7th CPC – Revision of pension of pre-2016 Non DAD Defence Civilian Pensioners
Office of the Controller General of Defence Accounts Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt – 110010
(URGENT)
No.AT/II/2701/Pre-2016/Pen Rev/Report
Dated : 12 Oct 2017
To
All PCsDA/CsDA/PCA (Fys)/CFA (Fys)
(Through CGDA website)
Subject: Implementation of Government’s decision on the recommendations of the 7th CPC – Revision of pension of pre-2016 Non DAD Defence Civilian Pensioners/Family Pensioners, etc.
Reference: This HQrs office letters No.AT/II/2701/Orders dated 07-06-2017 and 27-09-2017.
As per HQrs office letter cited above it was requested to forward a monthly report in respect of notional revision of pay as on 01.01.2016 in terms of DOPP&W OM dated 12.05.2017 and approval of revised LPC cum data sheet. However, it is observed that the said report is not being furnished regularly to HQrs Office by most of the PCsDA/CsDA, which has been viewed with concern by the higher authorities.
2. More over, as the progress of notional revision of pay as on 01.01.2016 in terms of DOPP&W OM dated 12.05.2017 and approval of revised LPC cum data sheet for forwarding to PCDA (P) Allahabad is being monitored at Ministry level, it has been decided to collect this information from all controllers on a fortnightly basis starting from 1st Nov 2017. The Report will be rendered for both Civilians and Services as per format enclosed with this letter in separate annexures.
3.Following instructions may be followed strictly while rendering this report:
a.The report will be rendered separately for Civilians Non DAD, Civilians DAD and Services. Necessary formats have been enclosed for each.
b.The report henceforth will be rendered on 1st and 16th of every month (the next working day in case of closed holidays on these dates).
c.The report will be rendered only through email at “[email protected]” and only in excel format. The email should contain in subject title ” Notional Pay fixation Report (1st/2nd Fortnight – Month)”.
d.Henceforth only one report should be rendered to this HQrs. Report instituted vide this HQrs AT V section letters AT/V/DAD/15101/Circular/2017 dated 01-08-2017 and 23-08-2017 stand subsumed. This HQ letters of dated 7th June 2017 and 27th Sept 2017 cited under reference also stand superseded.
e. NIL reports in any category should also be indicated.
f. The column indicating total No. of Govt Servants who retired/expired prior to 01-01-2016 must be completed even if actual cases have not been received.
4.It has been learnt that many units are submitting notional pay fixation proformas and the LPC cum Data sheet separately causing disposal in two instances leading to delays. All units may be advised to submit the notional pay fixation proformas along with LPC Cum Datasheet only for speedier disposal. However, any pay fixation proforma already received may not be returned.
5.The controllers are advised to immediately establish dedicated cells in their offices for effective monitoring of this exercise. The cells should be functioning under the nodal officer nominated for the purpose. Staff for the cell should be organized from resources available with respective controllers. However, requirement of additional staff for the cell and other aspects related to this work may be met by hiring retired govt servants for which separate proposals may be submitted to HQrs Office.
6.All controllers may nominate an IDAS officer as nodal officer for the purpose whose name, designation and contact details including email ID may be sent along with first report to be rendered on 1st Nov 2017.
Dearness Allowance to Haryana Government Employees from July 2017
No.4/3/2016-5FR/30416
GOVERNMENT OF HARYANA
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Dated, Chandigarh,
Dated : 23rd October,2017
To
All the Heads of Department and Commissioners of Divisions
All the Deputy commissioners and Sub Divisional Officers (civil) in Haryana
The Registrar, General punjab & Haryana High court, Chandigarh
Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Haryana Government Employees on revised scales of pay i.e. 4% to 5% effective from 01.07.2017.
Sir/Madam
I am directed to invite a reference to Finance Department circular letter No.4/3/2016-5FR/11964 dated 18th April,2017 on the subject noted above and to say that the Governor of Haryana is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Haryana Government Employees on revised scales of pay shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 4% to 5% of the pay w.e.f. 1st July, 2017.
