Thursday, 13 October 2016

7th Pay Commission Pension Revision for Pre-2016 Pensioners: Importance of implementation of Option 1

7th Pay Commission Pension Revision for Pre-2016 Pensioners: Importance of implementation of Option 1

Message by Bharat Pensioners Samaj

Importance of implementation of Option 1, as accepted by the Govt., subject to its feasibility, in case option 1 is not accepted by the Govt. after receipt of recommendations of the committee appointed to examine its feasibility, the biggest sufferer of this casualty will be Pre 2006 retirees of all grades
DOP & PW is all out for rejection
If we do not standup united. We will be looser for all times: Bharat Pensioner's Samaj





Source: Bharat Pensioners Samaj

7th Pay Commission: Discussing Armed Forces Anomalies with PM : Parrikar


7th Pay Commission: Discussing Armed Forces Anomalies with PM : Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said he has raised the issue of anomalies in the 7th Pay Commission report with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yes, there are some anomalies in the 7th pay commission and the pension…we will resolve that. But, I don’t think that can be an issue for national debate, Parrikar said in Mumbai.

I can assure the people of the country and our armed forces that I have personally taken up the matter with the Prime Minister. There are procedures of the government of India. We will complete those procedure at the earliest and see that one by one, the 7th pay commission anomalies are removed, he said.

Asked about the issue of disability pension, on which a draft notification on the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission has been uploaded on the Defence Ministry's website, the minister said: It is just a draft now.

The draft notification talks of replacing the present percentage based system of pension with slab based pension system.

In disability pension also, there are some categories of officers, in whose cases there could be some anomaly. We will check it, he assured.

The minister maintained: No final order has been issued as yet, only a draft resolution has been put up on the website. We will examine and try to address all that can be addressed, and forward the same to the anomalies committee for their opinion.

If the recommendations in the draft notification on disability pension come into effect, the disability pension for soldiers will go down substantially.

Not every one can be satisfied, the Defence Minister said.

He informed that so far, two instalments of Rs 4,000 crore and Rs 2,000 crore have been released, with annual cost for OROP being Rs 7,500 crore.

There are 20 lakh armed forces personnel and about 22 lakh pensioners. It is a huge number, almost a third of the government employees. Whenever you apply a principle to anyone, anomalies will surface, the minister said.

According to the pay panel’s recommendation, for 100 per cent disability, an officer would get Rs 27,000 per month, those in the ranks of Subedar Major to Naib Subedar would receive Rs 17,000, while Havildars and below would get Rs 12,000.

At present, a soldier, who gets 100 per cent disability, is entitled to a pension equal to the last drawn salary and an additional 50 per cent as service component.

The draft notification invited criticism from ex-servicemen, who said it will affect the morale of the soldiers.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had in the last couple of months held several meetings with Service Chiefs and the members of the Armed Forces Pay Commission Cell to discuss the anomalies in the 7th Pay Commission of the Armed Forces. However, nothing concrete has surfaced.

The forces argue that the anomalies lower the status and pay parity of forces vis-a-vis their counterparts in the police and civilian administration.

Source: IE

7th Pay Commission: PNB joins SBI to woo Central government staff with cheaper loans


7th Pay Commission: PNB joins SBI to woo Central government staff with cheaper loans

Taking a cue from its bigger peer State Bank of India, public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) has come out with special home and auto loan offers to attract Central government employees who are flush with cash after the bonanza handed out to them with the implementation of the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

The scheme titled "PNB Pride" is effective from October 1, 2016, and comes with zero documentation and processing charges. Other terms and conditions applicable to existing home and vehicle loan borrowers will apply to those availing of loans under the "PNB Pride", according to the bank.

The aim of the scheme, according to the lender, is to "ensure availability of Housing Loan and Vehicle Loan at attractive rates and ensure a house and a car for all government employees."

The floating rate of interest for vehicle loans will be 9.55 percent (0.25 percent + marginal cost of lending rate, or MCLR). The fixed rate of interest is also the same, with a reset clause of three years.

