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Upper age limit for direct recruitment to non-gazetted posts on the Railways – RBE No. 25/2018

Upper age limit for direct recruitment to non-gazetted posts on the Railways

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)
(RAILWAY BOARD )

RBE No. 25/2018

No. E(NG)-II/94/RR-1/29/Pt.(3246807)

New Delhi, dated: 21/02/2018

The General Manager (P),
All Zonal Railways/Production Units
Chairmen/Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs);
Chairmen/Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs)
(As per standard mailing list)

Sub: Upper age limit for direct recruitment to non-gazetted posts on the Railways.

***

Attention is invited to this Ministry’s instructions issued under RBE No.45/2015 dated 11.05.2015, withdrawing three years relaxation in the prescribed upper age limit for direct recruitment to all non-gazetted posts.

The matter has since been reviewed and it has now been decided by this Ministry to provide a relaxation of three years above the prescribed upper age limit in open market recruitment to all non-gazetted posts.

These instructions will be effective from the date of issue of this letter. It will also be applicable on recruitment notification published under Centralized Employment Notice Nos. 01/2018 and 02/2018 issued by Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs).

Please acknowledge receipt.

(Ravi Shekher)
Jt. Director Estt. (N)-II
Railway Board.

Signed Copy

Online Tracking System for Pension

Online Tracking System for Pension

Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has implemented an online system called ‘BHAVISHYA’ for retiring central government civil employees. The system provides for on-line tracking of pension sanction and payment process. Tracking can be done by the individual as well as the administrative authorities for all actions preparatory to grant of pension and other retirement benefits. This is in line with the priorities of Government to ensure transparency and accountability in systems and processes.

At present, Bhavishya is implemented in main secretariat of 89 Ministries/ Departments except Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence, Department of Post, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Telecommunication and some security related sensitive organizations.

There is no proposal to revamp the payment of pension through Public Sector Banks. However, the data base for the existing pensioners is being updated by the Authorized Banks for pensions’ payment once in a year through master data reconciliation with Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) and from time to time based on the Special Seal Authority (SSA) issued by CPAO to Central Pension Processing Centers (CPPCs) of Banks.

The Authorized Banks submit the report of payment of pension through e-scrolls to CPAO after making the payment of pension. Life Certificate is submitted by the Central Civil Pensioners/ Family Pensioners in the month of November every year and excess payment of pension may happen if the pensioner dies before the coming November, i.e., the next due date of submission of Life Certificate. If excess/ wrong payment of pension is paid to the pensioner by Public Sector Banks then entire amount is recovered by the Banks from the pensioners/ family pensioners as per the guidelines of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in this regard. During the financial year 2016-17, an amount of about Rs. 73 crore was received/ recovered from the Authorized Banks by the Central Pension Accounting Office in respect of central civil pensioners/family pensioners.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Pensioner’s Portal at EPFO website

Pensioner’s Portal at EPFO website

EPFO has launched the pensioner’s portal https://mis.epfindia.gov.in/PensionPaymentEnquiry. The pensioner’s portal is recently launched service, available at EPFO website by which all EPFO pensioners may get the details of pension related information like Pension payment order number, Pensioner’s Payment Order details, Pensioner’s passbook information & other related information such as date of credit of pension, submission of pensioner’s life certificate etc.

pension_epfo

It is helpful to know the status of their life certificate, in case of non-submission/rejection of life certificate of the pensioners. It also provides the details and the reason of stoppage of pension.

Track e KYC:

The enhanced “Track eKYC” facility for the convenience of members have been launched to check the status of Aadhaar seeded against their UAN and to figure out the specific mismatch details.

The facility has been made available at EPFO’s website www.epfindia.gov.in >> Online Services >> e-KYC Portal>> TRACK eKYC.

Using the facility, EPFO members can online track the status of Aadhaar seeded against his/ her UAN. While using the facility, the member will have to provide his/her UAN. After entering his/ her UAN the member can click the “Track eKYC” button and the exact status in respect of his/her UAN will be displayed on the screen.

PIB

5th CPC DA Order from January 2018

5th CPC DA Order from January 2018 to Central Government Employees and Central Autonomous Bodies

No. 1/3/2008-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

***

New Delhi, dated the 28th March, 2018.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Rate of Dearness Allowance applicable w.e.f. 01.01.2018 to employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scales as per 5th Central Pay Commission.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. of even No. dated 26th September, 2017 regarding revision of the rate of Dearness Allowance w.e.f. 01.07.2017 in respect of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scales as per 5th Central Pay Commission,

2. The rate of DA admissible to above categories of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies shall be enhanced from the existing 268% to 274% w.e.f. 01.01.2018.