2. The installment of Dearness Allowance payable under these orders shall be paid in cash to all Haryana government employees with the salary for the month of October,2017 to be paid in November,2017.
3.The payment of arrears of enhanced Dearness Allowance for the month from July,2017 to September,2017 shall be made in the month of November,2017.
4.The provision contained in para 3,4,5, & 7 in FD’s instruction No.4/3/2016-5FR/35222 dated 25th November,2016 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these instructions.
5. Copy of these orders may also be downloaded from the web site www.finhry.gov.in
Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Omwati)
Under Secretary Finance
for Additional chief Secretary to Government Haryana
Finance Department
RBI clarifies that linking Aadhaar to bank accounts is mandatory
Some news items have appeared in a section of the media quoting a reply to a Right to Information Act application that Aadhaar number linkage with bank accounts is not mandatory.
The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2017.
These Rules have statutory force and, as such, banks have to implement them without awaiting further instructions.
• Visit CGHS Portal cghs.nic.in
• Click beneficiary login
• Enter your Ben Id, password and sign in
• Click Update Email
• Enter OTP sent on your registered Mobile
• Enter your email ID
• Update your email ID
• Similarly email ID for other family members can be updated
Subject: Clarification regarding pay fixation under 7th CPC for the post of ‘Trainee’ appointed on compassionate grounds.
Reference: This HQrs Circular of even no dated 01/02/2016.
With reference to the above cited circular, Ministry of Finance Dept. of Expenditure to whom the matter was referred has since clarified as under:
“Level -1 of the Pay Matrix introduced on implementation of the 7th CPC Report be the replacement for the pre-revised —IS scale. The pay of those governed by the IS scale may be revised by using the fitment factor of 2.57 for placement in Level -1 in conformity with the Rule 7 of the CCS(RP)Rules 2016. All pre-revised pay stages lower than pre-revised pay of Rs 7000 in the pre-revised —IS scale shall not be considered for determining the benefit of bunching, on the same lines as has been clarified by MoF(DoE)’s OM dated 3.08.2017 on application of the benefit on account of bunching”.
2.This is for your information and necessary action please. All pay fixation cases may be regulated accordingly.
7th CPC Implementation for Post-2016 retired Armed Forces Pensioners / Family Pensioners : Reg. New PPO Series.
Office of the Principal CDA(Pensions)
Draupadi Ghat, Allahabad- 211014
Circular No.588
Dated: 20.10.2017
To
1. The Chief Accountant, RBI, Deptt. Of Govt Bank Accounts, Central Office, C-7, Second Floor, Bandra-Kurla Complex, P B No. 8143, Bandra East, Mumbai- 400051
2. CMDs, All Public Sector Banks.
3. The Nodal Officers, ICICI/HDFC/AXIS/IDBI Banks
4. All Managers, CPPCs
5. Military and Air Attache, Indian Embassy, Kathmandu, Nepal
6. The PCDA (WC), Chandigarh
7. The CDA (PD), Meerut
8. The CDA, Chennai
9. PCDA(O), Pune
10. The Director of Treasuries, All States
11. The Pay and Accounts Officer, Delhi Administration, R K Puram; and Tis Hazari, New Delhi.
12. The Pay and Accounts Office, Govt of Maharashtra, Mumbai
13. The Post Master, Kathua (J&K), and Camp Bell Bay.
14. The Principal Pay and Accounts Officer, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Port Blair.
Subject: Implementation of Govt. decision on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission in respect of the Post-01.01.2016 retired Armed Forces Pensioners/ Family Pensioners : Reg. New PPO Series.