As for home loans, the floating rate will be 9.30 percent and the fixed at 9.80 percent.

Earlier, State Bank of India (SBI) had announced flexible home loans to Central government employees (SBI Privilege Home Loan) and defence personnel (SBI Shaurya Home Loan") with pensionable service.
"Under the new schemes, employees of central/state governments, defence forces, public sector banks, public sector enterprises of central government and other individuals with pensionable service will be offered home loans tailored to their specific needs," the bank said in a statement in August this year.

"The launch of 'SBI Privilege Home Loan' and 'SBI Shaurya Home Loan' products is timed with the notification of 7th Pay Commission recommendations. Surplus income can thus be utilised by government employees and defence personnel towards purchase of new/better house," it added.

The bank gave an option to Central government employees to repay home loans up to the age of 75 years, as against 70 years applicable in other home loans given by the bank.

The recommendations of the 7th CPC cover 47 lakh Central government employees and 53 lakh pensioners, of which 14 lakh employees and 18 lakh pensioners are from the defence forces.

Source: Yahoo news

Special benefits in cases of death & disability in service : Revision of Disability Pension / Family Pension of Pre-2006 disability Pensioners/ Family Pensioners


PCDA Pension Circular C-155 : Special benefits in cases of death & disability in service : Revision of Disability Pension / Family Pension of Pre-2006 disability Pensioners/ Family Pensioners regarding.

pr-controller-of-defence-accounts


Registered

Important Circular No: C-155

No: GI/C/103/Vol-VII/Tech.
O/o the Pr.C.D.A. (Pensions)
Draupadighat Allahabad -211014
Dated:  05/10/2016

To,
(All Head of Department under Min. of Defence)

Subject: Special benefits in cases of death & disability in service : Revision of Disability Pension / Family Pension of Pre-2006 disability Pensioners/ Family Pensioners regarding.

Reference: This office Important Circulars No. 142 dt. 11.06.15 and C-150 dt.10.5.16.

Attention is invited to above cited circulars wherein instructions had been issued for implementation of GOI, Ministry of P,PG and pensions, Deptt of P&PW OM No.45/03/2008  P&PW(F) dated 20th November,2014. As per Para III(a), IV(a) and Para V(a) of ibid OM, the Service Element of disability pension of pre-2006 disability pensioners was linked to qualifying service for earning full pension.

2. Now, GOI, Ministry of P,PG and pension, Dept of P&PW have further issued orders under their OM No. 45/03/2008-P&PW(F) dated 8th August, 2016, that in terms of GOI OM No.38/37/2008-P&PW (A) dated 06.04.2016 the revised consolidated pension of pre-2006 pensioners shall not be lower than 50% of the minimum of the pay in the Pay Band and grade pay (wherever applicable) corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale as per the fitment table without pro-rata reduction of pension even if they has qualifying service of less than 33 years at the time of retirement. This provision would be equally applicable for computing service element of revised disability pension being drawn by pre-2006 disability pensioners. Accordingly, the provision linking the service element of disability pension under Para III(a), IV(a) and V(a) of this Department’s OM of even no. dated 20th November 2014 stands deleted. The arrears of revised disability pension would be payable with effect from 1.1.2006.

3. In order to implement the instruction contained in the above said Govt. letters, HOOs are required to review/identify the cased where Disability Pension /Family Pension have been notified in terms of CCS (EOP) Rules and forward the same with details i.e. PPO Nos., Current PDA details, Pay scale under IV & V CPC and address of Payee to this office for revision in terms of OM of even no. dated 20.11.2014, OM No. dt. 29.04.2016 and read with 8.08.2016.

4. It is therefore, requested that suitable instruction along with copy of this circular may be issued to all the Head of Offices under your administrative control for initiating action in this regard.