Also Read : 6th CPC DA Order from Jan 2018


3. The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s O.M.No.1(13)/97-E.11(B) dated 3rd October, 1997 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.

4. The contents of this Office Memorandum may also be brought to the notice of all organisations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay.

(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

Signed Copy

6th CPC DA Order from Jan 2018

6th CPC DA Order from Jan 2018 to Central Government Employees and Central Autonomous Bodies

No. 1/3/2008-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
***

New Delhi, dated the 28th March, 2018.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Rate of Dearness Allowance applicable w.e.f. 01.01.2018 to employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale/Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. of even No. dated 26th September, 2017 regarding revision of the rate of Dearness Allowance w.e.f 01.07.2017 in respect of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale/Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission,

2. The rate of DA admissible to above categories of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies shall be enhanced from the existing 139% to 142% w.e.f. 01.01.2018.


Also Read : 7th CPC DA Order from January 2018 – FINMIN ORDER


3. The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s O.M.No.1(3)/2008-E.11(B) dated 29th August, 2008 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.

4. The contents of this Office Memorandum may also be brought to the notice of all organisations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay.

(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

Signed Copy

Income Tax Offices to Remain Open on 29th, 30th and 31st March, 2018

Income Tax Offices to Remain Open on 29th, 30th and 31st March, 2018

The last date for filing belated returns for Assessment Years 2016-17 and 2017-18 and revised returns for Assessment Year 2016-17 is 31st March, 2018. The Financial Year 2017-18 closes on 31st March, 2018 which is a Saturday. 29th & 30th March, 2018 are also closed holidays.

Therefore, to facilitate filing of Income Tax Returns and completion of associated work, all Income Tax Offices throughout India shall remain open on 29th, 30th and 31st March, 2018 respectively. The ASK Centers will also be kept open on these days. All efforts will be made to provide assistance to taxpayers and to facilitate filing of returns by them.

Telephone facilities and reimbursements to officers of Government of India : FINMIN Order

Provision of telephone facilities and reimbursements to officers of Government of India

F.No. 24(3)/E.Coord/2018
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, the 26th March 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject :- Provision of telephone facilities and reimbursements to officers of Government of India.

The Department of Expenditure has from time to time issued instructions on provision of telephone facilities, monetary ceilings on reimbursement to the officers of the Government of India. Given the increasing dependence on telecommunication technology including mobile telephones for carrying out official work, the existing instructions have been comprehensively reviewed, revised and the following instructions are hereby circulated for compliance by all Ministry/Departments, in supersession of all earlier instructions issued by this Department on the subject.

1. Official Telephones

1.1 All officers of the level of Deputy Secretary equivalent and above are entitled for office telephone with STD facility. For officers of the level below Deputy Secretary, Ministry/Departments may decide in consultation with the Financial Advisers on providing STD facility depending on their functional requirements.

1.2 ISD facility is allowed on official telephones in respect of Administrative Secretaries only.

1.3 All other cases for providing ISD facility on official telephone for officers of the level below Secretary to the Government of India may be decided by the Administrative Secretary in consultation with the concerned Financial Adviser.

1.4 Administrative Secretary/ Head of Departments may in consultation with the concerned Financial Adviser provide officers below the level of Deputy Secretary official telephones with STD facility on functional basis. This facility should not be given in a routine manner but extreme caution and austerity should be exercised.

1.5 Financial Advisors shall submit a half-yearly report to D/o Expenditure on the number of ISD facility concurred/approved during a financial year.

2. Residential telephones

2.1. All officers of the level of Deputy Secretary equivalent and above are entitled for one official residential landline telephone with STD facility.

2.2 Residential telephone can be allowed to officials below the rank of Deputy Secretary equivalent on functional basis subject to the condition that this facility shall be restricted to 25% of the sanctioned strength of Group ‘A’ officers in a Ministry/Department. This limit will equally apply to Attached and Subordinate offices.