**************
Office of the PCDA (Pension) Allahabad was in the process to implement e-PPO’s for all categories of pensioners. In the first phase, corrigendum PPOs to revise pension of Pre- 2016 defence civilian pensioners have been issued through e-PPOs. Various PDAs have already revised pension of such pensioners. A new PPO series was introduced for these corrigendum PPOs which contained 12 digits with PPO suffix of 4 digits. For this purpose, only electronic PPOs (e-PPO) were generated which were digitally signed. No physical PPO was printed and sent to any agency. These new PPO (e-PPO) also contained a QR code wherein all important data was embedded. This QR code could be used by PDA’s to capture the data.
2. Now, it has been decided to discontinue issue of physical PPOs in respect of ICOs and JCOs/ORs of Indian Army w.e.f. October, 2017. In other words, in respect of fresh retirees of Indian Army (retiring or being discharged) from the month of October, 2017, only e-PPO will be issued with following features
(a) These documents will be digitally signed.
(b) These PPOs will contain 16 digits to identify the PPO (12 digits PPO No. and 4 digits as PPO suffix).
(c) They will contain a QR code where data of various fields will be embedded.
3. These e-PPOs will be sent to the banks through SFTP connectivity which this office has established with various banks. Other banks, with whom there is no SFTP connectivity, are advised to immediately take necessary measures to establish the same. In the interim period till the time they establish SFTP connectivity, PPOs will be sent through email id [email protected] . Similarly, these PPOs will be sent to DPDOs through the CGDA WAN. Other PDAs such as Director of all State Treasuries; IE Kathmandu, Nepal; Post Office, Kathua; PAO, Delhi etc are requested to kindly immediately provide an email ID of .nic or any other domain under control of government for this purpose. Regarding submission of e-Scroll, PDAs are requested to refer to para 6 of this office Circular No. C- 169 dated 11.07.2017. All PDAs are requested to strictly follow the procedure prescribed
therein.
4. The procedure of forwarding the e-PPOs will be as under:
(a) For JCOs/ORs: A copy of e-PPOs, duly digitally signed, will be sent electronically to Record Offices (ROs). The concerned RO, after scrutinising and checking the e-PPO, is requested to forward a hard copy of the e-PPO (after printing from the PDF file) along with Descriptive Roll of the pensioner to PDA concerned. ROs are also requested to kindly provide a copy of the e-PPO to the Armed Forces Pensioners/ Family Pensioners for their record either as hard copy or through e-mail as deemed fit. If any discrepancy is observed by the RO in e-PPO or death occurs before the date of retirement/discharge, then this fact may be immediately brought to the notice of PSA for remedial measures. PDAs are advised to affect payment based on e-PPO after confirmation from Record Office concerned in the form of receipt of hard copy of e-PPO and Descriptive Roll.
(b) For Commissioned Officers: A copy of e-PPOs, duly digitally signed, will be sent electronically to Army HQ. In order to have enhanced security in the process, the Army HQ after scrutinising and checking the e-PPO, is requested to forward a hard copy of the e-PPO (after printing from the PDF file) to the PDA concerned. The Army HQ is also requested to kindly provide a copy of the e-PPO to the Armed Forces Pensioners/ Family Pensioners for their record either as hard copy or through e-mail as deemed fit. If any discrepancy is observed by the Army HQ in e-PPO or death occurs before the date of retirement, then this fact may be immediately brought to the notice of PSA for remedial measures. PDAs may commence the payment of pension on basis of e-PPO and Descriptive Roll from this office and hard copy of e-PPO received through Army HQ.
One copy of the e-PPO will also be sent to the PCDA(O) , Pune in respect of all Commissioned Officers. PCDA(O), Pune is requested to check all entries printed in the e- PPO with reference to the LPC-Cum-Datasheet forwarded by them. In case any discrepancy is noticed, the same should be immediately brought into the notice of this office.
5. Process of verification of e-PPOs; PDAs shall take the following steps:
(a) On receipt of e-PPOs though the medium specified above, PDAs shall verify the genuineness of the digital signature affixed on the e-PPO.
