
The details of benefits/compensation to Next of Kins (NoKs) of soldiers (Army personnel) (fatal battle casualties)
I. Ex-gratia lump sum compensation from Central Government:-
Death occurring due to accidents in the course of duties –Rs.25.00 lakhs.
Death in the course of duties attributable to acts of violence by terrorists, etc. – Rs.25.00 lakhs
Death occurring during enemy action in war or border skirmishes or in action against militants, terrorist, etc. – Rs. 35.00 lakhs
Death occurring while on duty in the specified high altitude, inaccessible border posts etc on account of natural disasters, extreme weather conditions – Rs.35.00 lakhs
Death occurring during enemy action in international war or such war like engagements specifically notified – Rs.45.00 lakhs.
Additional Ex-gratia for Battle Casualties (BCs) from Army Battle Casualties Welfare Fund – Rs.2.00 lakhs.
II. Details of other monetary benefits entitled to Next of Kin (NoK) of Battle Casualty:
1. Liberalized family pension as applicable to Battle Casualty that is equal to emoluments last drawn by the deceased individual.
2. Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) that is based on length of service rendered and emoluments last drawn by the deceased individual.
3, Army Group Insurance Fund:
a. Officers – Rs.75.00 lakhs
b, JCO/ORs – Rs.40.00 lakhs
4. Army Group Insurance Maturity that is based on the contribution made by the deceased Army personnel.
5 Armed Forces Personnel Provident Fund that is based on the contribution made by the deceased Army personnel.
6. Army Wives Welfare Association Fund: –
a. Officers – Rs.15,000/-
b. JCO/ORs – Rs.15,000/-
7. Army Central Welfare Fund – Rs.2,50,000/-
8. Death Link Insurance Scheme – Rs.60,000/-
III Other Benefits: –
Education Concession Card
Air Travel Concession Card
Telephone Concession
Compassionate appointment as per eligibility and qualification of NoK
The details of compensation being paid to the Next of Kin (NoK) of Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel and SPOs killed in violence/militancy related incidents are as under:-
No. 7(2)/EV/2016
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
New Delhi, the 11th December, 2019
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme-1980 – Tables of Benefits for the savings fund for the period from 01.10.2019 to 31.12.2019.
The Tables of Benefits for Savings Fund to the beneficiaries under the Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme-1980, which are being issued on a quarterly basis from 01.01.2017 onwards, as brought out in this Ministry’s OM of even number dated 17.03.2017, for the quarter from 01.10.2019 to 31.12.2019, as worked out by IRDA based on the interest rate of 7.9% per annum (compounded quarterly) as notified by the Department of Economic Affairs as per their Resolution No. 5(2)-B(PD)/2019 dated 21.10.2019, are enclosed.
2. The Tables enclosed are of two categories as per the existing practice. As hitherto, the first Table of Benefits for the savings fund of the scheme is based on the subscription of Rs.10 p.m. from 1.1.1982 to 31.12.1989 and Rs.15 p.m. w.e.f. 1.1.1990 onwards. The second Table of Benefits for savings fund is based on a subscription of Rs.10 p.m. for those employees who had opted out of the revised rate of subscription w.e.f. 1.1.1990.
3. While these orders are in respect of Table of Benefits for the period from 01.10.2019 to 31.12.2019, the Tables already issued for the first quarter, second quarter and third quarter i.e. for the period 01.01.2019 to 30.09.2019 are also reproduced for the sake of convenience and consolidation.
4. In their application to the employees of Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders are issued after consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.
CDA Guwahati – Date of Next Increment – Submit Option Form before 27th December 2019
OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS
UDAYAN VIHAR, NARANGI, GUWAHATI: 781171.