2.3 ISD facility shall not be allowed on residential telephones.

2.4 Personal staff of Ministers [Private Secretary, Additional Private Secretary and 1st PA of Ministry] and Administrative Secretary [Principal Staff Officer (PSO)/ Senior Principal Private Secretary/ Principal Private Secretary/Private Secretary], Section Officer (Parliament) and Assistant Section Officer (Parliament) are entitled to the facility of one residential landline telephone.

3. Mobile Phone Handsets

3.1 Officers of the level of Secretary and equivalent will be entitled to reimbursement for one mobile handset costing not more than Rs.25,000/-(Rupees Twenty Five thousand only) once during the whole tenure. Global roaming facility shall not be allowed on the mobile connection.

4. Reimbursement of telephone call charges

4.1 Reimbursement of telephone call charges of residential telephone/ mobile phone/broadband/mobile data/data card shall be as per entitlement given below:

SI. No. Level/Designation Limit on reimbursement
1 Secretary to the Government of India and
equivalent level
Rs. 4200/- per month + taxes as applicable
2 Additional Secretary to the Government of India and equivalent level Rs. 3000/- per month + taxes as applicable
3 Joint Secretary to the Government of India and equivalent level Rs. 2700/- per month + taxes as applicable
4 Director/Deputy Secretary to the
Government of India and equivalent level
Rs. 2250/- per month + taxes as applicable
5 Below the rank of Deputy Secretary and
equivalent to the Government of India
(restricted to 50% of the sanctioned strength
of Group ‘A’ officers in a Ministry/
Department/Attached/Subordinate office)
Rs. 1200/- per month + taxes as applicable

4.2 No SIM/data-card will be provided by office.

4.3 There will be no separate ceiling for the landline/ mobile/broadband/mobile data/data card. The amount reimbursable will cover landline and / or mobile /broadband/mobile data/data card connection and shall be limited to the ceiling prescribed or as per actuals whichever is lower. Call charges over and above the ceiling prescribed along with taxes thereon shall be paid by the officers

4.4 The amount shall be reimbursed on submission of bills/receipt by the concerned officer. Officers are at liberty to choose the service provider and the tariff package for residential landline/mobile phones.

4.5 In case where husband and wife are sharing the same residential landline telephone and both are entitled for reimbursement, only one of them will be allowed reimbursement against the residential landline telephone. The claim for mobile phone charges shall be treated separately for each of the officer subject to the entitled ceiling.

4.6 Reimbursement for mobile will be restricted to the officer in whose name the mobile connection is registered.

4.7 The entitlement of an officer drawing pay in a scale intervening between that of Director and Joint Secretary would be at par with that of Deputy Secretary/Director.

4.8 Excess expenditure upto 30% of the ceiling amount (applicable to the officer) can be reimbursed to officers of Joint Secretary equivalent and above and also to Private Secretary/ Officers on Special Duty to the Ministers subject to their submitting a certificate, duly justifying that excess expenditure incurred was for official purpose and unavoidable. This reimbursement would require the concurrence of the Financial Adviser concerned and sanction of the Administrative Secretary/ Secretary Equivalent of the Department/ Organization. In so far as Secretary/ Secretary equivalent officer are concerned, they shall be competent to exercise the aforesaid powers in their own cases. The power to sanction this expenditure shall not be delegated.

4.9 Telephone reimbursement will not be admissible in cases of Leave (of any nature) and trainings which are for more than one calendar month (s).

5. Mobile Facility during official visits abroad

5.1 Officials and delegations visiting abroad for the purpose of short official visits/meeting/conferences/workshops may be provided SIM card by our Mission / Embassy. In case SIM card is not provided by our Mission / Embassy, there will be a monetary ceiling of Rs.2000/- per day for officer above the level of Additional Secretary and equivalent and Rs.1000/- per day for other officers towards reimbursement of call charges.

5.2 No mobile phone facility shall be provided during training period whatsoever including training abroad.

6. These orders shall be effective from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum.

(H.Atheli)
Director

Signed Copy

CGHS facilities to Retired Kendriya Vidyalaya Employees residing in Delhi / NCR

Extension of CGHS facilities to all retired employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan residing in Delhi/NCR- regarding

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN

F. No. 11086/O1/2012-KVS HQ (Admn.II)/75-85

Dated: 20.03.2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Extension of CGHS facilities to all retired employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan residing in Delhi/NCR- regarding.