(b) Name of authorised signatories who have been provided digital signature through e- Mudra by this office for signing of e-PPO digitally will be made available on website of PCDA(P) Allahabad at URL www.pcdapension.nic.in. All PDAs are requested to refer to the website of this office and check the name of such authorised signatories for the purpose of digital signature on e-PPO accordingly in order to ensure that no PPO with unauthorised signature is acted upon.
(c) PDAs shall wait for the confirmation from the Army HQ / Record Office as the case may be, before releasing the first payment and starting pension payment monthly.
(d) It shall also be confirmed by the PDA that the payment is not being released again in respect of same PPO number (including the PPO suffix of 4 digits) to the pensioner inter-alia due to duplicate receipt of e-PPO. In such a scenario, the PDA will inform the PSA that the event of duplicate transmission of the given PPO has been detected and no action on such e-PPOs except the first one has been taken. 6. Pension certificate issued by this office in respect of JCOs/ORs is discontinued with immediate effect.
7. The PPO series circulated by this office Circular No. 571 dated 19.12.2016 in case of JCO/ORs and Circular No. 27 dated 24.11.2016 in case of ICOs stand withdrawn with immediate effect except for those PPO’s which pertain to blocks of manual PPO’s. Also, PPO series for Defence Civilians which have been circulated by this office will continue to be in force till e-PPOs are started in respect of Defence Civilians by this office.
8. The change statement regarding addition or deletion of pensioners on the strength of the Pension Disbursing Authorities may be forwarded to this office in Annexure “E” to this office Circular No. 189 dated 28.02.2017 in CSV format to e-mail ID pcdap- [email protected] . A hard copy of this change statement may also be forwarded to Shri K K Pant, SAO, O I/C Audit Section, Office of the Principal CDA (P), Allahabad-211014 in usual manner in terms of Para 17 of Annexure ‘H’ to Scheme for payment of pension of Defence Pensioners by Public Sector Banks and para 126 of Defence Pension Payment Instructions (DPPI) -2013.
9. Separate communication will be issued by office of PCDA(Navy) Mumbai and Office of CDA(AF) New Delhi regarding implementation of e-PPO in respect of Pensioners of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force respectively.
Fixation of Pay and Grant of Increment in revised pay structure – CGDA Clarification
CGDA, Ulan Batar Road, Palam, Delhi Cantt-110010
No. AN/XIV/14164/7th CPC/Corr/Vol-II
Dated: 18/10/2017
To
All PCsDA/CsDA
PCof A(Fys) Kolkata
Subject : Fixation of Pay and grant of increment in revised pay structure clarification – regarding.
The matter regarding fixation of pay under 7th CPC in respect of employees promoted between 1st day of January and the date of notification of CCS(RP)Rules 2016 and methodology to be adopted in such cases has already been furnished by HQrs vide letter bearing No. AN/XIV/14164/7th CPC/Corr/Vol-I dated 8.09.2016. Further, on receipt of Dept of Expenditure OM dated 29.09.2016 , the same was circulated to all controllers for necessary action regarding refixation of pay in such cases. Also , references on above subject received from Controllers was suitably replied in the light of above orders.
3. Of late, this HQrs has been receiving various references regarding application of the orders issued by AT-II Section of this office vide their letter No. AT/II/2703/Clar dated 28.04.2017 thereby seeking clarification regarding availability of option to switch over to 7th CPC from 07/2016 in cases where the official has been promoted between 1st January 2016 and the date of notification.
The matter was referred to MoD(Fin.) DAD Coord for taking up the matter with Ministry of Finance (Dept. of Expenditure) for issuing necessary clarification in this regard.
4. In reply, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their No. 300346981 dated 14.09.2017 received under MoD(Fin) ID No. 1333/C/2017 dated 18.09.2017 have clarified that -“the option to switch over to the revised pay structure either on 01.01.2016 or the date of next increment is applicable under Rule 5 of CCS(RP)Rules 2016 in case of post held on 01.01.2016.