IMPORTANT CIRCULAR NO. 118 DATED 10.12.2019
(THROUGH OFFICIAL WEBSITE)
Subject : Date of Increment under Rule 10 of Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules 2016
In the light of MOF, DOE OM No. 4-21/2017-IC/E.IIIA Dated 28th November, 2019 circulated vide HQr Office Memo No AN/XIV/19015/Govt.Orders/2019 Dated 03.12.2019 on the above subject, this office is undertaking an overall review of Pay Fixation cases with special focus on Date of Increment. To enable this office. to revise date of Increment of the affected individuals, their pay has to be re-fixed as per above OM. Hence Officers and staff whose pay has been fixed on getting MACP or Promotion between 2hd January and 1st July (both date inclusive) from 01.01.2016 onwards may exercise/re exercise option for pay fixation under FR 22(I)(a)(I) within one month from the date of issue of the above mentioned OM.
You are therefore requested to submit duly filled in Option Form ( Copy enclosed) so as to reach this office on or before 27th December 2019.
7th Central Pay Commission allowances worth around Rs. 4800 crores approved for Government employees of UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Two AIIMS like institutions in Jammu and Srinagar and eight medical colleges in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions approved: Shri G. Kishan Reddy
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, in a written reply to a question regarding development of new UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in Lok Sabha today, said that the Government of India has been fully committed to the overall development of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the newly created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the newly created Union Territory of Ladakh.
Shri Reddy informed the House that certain 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) allowances namely Children Education Allowance, Hostel Allowance, Transport Allowance, LTC, Fixed Medical Allowance that were not being given to nearly 4.5 Lakh State Government employees in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir have been approved for an estimated cost of Rs.4800 Crores, for all such employees, who are now working in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh, since the day these new Union Territories came into existence i.e 31st October 2019. Since the newly created UTs have come into existence, all the 7th CPC pay and allowances will be available to all the Government employees of both the new UTs.
Further, Shri Reddy stated that after the creation of the two UTs on 31st October, 2019, a total of Rs.14,559.25 crores as the balance share of 14th Finance Commission grants, share of taxes etc. that were being given to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir has been apportioned amongst the two new UTs. Out of this, Rs. 2,977.31 crores has already been released to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Rs.1,275.99 crores has already been released to the UT of Ladakh till date.
On account of article 35A and other constitutional ambiguities, the people of these regions were denied full rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and other benefits of various Central Laws that were being enjoyed by other citizens in the country. After the declaration issued by the President under Article 370, based on recommendation of the Parliament, and reorganization of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh, all such aspects have been addressed and therefore the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions can develop and progress like other parts of the country.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the Government has approved establishment of eight medical colleges in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. These medical colleges, which are under various stages of implementation, will come up in the districts of Doda, Kathua, Baramulla, Anantnag, Rajouri, Udhampur, Handwara (Dist. Kupwara) in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the district of Leh in the UT of Ladakh. The Government has also approved creation of two AIIMS like institutions in Jammu and Srinagar, the Minister informed.
WB ROPA 2019 : Fixation of remuneration for re-employed pensioners from Jan 2020
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
FINANCE (AUDIT) DEPARTMENT
‘NABANNA’, HOWRAH – 711 102
No. 6472-F[P2] Date: 02.12.2019
MEMORANDUM
Consequent upon promulgation of WBS (ROPA) Rules, 2019 for all the State Govt. employees notionally w.e.f. 01.01.2016 with actual effect from 01.01.2020, the question of fixation of re-employment pay in respect of all the re-employed State Govt. pensioners in the revised pay structure has been under consideration of the Govt.
After careful consideration of the matter, the undersigned is directed by order of the Governor to state that a re-employed pensioner shall draw an amount of remuneration w.e.f. 01.01.2020 in the following manner:-
(I) For the re-employed pensioner who retired before 01.01.2016:
Basic Pay (Band Pay + Gr. Pay) last drawn by him on the date of superannuation will be revised notionally w.e.f. 01.01.2020 under Rule 7 of WBS (ROPA) Rules, 2019 as if he were in service on 01.01.2020.