(Abhishek Singh)
ACDA (P)

Authority: http://pcdapension.nic.in

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Don’t lay off or demote employees for disability: Centre

Don’t lay off or demote employees for disability: Centre

New Delhi: No government office should dispense with or reduce in rank an employee who acquires any disability during his service, the Centre has said.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has amended Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, to make it easier for such employees to continue in service or to get invalid pension — which is granted if a government servant retires from the service on account of any bodily or mental infirmity which permanently incapacitates him for the service.

“The case of a government servant acquiring a disability, where the provisions of Section 47 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996) are applicable, shall be governed by the provisions of the said section,” says the recently amended Pension rules.

The Section 47 of the Act mandates “no establishment shall dispense with or reduce in rank, an employee who acquires a disability during his service”.

It also makes it mandatory for the government departments not to deny promotion to “a person merely on the ground of his disability”.

If a government servant, in a case where the provisions of the Section 47 of the Act are not applicable, retires from the service on account of any bodily or mental infirmity which permanently incapacitates him for the service he may be granted invalid pension or service gratuity depending upon the length of his qualifying service on the date of retirement, the new rules said.

In case a government servant applies for an invalid pension, he shall be required to submit a medical certificate of incapacity from a medical board.

PTI

7th Pay commission Allowances meeting postponed to 25th October 2016


7th Pay commission Allowances meeting postponed to 25th October 2016

Shri. M.Krishnan,Secretary General, Confederation of central Government Employees and Workers, has informed in his blog that the Government has Postponed the Meeting of Allowance Committee meeting from 13-10-2016 to 25-10-2016. The message posted in official website of Confederation of Central Government Employees and workers is as follows

7th Pay commission Allowances


7th PAY COMMISSION ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE MEETING & JCM NATIONAL COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS POSTPONED TO 25th OCTOBER 2016

GOVERNMENT INFORMED THAT MEETINGS OF THE ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE AND JCM NATIONAL COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 13TH OCTOBER 2016 STANDS POSTPONED TO 25th OCTOBER 2016


 
M.Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob: 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
Source: Confederation

Implementation of Government's decisions on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission : Revision of Pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners etc


Implementation of Government's decisions on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission : Revision of Pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners etc.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE
CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE
NEW DELHI

CPAO/IT&Tech/Revision/7th CPC/19.Vol-V/2015-16/149

10th October, 2016

Office Memorandum

Subject : Implementation of Government's decisions on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission : Revision of Pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners etc.

A reference is invited to para 2.1 of Deptt. of P&PW OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW (A)(ii) dated 04.08.2016 wherein it has clearly been stated that "these orders shall apply to all pensioners/ family pensioners who were drawing pension / family pension before 1.1.2016 under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules,1972, Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules and the corresponding rules applicable to Railway pensioners and pensioners of All India Services, including officers of the Indian Civil Service retired from service on or after 1.1.1973".

2. Further, para 9 of the aforesaid OM states that "All Pension Disbursing Authorities including Public Sector Banks handling disbursement of pension to the Central Government pensioners have been authorized to pay pension/family pension to existing pensioners / family pensioners at the revised rates without any further authorization from the concerned Accounts Officers/Head of Office etc". CPAO has also clarified vide point No.9 of its clarification issued to the banks at Annexure-II of its communication number CPAO/IT&Tech/ Revision (7th CPC)/19 Vol-III/2016-17 / 124 dated 30.08.2016

3. However, complaints from All India Service Pensioners, who are drawing their pension through State Governments, are being received in CPAO that the banks have not revised their pensions for want of any instruction from respective AGs/Designated Authorities

Keeping in view the grievances of AIS pensioners, banks are advised to comply with the instructions of para 9 of DP&PW OM dated 04.08.2016 and make payment to AIS pensioners immediately.

This issues with the approval of Chief Controller (Pensions).