Further, they have clarified that if the date of next increment on 01.07.2016 for a post held on 01.01.2016 falls after the date of promotion, then the date of next increment for the post held on 01.01.2016 has no relevance for option. Thus, the option cannot be exercised from 01.07.2016 to switch over to revised pay structure . (copy attached)
5. This is for information and necessary action.
(Kavita Garg)
Sr.Dy.CGDA (AN)
Ministry of Defence (Finance) DAD-Coord Room No. 24-A, South Block, New Delhi
Subject : Fixation of Pay under CCS (RP) Rules 2016: Clarification regarding.
CGDA’s office UO Note No. AN/XIV/14164/7th CPC/Con /Vol-II dated 30.06.2017 on the above subject placed at pages-1-2 ante may kindly be perused.
2. Rule 5 of CCS(RP) Rules 2016 prescribes that
i) A Government servant may elect to continue to draw pay in the existing pay structure until the date on which he earns his next increment in the existing pay structure or until he vacates his post or ceases to draw pay in the existing pay structure.
ii) Provided further that in cases where a government has been placed in higher pay or scale between 01.01.2016 and the date of notification of these rules (25.07.2016) on accounts of promotion or up-gradation, the Government servant may elect to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion or up-gradation, as the case may be.
3. The relevant detail of the instant case is appended below:
(i) Shri Vinod Anand, IDAS (Retd) was promoted from Junior Time Scale to Senior Time Scale with effect from 03.06.2016. His pay was fixed on his promotion as under:
(ii) However, Shri Vinod Anand, IDAS (Retd) has submitted that his pay should be fixed as per the clarification of MoD D(Civ-I):
iii) Department has earlier referred the case to MoD D (Civ) [nodal wing of MoD dealing with pay matters] vide UO Note dated 28.02.2017 (P-9/c) duly supported with orders of pay fixation carried out by Ministry of Home Affairs and UPSC (P-5/C & overleaf). MoD D (Civ) clarified (P-10/C) that the provisions of Rule 5 of CCS (RP) Rules 2016 arc very clear and opined that the pay fixation order of UPSC seems to be correct and in consonance with the provisions mentioned in CCS (RP) Rules. However, MoD D (Civ) also mentioned that in case further clarification is required matter may be referred;: to Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure.
(iv) CGDA’s office after having re-examined the case in light the clarification of MOD D(Civ-l) has opined that that a Government servant who has already vacated the post before 01.07.2016 on account of promotion/up-gradation cannot continue in the pre-revised scale up to the date of increment 07/2016 and hence can either elect to switch over to revised pay structure from 01.01.2016 or from the date of such promotion as laid down under Rule 5 of CCS (RP) Rules (P-2/C).
3. Ministry has been requested to take up the matter with Ministry of Finance, Implementation Cell for clarifying whether the pay fixation order as affiluied by MoD(Civ-I)’ can be implemented for regulation of pay fixation under 7th CPC. The case has been sent with the approval of Jt. CGDA.
4. The matter has been examined and it appears that provisions contained in rule 5 of CCS(RPR) Rules, 2016 are not absolutely in agreement with each other since different interpretations have been made by various organizations viz. CGDA and MoD D(Civ.)/UPSC/Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with the cases of pay fixation where individuals granted promotions after 01.01.2016 have opted for benefit of pay fixation with effect from the date of next increment viz. 01.07.2016 in the existing pay structure and then wished to switch over to CCS(RPR) Rules, 2016. In the instant case if the case is strictly regulated in accordance with second proviso to rule 5 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2016, the same puts the individual to a considerable recurring loss in pay fixation as brought out in pa 3(i) & (ii) above. Hence, the matter needs to be examined by the nodal ministry viz. Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure for issue of instructions with regard to manner of pay fixation in such cases.
5. In view of the position explained above, if kindly approved we may request Ministry of Finance, Implementation Cell to examine the issue and favour this Ministry with clarification as the matter is not free from doubt in regard to manner of fixation of pay in respect of officials promoted/upgraded during 01.01.2016 till the date of notification viz. 25.07.20.16, who have opted to switch over to CCS(RP) Rules wef date of next increment viz 1.7.2016.