Consequent upon KVS’s proposal on the subject vide letter dated 29.09.2017, the Deputy Secretary (UT), Ministry of Human Resource Development vide his letter No,F. 3-5/2011-UT-2 dated 02.02.2018 to be read with MHRD’s letter of even number dated 19.03.2018 has conveyed the decision of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi regarding extension of CGHS facilities to all retired employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan {KVS) residing in Delhi/NCR.

2. Accordingly, medical facility under the CGHS is extended to all retired employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan residing in Delhi/NCR.

The terms and conditions mentioned in the Office Memorandum of even number dated 21.08.2015 will remain the same.

(U.N.KHAWARE)
ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER (ACAD/ADMN.)

Signed Copy

Option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment – Ministry of Defence Order

Option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment – Ministry of Defence Order

No.1(20)/2017/D(Pay/Services)
Ministry of Defence
D (Pay/Services)

Sena Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated 22nd, March 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Availability of option for fixation of pay on promotion from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) in the lower post and method of fixation of pay from DNI, if opted for, in respect of Army Pay Rules 2017, Air Force Pay Rules 2017 and Navy Pay Regulations 2017 in respect of Officers and JCOs/OR equivalent.

Reference is invited to Special Army Instructions (SAI-2008), Special Air Force Instructions (SAFI-2008), Special Navy Instructions (SNI-2008) dated 11.10.2008 and Army Pay Rules 2017, Air Force Pay Rules 2017 and Navy Pay Regulations 2017 dated 3.5.2017 in respect of Officers and JCOs/OR equivalent.

2. In 6th CPC regime pay fixation on promotion in respect of Defence Services Personnel was governed by provisions contained in SAI-2008, SAFI-2008 and SNI-2008. These provisions regulates pay fixation on promotion, wherein an Officer has an option to get his pay fixed in the higher post either from the date of his promotion or from the date of next increment. Similarly, consequent upon implementation of ih CPC, the pay fixation on promotion from the date of promotion is regulated by Rule 12 of the Army Pay Rules 2017, Air Force Pay Rules 2017 and Navy Pay Regulations 2017 dated 3.5.2017 in respect of Officers and JCOs/OR equivalent. This methodology of fixation of pay on promotion to a post carrying duties and responsibilities of greater importance, of a Defence Services Personnel in case he opts for pay fixation from the Date of Next Increment (DNI) has been considered in this Department.

3. After due consideration in this matter, the following is decided as follows:

(i) A Defence Personnel, who is promoted or upgraded from one rank to another, subject to the fulfilment of the eligibility conditions as prescribed in the relevant Recruitment Rules, to another post carrying duties or responsibilities of greater importance than those attaching to the post held by him/her. Such, Defence Personnel may opt to have his/her pay fixed from the Date of his/her Next Increment (either 1st July or 1st January, as the case may be) accruing in the Level of the post from which he/she is promoted, except in cases of appointment on deputation basis to an ex-cadre post or on direct recruitment basis or appointment/promotion on ad-hoc basis, as applicable in the Defence Services.

(ii) In case, consequent upon his/her promotion, the Defence Personnel opts to have his/her pay fixed from the date of his/her next increment (either 1st July or 1st January, as the case may be) in the Level of the post from which Defence Personnel is promoted, then, from the date of promotion till his/her DNI, the Defence Personnel shall be placed at the next higher cell in the level of the post to which he/she is promoted.

illustration_defence_1

(iii) Subsequently, on DNI in the level of the post to which Defence Personnel is promoted, his/her Pay will be re-fixed and two increments (one accrued on account of annual increment and the second accrued on account of promotion) may be granted in the Level from which the Defence Personnel is promoted and he/she shall be placed, at a Cell equal to the figure so arrived, in the Level of the post to which he/she is promoted; and if no such Cell is available in the Level to which he/she is promoted, he/she shall be placed at the next higher Cell in that Level.illus_defence_2

(iv) In such cases where Defence Personnel opts to have his/her pay fixed from the date of his/her next increment in the Level of the post from which he/she is promoted, the next increment as well as Date of Next Increment (DNI) will be regulated accordingly.

4. It is further reiterated that in order to enable the officials to exercise the option within the time limit prescribed, the option clause for pay fixation on promotion with effect from date of promotion/DNI shall invariably be incorporated in the promotion/appointment order, as per applicability, so that there are no cases of delay in exercising the options due to administrative lapse.

5. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance vide their ID No. 4-23/2017-IC/E.III (A) dated 22.3.2018.

sd/-
(Prashant Rastogi)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Signed Copy

Appointment on compassionate grounds – Railway Order

Appointment on compassionate grounds : Second Marriage Policy Order

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

*****

RBE No. 42/2018

No. E(NG)II/2018/RC-1/5

New Delhi, dated 21.03.2018

The General Manager(P)
All Indian Railways & PUs.

Sub: Appointment on compassionate grounds.

The issue of considering appointment on compassionate grounds(CG) to sons/daughters, born through other than first legally married wife has been engaging the attention of this Ministry for quite some time, in the backdrop of partial quashing of CG related instructions contained in this Ministry’s letter dated 02.01.1992 regarding such appointments, by the Hon’ble High Court/Calcutta in the case(WPCT 20 of 2009) Namita Goldar & Ors. Vs UOI & Others.

2. In this regard, Railway Board has taken into account following observations of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, on the subject of CG appointment, in the case of State Bank of India & another Vs Rajkumar, (Civil appeal No. 1641 of 2010):

“it is now well settled that appointment on compassionate grounds is not a source of recruitment. On the other hand it is an exception to the general rule that recruitment to public services should be on the basis of merit, by an open invitation providing equal opportunity to all eligible persons to participate in the selection process. The dependants of employees, who die in harness, do not have any special claim or right to employment, except by way of the concession that may be extended by the employer under the Rules or by a separate scheme, to enable the family of the deceased to get over the sudden financial crisis. The claim for compassionate appointment is, therefore, traceable only to the scheme framed by the employer for such employment and there is no right whatsoever out side such scheme…..”

3. Railway Board has also taken into account following observation of Hon’ble High Court of Jharkhand (Ranchi) in writ petition No. WP(S) 16 of 2014 (pronounced on 24.07.2014) “Compassionate appointment is a matter of policy of the employer and the employer cannot be compelled to provide compassionate appointment contrary to its policy/scheme. When there is specific circular which clearly provides that the children of second marriage of the employee shall not be eligible for compassionate appointment, no direction can be issued to the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner.”


Also Read : Consolidated Instructions on compassionate appointment


4. The matter has been examined and in supersession of this Ministry’s letter dated 02.01.1992 issued under RBE No. 01/1992 and No. E(NG)II/2012/RC-1/21 dated 03.04.2013, it has been decided that the first right of being considered for compassionate grounds appointment is vested, in cases of death of Railway servants while in service, with the legally wedded surviving widow provided she has not remarried at the time of making request for appointments on compassionate grounds. It is clarified that in cases of those Railway Servants who are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, there can only be one legally wedded wife/widow, as second marriage, while spouse is living, is void/voidable in view of the Section 5(1) read with Section 11 of the Act. In this respect, Railway Board’s letter No. E(D&A)92 GS 1-1 dated 10.04.1992 connects.

5. If aforementioned legally wedded surviving widow does not want herself to be considered for compassionate grounds appointment, she can nominate, for CG appointment, a “bread winner” for the family from amongst the following:

(a) In cases of those Railway Servants who are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 : Son(including adopted son); or daughter(including widowed/ adopted/married/divorced daughter). However, if such Railway Servant has left sons/daughters, who have been treated as legitimate or deemed to be legitimate, under Section 16 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, neither widow can nominate them as bread winner for CG appointment nor such sons/daughters can claim CG appointment.

(b) In cases of those Railway Servants who are governed by their respective Personal Laws: Son(including adopted son); or daughter(including widowed/ adopted/married/divorced daughter). However, if such Railway Servant has left sons/daughters through second/subsequent legally valid marriages, i.e. other than through first wife and deceased Railway Servant have failed to obtain requisite permission for such second/subsequent marriage as required under section 21 (relating to restrictions regarding marriage) of the Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966, neither first widow/second/subsequent widow can nominate such sons/daughters as bread winner for CG appointment nor such sons/daughters can claim CG appointment. Moreover, such second/subsequent widow also would not have any right to seek compassionate grounds appointment.

6. All Zonal Railway/PUs/Units are directed to decide cases accordingly.

Please acknowledge receipt.

(Neeral Kumar)
Director Estt. (N)II,
Railway Board.

Signed Copy

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