(Vijay Singh)
Sr. Accounts Officer (IT & Tech)

Signed copy

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Uploading of RTI replies on the respective websites of Ministries/Departments

Uploading of RTI replies on the respective websites of Ministries/Departments 

F.No. 1/1/2013-IR
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
***
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 7th October, 2016
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Uploading of RTI replies on the respective websites of Ministries / Departments

Attention is invited to para 1.4.1. of the enclosed guidelines referred to in this Deptt.'s O.M. No.1/6/2011-IR dated 15.04.2013, for implementation of suomotu disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005, which states as follows:-

All Public Authorities shall proactively disclose RTI applications and appeals received and their responses, on the websites maintained by Public Authorities with search facility based on key words. RTI applications and appeals received and their responses relating to the personal information of an individual may not be disclosed, as they do not serve any public interest.

2. Further vide O.M. No.1/1/2013-IR dated 21.10.2014 on the issue of uploading of RTI replies on the respective websites of Ministries / Departments, DoPT had requested that:

RTI applications and appeals received and their responses relating to the personal information of an individual may not be disclosed, if they do not serve any public interest.

3. Now, keeping in view the directions dated 20.11.2013 of Hon'ble High Court of Kolkata in Writ Petition No.33290/2013 in the case of Mr. Avishek Goenka Vs Union of India regarding personal details of RTI applicants, it is clarified that while proactively disclosing RTI applications and appeals received and responses thereto, on their website, the personal details of RTI applicant/appellant should not be disclosed as they do not serve any public interest. It is further clarified that the personal details would include name, designation, address, e-mail id and telephone no. including mobile no. of the applicant.
(Gayatri Mishra)
Director(IR)
To
All Public Authorities
Original Circular

Pay Fixation on Promotion as per 7th CPC (RP) Rules – Confederation requests to exercise revised option as one-time measure

Pay Fixation on Promotion as per 7th CPC (RP) Rules – Confederation requests to exercise revised option as one-time measure

“Exercising option for pay fixation in the revised 7th CPC Pay Structure, from the date of promotion or from the date of next increment from 01-01-2017 – C/o.Officials who are due for promotion/upgradation from Grade Pay 2800 to 4200 during the period from 01-01-2016 to 01-07-2017 – Request clarification and permission to exercise revised option as a one-time measure.”

PERMISSION TO OPT FOR PAY FIXATION ON A DATE AFTER THE DATE OF ISSUE OF CCS (RP) RULES 2016 NOTIFICATION 25-07-2016 IN CASE PROMOTION BECOMES DUE AFTER 25-07-2016 – CONFEDERATION WRITES TO FINANCE MINISTRY FOR CLARIFICATORY ORDERS

No.Confdn/7th CPC/Option/2016-17

10-10-2016

To

Shri.R.K.Chathurvedi,
Joint Secretary to Govt. of India,
Ministry of Finance,
Department of Expenditure
(Implementation Cell),
Room No.124, The Ashok, North Block,
New Delhi – 110 001.

Sir,
Sub: Exercising option for pay fixation in the revised 7th CPC Pay Structure, from the date of promotion or from the date of next increment from 01-01-2017 – C/o.Officials who are due for promotion/upgradation from Grade Pay 2800 to 4200 during the period from 01-01-2016 to 01-07-2017 – Request clarification and permission to exercise revised option as a one-time measure.

1. As per Rule 5 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2016 the following provisions are notified by Government on 25-07-2016:
Rule 5 – Government servant may elect to continue to draw pay in the existing pay structure untill the date on which he earns his next increment or any subsequent increment in the existing pay structure or until he vacates his post or ceases to draw pay in the existing pay structure.
Provided further that in cases where a Government servant has been placed in a higher grade pay or scale between 1st day of January 2016 and the date of notification of these rules (ie. 25-07-2016) on account of promotion or upgradation, the Government servant may elect to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion or upgradation as the case may be.

