The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal to release an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.01.2014, in cash, but not before the disbursement of the salary for the month of March 2014 at the rate of 10 percent increase over the existing rate of 90 percent.
Hence, Central Government employees as well as pensioners are entitled for DA/DR at the rate of 100 percent of the basic with effect from 01.01.2014. The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission.
The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both dearness allowance and dearness relief would be Rs. 11074.80 crore per annum and Rs. 12920.60 crore in the financial year 2014-15 ( i.e. for a period of 14 months from January 2014 to February 2015).
As a part of a larger mandate of streamlining and simplifying the sanction of pension and payment process, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has taken steps towards minimizing delays in sanction and disbursement of pension, and making the process more transparent.
The objective is to simplify the forms as well as to do away with the requirement of submission of affidavit and to accept all information and documents on the basis of Self certification. 26 forms under CCS Pension Rules (1972) have been reviewed and modified where necessary. The revised forms have been posted on the website of the Department www.persmin.nic.in.
The Department proposes to dispense with the requirement of a number of nomination forms for various benefits like GPF, CGEGIS, arrear of Pension and commutation of Pension by the employees. Instead, an employee will be required to fill up only one Nomination Form during the service and another nomination Form at the time of retirement. Amendment to the Forms and relevant rules in this respect would be notified by the Department very soon.
Revision of Forms under General/Contributory Provident Fund Rules, Extraordinary Pension Rules and Commutation of Pension Rules is under process. The Department is also reviewing the Rules with a view to reducing the time prescribed for sanction of pension from the current 24-30 months to a more reasonable 12 months.
An online pension sanction and payment tracking system ‘Bhavishya’ has been launched, initially in 15 Ministries. This will enable retiring government servants to themselves track progress of sanction of pension and other retirement dues against the time lines prescribed.
No. 2/1/2014-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
*****
New Delhi, 21st February, 2014.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject :- Grant of compensation in lieu of rent free accommodation.
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s O.M No 2(7)/1997-E. 11(8) dated 14.03.2008 on the subject mentioned above and to say that consequent upon revision of rates of licence fee for residential accommodation under Central Government all over the country w.e.f. 01.07.2010 and also w.e.f. 01.07.2013 vide Government of India, Ministry of Urban Development (Directorate of Estates) 0M.No.18011/1/2009-Pol.III dated 28.04.2011 and 0.M No 18011/1/2013-Pol.III dated 21.11.2013 respectively, the question of revision of the amount of compensation in lieu of Rent Free Accommodation in so far as it relates to the component of licence fee has been under consideration of the Government for some time.
2. The matter has been considered and the President is pleased to decide that the Central Government employees who are entitled to the facility of rent free accommodation in accordance with the Ministry of Urban Development (Directorate of Estates) O.M. No.12/11/60-ACC-l dated 02.08.60 and who have not been provided with such accommodation, will be entitled to compensation in lieu of rent free accommodation as under:-
(i) the lowest amount charged as licence fee for the entitled type of accommodation as fixed w.e.f. 01.07.2010 & w.e.f. 01.07.2013 in terms of Government of India, Ministry of Urban Development (Directorate of Estates)’s above mentioned OMs dated 28.04.2011 and 21.11.2013 respectively; and
(ii) House Rent Allowance admissible to corresponding employees in that classified city in terms of this Ministrys 0M. No.2(13)/2008-E.ll(B) dated 29.08 2008 as amended from time to time.
3. These orders take effect from 01 .07.2010 & 01 .07.2013 with reference to Dte. of Estate& 0.Ms. ibid dated 28.04.2011 and 21.11.2013 respectively, ie. the dates from which the flat rates of licence fee were revised.
4. All other conditions, laid down in this Ministry’s 0.M. No 11015/4/86-E.ll(B) dated 19.02.87, 22.05.87 and 04.05.88 shall continue to be applicable, while regulating grant of compensation in lieu of rent free accommodation under these orders.
5. In so far as the persons serving under the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India .
(A. Bhattacharya)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Original Order:
http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/misc/Grant_Comp_rent21022014.pdf
No. 13026/4/2012-Estt.(L)
Bharat Sarkar/Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
New Delhi, the 18 February, 2014
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Execution of Bond for availing Study Leave under rule 53(4) of the CCS(Leave) Rules, 1972 – regarding
The undersigned is directed to state that Government servants are allowed to avail “Study Leave” in terms of the provisions of rules 50-63 of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972. The provisions of rule 53(4) mandates for execution of a bond by the Government Servant who is granted such leave in the relevant format prescribed for the said purpose i.e. Forms 7-10 of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972.
2. The said Bond executed by the Government servant requires putting in specified period of service after expiry of the Study Leave as prescribed by provisions of rule 50(5) of the said rules.
3. It has come to the notice of this Department that the provisions of the aforesaid bond are being circumvented and officers who have availed Study Leave proceed on prolonged spells of leave due and admissible to them and thus do not put in active service for the requisite period as indicates; in the bond executed by them.
4. In view of the above position, the provisions of the prescribed format of the Bond have been reviewed in consultation with the Department of Legal Affairs and it has been decided that the prescribed forms 7, 8. 9 and 10 of the CSS (Leave) Rules, 1972 may be revised by incorporating a specific clause confirming commitment of the Government servant to put in requisite active service after expiry of the Study Leave. The copies of the revised formats are enclosed herewith. The grant of Study Leave shall continue to be regulated in terms of the relevant provisions of the rules as indicated in para 1 above. Ministry of Home Affairs, etc are requested to ensure that the necessary Bond in respect of grant of Study Leave under the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 may henceforth be obtained in the revised formats.
5.These orders are being issued after consultation with the C&AG of India in respect of persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts Department.
