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Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by Parliament

Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by Parliament

The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed by parliament today.The bill ensures harmony amongst employees in the private sector and Public Sector Undertakings/Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules. These employees will be entitled to receive higher amount of gratuity at par with their counterparts in Government sector. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha today and the Lok Sabha on 15th March, 2018.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons. The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workman after retirement, whether retirement is a result of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and establishments.

The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs. 10 Lakh.

The provisions for Central Government employees under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar. Before implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 was Rs. 10 Lakh. However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, in case of Government servants, the ceiling has been raised to Rs. 20 Lakhs.

Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of employees engaged in private sector, this Government decided that the entitlement of gratuity should also be revised in respect of employees who are covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Accordingly, the Government initiated the process for amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 to increase the maximum limit of gratuity to such amount as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.

In addition, the Bill also envisages to amend the provisions relating to calculation of continuous service for the purpose of gratuity in case of female employees who are on maternity leave from ‘twelve weeks’ to such period as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.

After enactment of the Act, the power to notify the ceiling of the amount of gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 shall stand delegated to the Central Government so that the limit can be revised from time to time keeping in view the increase in wage and inflation and future pay commissions.

Rates of Small Savings Schemes from Jan 2018 to Mar 2018

Rates of small savings schemes 

The revised Rates of Interest on various Small Savings Schemes Including Saving Deposits, Public Provident Fund, Kisan Vikas Patra and Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts Scheme for the 4th Quarter of financial year 2017-18 is as below:

Instrument Rate of interest w.e.f. 01.01.2018 to 31.03.2018
Savings Deposit 4.0
1 Year Time Deposit 6.6
2 Year Time Deposit 6.7
3 Year Time Deposit 6.9
5 Year Time Deposit 7.4
5 Year Recurring Deposit 6.9
5 Year Senior Citizen Savings Scheme 8.3
5 Year Monthly Income Account 7.3
5 Year National Savings Certificate 7.6
Public Provident Fund Scheme 7.6
Kisan Vikas Patra 7.3 (will mature in 118 months)
Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme 8.1

This was stated by Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

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LTC Facility to Visit SAARC Countries

LTC Facility to Visit SAARC Countries

A proposal of Leave Travel Concession (LTC) facility to Central Government employees to visit SAARC countries was found not feasible and decided not to take it forward, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed in the Loksabha Q&A Session

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 4333
ANSWERED ON: 21.03.2018

LTC Facility to Visit SAARC Countries

RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

Will the Minister of
PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government had announced in the year 2015 to allow the Central Government employees to visit SAARC countries on Leave Travel Concession (LTC) in order to promote mutual tourism among the SAARC countries;

(b) if so, the details and the present status thereof;

(c) the reasons for not providing such LTC facility even after the lapse of three years; and

(d) the time by which the orders are likely to be issued in this regard?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (d): A proposal of Leave Travel Concession (LTC) facility to Government employees to SAARC countries with a purpose to enhance people to people contact and boost relations in the SAARC region was examined by the Government and after thorough examination of all aspects involved, the proposal was found not feasible and decided not to take it forward.

Source : Loksabha

No plan to change retirement age of Central Government Employees

No plan to change retirement age of Central Government Employees

There is no changes in the retirement age of central government employees, Dr.Jitendra Singh informed in the LokSabha Q&A Session, check the complete Question & Answer below :

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 4181
ANSWERED ON: 21.03.2018

Retirement Age

BANSHILAL MAHTO
Will the Minister of

PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government proposes to change the retirement age of Central Government employees; and

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a): No Madam.

(b): Not applicable in view of (a) above.

 

Source : LokSabha

Simplification of Pension Procedure -submission of Life Certificate

Simplification of Pension Procedure -submission of Life Certificate

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE
TRIKOOT-II, BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE
NEW DELHI-110066
PHONES : 26174596, 26174456, 26174438

CPAO/1T &Tech/Bank Performance/37 (Vol-III)/2017-18/208

19.03.2018

Office Memorandum

Subject:- Simplification of Pension Procedure – submission of Life Certificate.

Attention is invited to CPAO’s OM No. CPAO/Tech/Simplification/2012-13/325 dated-18.02.2013 on the above subject whereby it was decided to submit the life certificate to any branch of the authorized bank through which pension of pensioners/ family pensioners is being disbursed. Format of acknowledgement to be given by the Life Certificates receiving branch to the pensioner/family pensioner was circulated vide this office OM No. CPAO/IT&Tech/ Scheme Booklet/2015-16/1666 dated-16.10.2015 which was reiterated vide OM No.CPAO/IT&Tech/Jeevan Pramaan/ 2015-16/ 1680 dated-09.11.2015.

But, it is observed that bank branches are still not providing the acknowledgement of Life Certificate to the pensioners/family pensioners. Moreover, it has been observed that they do not forward the same to their CPPCs, resulting in stoppage of pension/ family pension which causes undue financial hardship to the pensioners/ family pensioners.