After such fixation of basic pay under revised pay structure, he will draw w.e.f. 01.01.2020 that amount of notionally revised last basic pay plus dearness allowance as and when admissible on that basic pay from time to time plus house rent allowance, if any, as admissible as per existing orders on that notional last basic pay minus revised basic pension as per F.D.’s Memo No. 535-F (Pen.) dt. 01.10.2019 before commutation together with dearness relief on pension as and when admissible from time to time.
He will get pension, dearness relief on pension as and when admissible and medical allowance (if admissible) as usual as a pensioner.
(II) For the re-employed pensioner who retired on or after 01.01.2016:
Revised basic pay plus dearness allowance as and when admissible from time to time, plus house rent allowance, if any, as admissible in terms of existing orders minus revised basic pension before commutation together with dearness relief on pension as and when admissible from time to time.
He will draw pension, dearness relief on pension as and when admissible and medical allowance (if admissible) as usual as pensioner. If pension under revised pay structure in respect of a re-employed pensioner remains unsettled on 01.01.2020, he may be allowed to draw re-employment pay on the basis of proposed revised pension provisionally. After settlement of pension, overdrawal, if any, may be adjusted accordingly.
(III) In both the cases of fixation of remuneration during the period of reemployment as detailed above, house rent allowance will be admissible on the revised basic pay, if the same was admissible before the date of superannuation and shall be drawn subject to fulfilment of usual terms and conditions of drawal of the same.
(IV) The provisions of this memo shall, however, not be applicable in the case of AIS officers working for the affairs of the state and the State Govt, officers who are employed to a post, the pay of which is guided by any Act/ Rule/ Regulation.
(V) This order supersedes Order No. 3951-F dt. 27.05.2009 w.e.f. 01.01.2020.
(VI) No arrear pay and allowances will be admissible prior to 01.01.2020.
Sd/- H.K. Dwivedi
Additional Chief Secretary to the
Government of West Bengal
लोकसभा में नागरिकता (संशोधन) विधेयक 2019 पारित हुआ
जब देश आजाद हुआ था, यदि धर्म के आधार पर विभाजन न हुआ होता तो आज इस बिल की जरूरत न पड़ती – श्री अमित शाह
केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री श्री अमित शाह ने कहा कि पूर्वोत्तर के लोगों की भाषिक, सांस्कृतिक और सामाजिक पहचान की रक्षा करना हमारी प्रतिबद्धता है
यह संशोधन देश के अल्पसंख्यकों के खिलाफ नहीं – केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री
आर्टिकल 371 के किसी भी प्रोविजन को यह बिल आहत नहीं करेगा – केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री
भारत का संविधान ही श्री नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार का धर्म है – श्री अमित शाह
मणिपुर को इनर लाइन परमिट (ILP) शासन के तहत लाया जाएगा – श्री अमित शाह
केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री श्री अमित शाह ने नागरिकता (संशोधन) विधेयक 2019 को लोकसभा में प्रस्तुत करते हुए कहा कि यह संशोधन देश के अल्पसंख्यकों के खिलाफ नहीं है। श्री शाह ने कहा कि इस बिल के माध्यम से सकारात्मक रूप से अफगानिस्तान, बांग्लादेश और पाकिस्तान के आए प्रताड़ित अल्पसंख्यकों को शरण में लिया जा सकेगा | एक सदस्य के जवाब में उनका कहना था कि इन तीनों देशों में मुसलमानों पर अत्याचार नहीं होता क्योंकि वहाँ मुसलमान बहुसंख्यक हैं | श्री शाह ने कहा कि देश में इस बिल के द्वारा किसी भी मुस्लिम के अधिकारों का हनन नहीं होगा | श्री अमित शाह ने कहा कि जब देश आजाद हुआ था, यदि धर्म के आधार पर विभाजन न हुआ होता तो आज इस बिल की जरूरत न पड़ती | उनका कहना था कि इस देश का विभाजन धर्म के आधार पर किया गया इसीलिए बिल में संशोधन की आवश्यकता है |
केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री ने कहा कि भारत की जमीनी सीमा से सटे तीन देश हैं जिनकी लगभग 106 किलोमीटर की सीमा भारत से सटी हुई है और इन देशों में हिन्दू, सिख, बौद्ध, जैन, पारसी और ईसाई धर्मों के लोग प्रताड़ित होकर भारत में शरण लेने के लिए आते हैं | उनका यह भी कहना था कि आर्टिकल 371 के किसी भी प्रोविजन को यह बिल आहत नहीं करेगा बल्कि उत्तर-पूर्व के लोगों की समस्याओं का समाधान होगा । श्री शाह का कहना था कि पूर्वोत्तर के लोगों की भाषिक, सांस्कृतिक और सामाजिक पहचान की रक्षा करना हमारी प्रतिबद्धता है।
श्री शाह का कहना था कि विपक्षी सदस्यों द्वारा जितने भी आर्टिकल का उल्लेख किया गया है उन सभी को ध्यान में रखा गया है | एक महत्वपूर्ण घोषणा करते हुए श्री शाह ने कहा कि मणिपुर को इनर लाइन परमिट (ILP) के तहत लाया जाएगा और इसके साथ ही सभी पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों की समस्याओं का ध्यान रखा जाएगा। पूरा अरुणाचल, मिजोरम, नागालैंड इनर लाइन प्रोटेक्टेड है इसलिए सभी नार्थ-ईस्ट के राज्यों को चिंता करने की कोई आवश्यकता नहीं है।
श्री अमित शाह ने कहा कि नागरिकता (संशोधन) बिल 2019 लाखों-करोड़ों शरणार्थियों को नर्कपूर्ण यात्रा जैसे जीवन से मुक्ति दिलाने का साधन बनने जा रहा है। उन्होंने कहा कि इन देशों के अल्पसंख्यक नागरिक भारत के प्रति श्रद्धा रखते हुए भारत में आए थे और यह बिल पारित होने के बाद उनको भारत की नागरिकता मिल सकेगी । उनको स्वास्थ्य, शिक्षा, आवास आदि सुविधा उपलब्ध कराई जा सकेगी। श्री अमित शाह ने कहा कि यह बिल गैर-संवैधानिक नहीं है और न ही आर्टिकल 14 का उल्लंघन करता है।
श्री अमित शाह ने कहा कि 1950 में नेहरू-लियाकत समझौता हुआ था जिसके अंतर्गत भारत और पाकिस्तान को अपने-अपने अल्पसंख्यकों का ध्यान रखना था किंतु ऐसा नहीं हुआ। श्री शाह ने यह भी बताया कि पाकिस्तान, अफगानिस्तान तथा बांग्लादेश ने अपने संविधान में लिखा है कि वहां का राजधर्म इस्लाम है। श्री अमित शाह ने यह भी कहा कि पाकिस्तान में 1947 में अल्पसंख्यकों की आबादी 23% थी जो 2011 में घटकर 3% रह गई, बांग्लादेश में भी यह संख्या कम हुई। उन्होंने कहा कि हम चाहते हैं कि उनका अस्तित्व बना रहे और सम्मान के साथ बना रहे। श्री शाह ने बताया कि भारत में मुस्लिम 1951 में 9.8% था जो आज 14.2 3% है जो इस बात का सबूत है कि भारत में धर्म के आधार पर भेदभाव नहीं किया जाता है। श्री शाह ने कहा कि यदि पड़ोस के देशों में अल्पसंख्यकों के साथ प्रताड़ना हो रही है, उन्हें सताया जा रहा है तो भारत मूकदर्शक बनकर नहीं रह सकता। श्री शाह का कहना था कि भारत में किसी तरह की रिफ्यूजी पॉलिसी की जरूरत नहीं है। श्री अमित शाह ने कहा कि यह नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार है ना लम्हों की खता होगी, न सदियों तक सजा पाएंगे।
श्री अमित शाह ने कहा कि रोहिंग्या को कभी स्वीकार नहीं किया जाएगा। श्री शाह ने यह भी कहा कि देश के सभी अल्पसंख्यकों को विश्वास दिलाना चाहता हूं कि श्री नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार के होते हुए इस देश में किसी भी धर्म के नागरिक को डरने की जरूरत नहीं है, यह सरकार सभी को सुरक्षा और समान अधिकार देने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है। उनका यह भी कहना था कि भारत का संविधान ही श्री नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार का धर्म है।