Dearness Allowances calculated based on the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPIN).
Two different calculation formula for 6th & 7th CPC Pay scales.
How to calculate Dearness Allowance
Formula for 7th CPC Pay Scale
Average of 12 Months AICPIN – 261.4 x 100 / 261.4
Formula for 6th CPC Pay Scale
Average of 12 Months AICPIN – 115.76 x 100 / 115.76
Based on the formula we have created two different DA Calculation sheet for CG Employees.
1.7th CPC DA Calculation Sheet for CG Employees from January 2016
2.6th CPC DA Calculation Sheet for CG Employees continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised pay scale / Grade Pay as per 6th Central Pay Commission.
DOPT ORDER – MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE HELD BETWEEN THE STAFF-SIDE, NATIONAL COUNCIL (JOINT CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY) AND THE OFFICIAL-SIDE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SECRETARY(P) AT 3.00 P.M. ON 03.05.2017
The meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Council (JCM) was held at 3.00 p.m. on 03.05.2017 under the Chairmanship of Secretary (P) at Room No. 119, North Block, New Delhi. The list of participants is at Annexure.
2. In his introductory comments, Secretary(Personnel) while welcoming the participants, mentioned that the agenda for the meeting included the action taken statement on the 31 items discussed in the last meeting held on 25.10.2016 and 26 additional items received from the Staff Side.
3. (i) In his opening remarks, Secretary, Staff-Side thanked the Chairman for convening the meeting and urged that as per the JCM Scheme, the meetings of the National Council should be held on quarterly basis. He also pointed out that the meeting of the National Council under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary has not been held since 2010 which, he emphasized, was against the spirit and the basic principle of the JCM Scheme. This view was seconded by other representatives of the Staff-Side.
(ii) Secretary (Staff-Side) further requested to know the present position on the basic demands made by the Central Government employees about minimum wages, fitment formula, reversion to the old pension scheme and the report of the Committee of Allowances. He recalled that when a notice for strike was given in 2016, the senior Cabinet Ministers in the Central Government had met the staff side representatives and assured a positive decision on the aforesaid demands. Although that strike was deferred on this assurance, the central govt. employees are still waiting. Consequently, it is getting difficult to make the central government employees understand the reasons for delay in fulfilment of the assurances then given by the Senior Cabinet Ministers.
(iii) Hence Secretary, Staff-Side requested the Chairman to convey to the Cabinet Secretary and Chairman, National Council (JCM) the duty to meet the Government employees in accordance with the JCM Scheme to avoid an atmosphere of confrontation.
(iv) He stated that a number of agenda items proposed by the Staff-Side have been deleted and no formal communication has been sent to them on the reasons for deletion. He requested that the views of official side on this may be communicated to them. This sentiment was echoed by other members of the StaffSide. He also mentioned that the senior Cabinet Ministers had issued a statement about constitution of a High Level Committee to look into the aforesaid basic demands made by the Staff Side while giving the strike notice. However, even after more than 10 months, nothing has happened and only one meeting was taken by Additional Secretary in Department of Expenditure.
(v) On allowances, he informed that there is a lot of uncertainty on whether the allowances would become admissible prospectively or from 01.01.2016 i.e., the date of implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission.
(vi) The following points were also raised by Leader JCM (Staff-Side):
(a) The assurance given by Senior Ministers on 30t h June 2016 on 7th CPC issues-mainly minimum wage and multiplying factor have not been fulfilled. Only one meeting was held by Addl. Secretary (Expenditure) with the Staff side and thereafter nothing is known with regard to progress made even though 10 months passed.
(b) On 7th CPC recommendation for revision of pension on the basis of option the contents of the Committee’s Report are not made available to the JCM (Staff Side). There is need to see that transparency is ensured for preserving healthy industrial relations.