In view of the above, Heads of CPPCs and Heads of Government Business Divisions of all the authorized banks are requested to issue necessary instructions to all their branches to provide the acknowledgement of Life Certificate to the pensioner/ family pensioner without fail and forward the same to the concerned CPPCs for necessary action.

(Md. Shahid Kamal Ansari)
(Asstt. Controller of Accounts)

Signed Copy

Railways drive against employees on unauthorized absence

Railways drive against employees on unauthorized absence 
In November, 2017, a drive was launched by the Railways to identify employees on unauthorised absence in various Zonal Railways and Production Units. A total of 13,521 employees were reported to be on unauthorised absence, the details of which are given below. Appropriate action under Disciplinary and Appeal Rules has been initiated against such absentees.
Break up of 13,521 Employees on unauthorised absence(Provisional) 
Zonal Railway/Production Unit No of Absentees
Central 1375
East Coast 683
East Central 1792
Eastern 1214
North Central 844
North Eastern 358
Northern 1301
North Western 360
South Central 650
South East Central 274
South Eastern 829
Southern 1476
South Western 216
West Central 550
Western 1414
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works 34
Diesel Locomotive Works 6
Diesel Loco Modernisation Works 6
Integral Coach Factory 115
Rail Coach Factory 19
Rail Wheel Factory 5
Total of Railways and PUs 13521

This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

 

Salary / Pension to Retired Employees

Salary / Pension to Retired Employees

Central Government civil servants appointed before 1.1.2004 are governed by the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. In accordance with Rule 49 of these rules, on retirement after completing a qualifying service of not less than 10 years, a Government servant is entitled to a pension calculated @ 50% per cent of his last drawn pay or 50% of the average of last 10 months’ pay, whichever is more beneficial to him, subject to a minimum of Rs. 9,000/- per month and a maximum of Rs.1,25,000/- per month.

A Government servant appointed on or after 1.1.2004 is governed by the National Pension System. Under this system, a Government servant is required to mandatorily contribute during service 10% of his pay and dearness allowance to his pension account and an equal amount of 10% of pay and dearness allowance is contributed by the Government to the employee’s pension account. On retirement on superannuation, the retiring Government employee is mandatorily required to invest at least 40% of the accumulated pension wealth to purchase an annuity from an insurance company regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) and a maximum of 60% of the accumulated pension wealth is given to the individual in lump sum.

On retirement, all Government servants are entitled to a retirement gratuity based on their qualifying service subject to a maximum of Rs.20 lakh.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

Charges against Government Officials – LokSabha Q&A

Charges against Government Officials

No such consolidated data is maintained by this Department regarding vigilance probe for the charges of misappropriation of public funds and income more than the known sources against officers of All India Services and other Allied Central Services. However, for officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) is the Cadre Controlling Authority (CCA) and for Indian Police Service (IPS), the CCA is Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

As per available information, sanction for prosecution on the specific charges of misappropriation of public funds and disproportionate assets has been issued against 12 IAS/IPS officers in the last three years (2015-2017).

Further, 01 retired IAS/IPS officer was convicted on corruption charges, and 02 IAS/IPS officers were terminated from service in the last three years on charges of misappropriation of funds.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

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Maternity Leave and Pension

Maternity Leave and Pension

Hon’ble Delhi High Court vide its judgement dated 17.07.2015 in the Writ Petition (C) No. 844/2014 – Rama Pandey vs. Union of India &Ors., has laid down that a female employee, who is the commissioning mother, would be entitled to apply for maternity leave. Department of Personnel and Training, after examination of the judgement, has circulated it to all Ministries/Departments for wide publicity vide Office Memorandum dated 29.01.2018.

In accordance with the Office Memorandum No. 1/13/09- P&PW (E) dated 19th July, 2017, family pension would also be granted to a divorced daughter from the date of divorce in cases where the divorce proceedings had been filed in a competent court during the life-time of the employee/pensioner or his/her spouse but divorce took place after their death, subject to fulfilment of all other conditions for grant of family pension.

No centralized data regarding grant of pension/family pension by the various Pension Disbursing authorities is maintained.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

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Opening of Government Office on Holidays

Opening of Office on Holidays

As per Fundamental Rules (F.R.) No.11, the whole time of a Government servant is at the disposal of the Government which pays him, he may be employed in any manner required by proper authority without claim for additional remuneration.

Sometimes with a view to meeting the exigencies of work such as when a Government business has to be transacted immediately or a deadline is to be met, the Head of Office can, in the interests of public service, take a decision to keep the offices open fully or partially even on public holidays. The staff who are deployed on official duty on public holidays are, however, compensated by granting them compensatory leave.

Need for laying down procedure for registering complaints in case of any Government/private office remaining open on public holidays has not been felt.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singhin a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

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