इससे पहले केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री ने लोकसभा में नागरिकता (संशोधन) विधेयक 2019 पेश करते हुए कहा कि विधेयक में पाकिस्तान, अफगानिस्तान और बांग्लादेश में धर्म के आधार पर उत्पीड़न का सामना करने के बाद भारत में पलायन करने वाले हिंदू, सिख, बौद्ध, जैन, पारसी और ईसाई समुदायों के लोगों को भारतीय नागरिकता प्रदान करने का प्रयास किया गया है, यदि वे नागरिकता प्रदान करने की शर्तों को पूरा करते हैं । श्री शाह ने विधेयक का परिचय देते हुए कहा कि इस विधेयक में भारत के अल्पसंख्यक समुदाय को लक्षित नहीं किया गया है, लेकिन अवैध प्रवासियों को किसी भी कीमत पर देश में रहने की अनुमति नहीं दी जाएगी। श्री शाह ने कहा कि किसी भी सरकार का यह कर्तव्य है कि देश की सीमाओं की सुरक्षा करे, देश के अंदर आते हुए घुसपैठियों को रोके तथा शरणार्थी और घुसपैठियों की अलग अलग पहचान करें । उनका कहना था कि जब एनआरसी लाएंगे, एक भी घुसपैठिया बच नहीं पाएगा।
Lok Sabha passes the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019
Bill seeks to grant Indian Citizenship to persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh: Shri Amit Shah The Bill is not against any Minority, but against Illegal Immigrants: Shri Amit Shah No provision of Article 371 would be violated by this Bill; contains the solution to the problems of the people of North East: Home Minister Manipur to be brought under the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime
The Lok Sabha today passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019. The Bill seeks to grant Indian Citizenship to persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have migrated to India after facing persecution on grounds of religion in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, if they fulfil conditions for grant of citizenship. Introducing the Bill, Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah said that while no where does this bill target India’s minority community, but illegal immigrants would not be allowed to stay in the country at any cost.
Replying to the debate, Shri Shah said that misconceptions are being spread about the bill that it is against any particular community, but this is a humanitarian step to grant citizenship to those who suffered for the last 70 years. He said that failure of the Nehru-Liaqat pact of 1950 is also one of the reasons of bringing about this Bill. He further said that it was Congress Party which accepted the partition of India on religious ground and therefore the need for the Bill was necessitated. The Home Minister also asked the members to distinguish between the genuine refuges and the intruders. Shri Shah said that Narendra Modi Government is committed to security and all equal rights to all and there would be no discrimination based on the religion.
Shri Shah said that the provisions of the amendments to the Act would not apply to tribal area of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and the area covered under ‘The Inner Line’ notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. The Bill also seeks to amend the Third Schedule to the Act to make applicants belonging to the said communities from the aforesaid countries eligible for citizenship by naturalisation if they can establish their residency in India for five years instead of the existing eleven years. Making an important announcement, Shri Shah said that Manipur would be brought under the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime and with that the problems of all the North Eastern States would be taken care of. He said, all the apprehensions of the North-Eastern States and that of Sikkim were addressed in the Bill and that is the reason they are supporting this Bill.