(c) On Allowances, the Leader JCM (Staff Side) expressed disappointment as there has been no positive outcome even after lapse of several months. He requested the Chairman that the JCM (Staff Side) demand to revise the Allowances w.e.f. 01/01/2016 should be considered and Staff Side demand be taken to the level of Cabinet Secretary and the Government.
(d) Although Ministry of finance Resolution dated 25t h July 2016 stipulates that 14.29% hike in the pay of Running Staff in the Railways be ensured, unfortunately, the same has not been complied with. The said hike has not been ensured. He requested the Chairman to kindly take appropriate initiative on the proposal sent by Ministry of Railways which is pending with the Ministry of finance. He also pointed out that the references made by different ministries to the DoP&T/MoF pursuant to the discussions held by the JCM Constituents with the respective Departments/Ministries are pending. He requested that speedy response be ensured by DoP&T/MoF.
While concluding, the Leader, JCM (Staff-Side) expressed confidence that the NC/JCM meeting as well Standing Committee meetings will be convened regularly in accordance with the JCM rules for paving way for healthy industrial relations”.
(vii) The Staff-Side drew attention to the fact that since 1966 Joint Committees used to be set up for discussing contentious issues which has since stopped. References from the Departments are also remaining unanswered. The members of the Staff Side requested that DOP&T should take a view on all these issues as a number of them have not been settled. The Staff Side also requested that the duration of Standing Committee meetings should be extended so that all issues can be discussed and resolved quickly and the meetings should also be held every quarter.
(viii) The Staff-Side also pointed out that items of agenda sent by them are to be included, if it is found to be appropriate to be discussed. Since there had been permanent subcommittees under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Health) and (Pension), the agenda items pertaining to those two ministries can be referred to those two sub-committees. The sub-committees are to deliberate and report back to the Standing Committee for a final decision. They wanted the said procedure to be followed as the items sent by the Staff Side to the meeting contained many Pension and Health related issues.
(ix) Referring to the convening of the Departmental Council, the Staff Side said that the situation has not registered any significant improvement. They also pointed out that in the details provided; no dates of the last meeting held had been indicated. They pleaded that the Department of Personnel has to evolve a mechanism to monitor the functioning of the Departmental council.”
(x) In view of the ongoing ban on recruitment imposed by the Department of Expenditure, the staff are having to work long hours. This is despite the Task Force, set up by Ministry of Railways on safety-related matters, having suggested that additional staff be mobilized to ensure safety. Even the Hon’ble Prime Minister in his speeches has stressed the need for safety; but the Ministry of Railways have chosen to ignore.
(xi) Another point raised was about the instructions issued by the DOP&T following the assurance given to the Hon’ble Supreme Court in a contempt case which was said to have created a situation where the DPCs are not being held and the employees are retiring without getting promotion. It was stated that UPSC is also refusing to accept DPC proposals and insists that clarification from DOP&T may first be obtained. As a result promotions are not taking place and many officers have retired without promotion. The Staff-Side requested that necessary clarifications may be issued by DOP&T urgently so that DPCs can be held in the Departments.
4. Chairman, in his reply, said that no agenda points had been deleted and, in order to ensure that discussions are complete in a meeting, it was decided in consultation with the Secretary(Staff-Side) to limit the number of agenda points for today’s meeting. He further stated that if the Staff-Side insists that the remaining points which have been left out should also be taken up for discussion, they would need to be circulated to the concerned Departments in advance for their comments. He emphasized that the Government attaches the highest priority to the Staff-Side and the concerns expressed over the assurance given after the strike call would be conveyed to the concerned authority. On the issue of the Allowances Committee’s report not being shared with the Staff Side, the Chairman stated that the sentiment would also be conveyed to Ministry of Finance along with the concerns over pay revision etc.
5. After these opening remarks the Action-Taken-Note on the minutes of the last meeting held on 25.10.2016 was taken up for discussion.