6.Formal amendments to CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 are being issued separately.
(Mukul Ratra)
Director (L&A)
Original Order :
http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/13026_4_2012-Estt.L-18022014.pdf
In the Government Order read above, among others, orders has been issued enhancing the Hill Allowance and Winter Allowance as per the recommendation of the Official Committee, 2009.
2. The Hon’ble Chief Minister in the Collectors’ Conference held on 13.12.2013, among others, has made the following announcement in respect of the Hill / Winter Allowance
i) Sl.No. 79: Hill Allowance for Government employees will be increased to Rs.1,500/- per month.
ii) Sl.No. 80: Winter Allowance for Government employees will be increased to Rs. 500/- per month.
3. Based on the above announcement, Government issues the following orders:-
(I) HILL ALLOWANCE:
The existing rate of Hill Allowance shall be retained at the same rate of 20% of pay subject to the enhancement of maximum ceiling limit of Rs. 900/- to Rs.1500/- per month.
(II) WINTER ALLOWANCE:
The revised rate of Winter Allowance shall be as below:
1
Those working in the places at
1000 metres to 1,499 metres
above M.S.L
5% of basic pay including grade
pay subject to a maximum of
Rs.400/- p.m.
2
Those working in the places at
1,500/- metres above M.S.L.
10% of basic pay including
grade pay subject to a maximum
of Rs.500/- p.m.
4. The above orders will take effect from the date of issue of this order.
(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)
K. SHANMUGAM
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.
Original Order :
http://cms.tn.gov.in/sites/default/files/gos/fin_e_47_2014.pdf
E-wallet Scheme has been launched by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a public sector undertaking of the Ministry of railways, to make the payment process fast and to reduce transaction failures due to bank payment related problems. Under this scheme, user can deposit money in advance with IRCTC which can be used as a payment option along with other payment options available on IRCTC website for paying money at the time of booking tickets. This scheme is available for PAN verified user only.
Names of all the passengers booked on a fully waitlisted e-ticket are dropped at the time of preparation of reservation charts and fare is refunded automatically. In this regard, there is no difference between e-tickets booked through E-wallet scheme or those booked through other payment options available on website www.irctc.co.in.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
The government may increase and merge dearness allowance (DA) with basic pay with the Union Cabinet expected to include the proposal as part of the terms of reference of the 7th pay commission.
The move will facilitate announcement of interim relief to more than 50 lakh government employees and 30 lakh pensioners by the newly-constituted pay commission before the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls come into force.
Central government employees unions have been demanding that besides raising DA to 100%, the government should revise the pay and merge DA with basic pay, considering market inflation and price hike of essential commodities.
As per practice, DA is merged with basic pay when it breaches the 50% mark. DA merger helps employees as their other allowances are paid as a proportion of basic pay.
An official said if merger of 50% DA with basic pay was decided, it could lead to hike in salary by around 30-35%. He added that there were instances of announcing interim relief to employees apart from DA by a newly constituted pay commission prior to their implementation.
Merger of 50% DA with basic pay was done in the 5th pay commission, but the 6th commission did not recommended it.
The Centre is expected to announce next month a hike in dearness allowance by 10% which would make it 100% of basic pay. It will be the second double digit DA hike in a row as the government had announced a hike of 10% in September last year, effective from July 1, 2013.
An official said hike in DA will not be less than 10% and would be effective from January 1 this year.
No.21(2)12011-E.II(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi,
Dated: 19th February, 2014
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject- Grant of Transport Allowance to Central Government Employees – Extension of benefit of Transport Allowance at double the Normal Rates to Deaf and Dumb Employees – Implementation of the Order of the Apex Court – regarding.
The undersigned is directed to refer to Order dated 12th December, 2013 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 107/2011 of Deaf Employees Welfare Association & Another v/s Union of India & Others, and to say that in compliance of the said judgement of the Apex Court, it has been decided to extend the benefit of Transport Allowance, as admissible to blinds and orthopaedically handicapped employees in terms of para 2 (i) of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M. No.21(2)/2008-E.II(B) dated 29th August, 2008, to deaf and dumb employees of the Central Government also, with immediate effect, subject to the condition that the recommendation of the Head of ENT Department of a Government Civil Hospital is received by the Head of Department and fulfilment of other conditions mentioned in Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M.No, 19029/1/78-E IV(B) dated 31st August, 1978 read with O.M. dated 29.08.2008.
2. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, this Order issues in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
(Subhash Chand)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Original Order :
http://www.finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/ta_ota/TA_DeafDumb19022014.pdf
The Government has allocated Rs. 500 crores to the Defence Pension Account in the current financial year itself for implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme for the Defence Forces of the country. Making the announcement in Parliament today during his Interim Budget Speech, the Finance Minister Shri P. Chidamram said that this decision will be implemented prospectively from the financial year 2014-15. The Finance Minister said the Government had decided to walk the last mile and close the gap for all retirees in all ranks. He said the demand of the Defence Services for One Rank One Pension (OROP) had been there for a long time and had been an emotive issue.
No.36035/3/2013-Estt(Res)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Dated the 14th February, 2014.
North Block, New Delhi.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Guidelines for providing certain facilities in respect of persons with disabilities who are already employed in Government for efficient performance of their duties.
The undersigned is directed to enclose a copy of draft guidelines for providing certain facilities in respect of persons with disabilities who are already employed in Government for efficient performance of their duties. It is requested that the draft guidelines may be examined and suggestions, if any, may be sent to this Department before 21 st February, 2014 as the guidelines will be issued very
shortly.
Enclo.: As above.
(G. Srinivasan)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Original Order :
http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02adm/36035_3_2013-Estt.Res.-14022014.pdf