Shri Shah, while replying to the debate on the Bill, said that there is no political agenda behind this Bill but it is only a Constitutional process to give citizenship to those were denied basic civil rights for the last 70 years. He cited the provisions from Constitutions of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh where they provide for a specific state religion. In this scenario, Shri Shah stated that these countries have had a history of persecution of religious minorities viz., Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians. Some of them also have fears about such persecution in their day-to-day life where right to practice, profess and propagate their religion has been obstructed and restricted. Many such persons have fled to India to seek shelter and continued to stay in India even if their travel documents have expired or they have incomplete or no documents.
Reassuring such persons against any harassment, Shri Shah said that a person who makes an application for citizenship would not be disqualified for making the application on the ground that a proceeding is pending against him/her and the application would not be rejected on that ground, if he is otherwise found qualified for grant of citizenship. Further, the person who makes an application for citizenship would not be deprived of his/her rights and privileges to which he/she was entitled on the date of receipt of his application.
The Home Minister said that this Bill contains provisions to grant Citizenship to such refugees on reasonable grounds, which in no way go against any provision under the Constitution of India and does not violate Article 14. He also reassured that no provision of Article 371 would be violated by this Bill. The linguistic, cultural and social identity of the people of the North East would be preserved and this Bill contains the solution to the problems of the people of these States, as the provisions of the amendment have been incorporated after marathon deliberations with various stakeholders from North East for last one month. The issue should be seen as a humanitarian one, beyond political ideologies.
Talking about Right to Equality, Shri Shah said that Article 14 allows reasonable qualifications to its provisions and there have been instances in the past when refugees facing persecution in other countries have been granted Indian citizenship. Giving example of refugees coming from Bangladesh in 1971, he said that the Government of that time gave citizenship to these refugees. The Home Minister said that the inflow of refugees have not stopped after that. Refugees from Uganda were also given citizenship and same steps were taken during Sri Lankan crisis and after the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. These decisions were based on reasonable qualifications to Article 14, he added.
Talking about another amendment to the Act, Shri Shah informed that the Bill seeks to amend section 7D so as to empower the Central Government to cancel registration as Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder, after providing a reasonable opportunity of being heard, in case of violation of any provisions of the Citizenship Act or any other law for the time being in force.
The Home Minister said that there is no merit in the questions raised by Members on the competency of Parliament to discuss this bill on the ground that it is against the basic structure and ethos of the Constitution. “I want to assure the Nation that this bill is not against any provision of the Constitution of India”, he said.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3310
ANSWERED ON: 09.12.2019
Bonus for KVS Teachers
Shiromani Ram
Will the Minister of
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government had paid Diwali Bonus in 2014 to KVS teachers and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the reasons for discontinuing the Diwali Bonus to them;
(c) whether the Government proposes to reconsider extending the Diwali Bonus to KVS teachers and if so, the time by which the pending demand of Diwali Bonus along with arrears is likely to be settled;
(d) whether the Government proposes to give benefits of Seventh Pay Commission to KVS teachers and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the time by which the said benefits along with the arrears are likely to be given to them?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) to (c) Government had extended payment of ad-hoc bonus to Autonomous Bodies for the accounting year 2014 15.Conventionally, pursuant to issuance of orders regarding grant of adhoc bonus to Central Government employees, specific orders are issued extending such benefits to eligible employees of Autonomous Organizations/Quasi-Government Organizations / Statutory Bodies etc. set up by and funded/controlled by the Central Government. In view of the financial implications involved in extending these benefits to 679 Autonomous Bodies, no such orders have been issued by the Government for the accounting year 2015-16 and onwards.
(d) & (e) The benefits of revision of pay as per the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) were implemented for the KVS employees with effect from 1.1.2016 through orders issued on 26.7.2017. The liability on account of payment of arrears consequent to the implementation of the recommendations to the 7th CPC is met in a phased manner depending upon allocation of budgetary resources.