2. As per the above two provisions, a Government servant may elect to continue to draw pay in the existing pay structure until he earns his next or any subsequent increment in the existing (pre-revised) pay structure which implies that in cases where there is no promotion/upgradation between 01-01-2016 to 30-06-2016 (or between 01-01-2016 to 30-06-2017 in the case of subsequent increment on 01-07-2017) option to opt from the date of next increment (01-07-2016) or subsequent increment (01-07-2017) is available, thereby forgoing the arrears from 01-01-2016 to 30-06-2016 (next increment) or upto the date of subsequent increment say, 01-07-2017.

3. Thus, in the case of promotion/upgradation of a Government Servant becoming due before the date of notification ie, 25-07-2016, he should elect to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion/upgradation. He has no option to opt for the next increment (becoming due after the date of promotion/upgradation) for fixation of pay in the revised pay structure.

4. Subsequently a clarificatory order is issued by Department of Expenditure (Implementation Cell) on 29th September 2016, which clarified the position further. As per this clarification, in case an employee is promoted or upgraded to the higher pay structure (in the pre-revised pay structure) he may be permitted to exercise revised option to have his pay fixed under the Revised Pay Rules 2016 from the date of such promotion/upgradation or from the date of next increment as per FR-22(i)(a)(i).

5. Thus an official who got promotion/upgradation on 15-07-2016 (in the month of July 2016), can exercise option to fix his pay under Revised Pay Rules, 2016, either from the date of promotion or from the date of next increment ie; on 01-07-2017.

6. Even after issuing the above clarificatory orders, dated 29-09-2016, it is not clear, whether an employee who becomes eligible for promotion/financial upgradation on a date after the date of issue of notification, ie, 25-07-2016, but before the date of next increment ie. 01-07-2017, can exercise option now, for fixation of his Revised Pay as per CCS (RP) Rules, 2016, from the date of promotion or from the date of next increment, ie; 01-07-2017, by forgoing the arrears from 01-01-2016 to date of promotion or 30-06-2017, thus allowing him to draw his pay in the pre-revised pay structure of 6th CPC till the date of promotion or till the date of next increment on 01-07-2017. As per the existing orders, all those employees whose date of promotion/upgradation becomes due after 25-07-2016 should compulsoily opt for pay fixation from 01-01-2016 or 01-07-2016, whereas an employee whose promotion is due in July 2016 ie; before the date of notification (25-07-2016) can opt for next increment date on 01-07-2017 for fixation in the Revised Pay structure under FR-22(i)(a)(i). Since the benefeit is extended to a section of employees who were promoted between 01-01-2016 and 25-07-2016 and the same benefeit is denied to the rest of the employee who are promoted after 25-07-2016, this is a clear case of discrimination and denial of natural and equitable justice.

7. If the option as above is not allowed, thousands of employees who are due for promotion/financial upgradation from 2800 Grade Pay to 4200 Grade Pay (in the pre-revised pay structure) from a date after the date of notification ie. 25-07-2016, will suffer a recurring loss of Rs.2800 to 3000 per month, throughout their service.

The following illustrations will explain the above facts:

1st OPTION – 7th CPC – OPTION FROM 01-01-2016

6th CPC 7th CPC
Basic as on 01-01-2016 16490 16490×2.57 = 42379.  Next stage in the pay matrix level – 5 = 42800
Increment on 01-07-2016
42800×3%=1284, 42800+1284=44084.  Next stage in the Pay matrix = 44100.
MACP-II promotion from 2800 GP to 4200 GP on 05-12-2016 (one increment fixation)
44100×3%=1323, 44100+1323=45423.
Next stage in the pay matrix level-6   = 46200.



2ND OPTION (IF ALLOWED) – OPTION FROM DATE OF SUBSEQUENT INCREMENT ie; 01-07-2017
6th CPC  7th CPC fixation if option allowed from date of promotion or date of next increment on 01-07-2017
Basic as on 01-01-2016 16490
Increment on 01-07-2016 16990
MACP-II promotion from 2800
GP to 4200 GP on 05-12-2016
(One increment fixation +  Grade Pay difference)
16990×3% notional  increment – 510 Grade pay difference=4200-2800 = 1400 Total Basic = 16990+  510+1400=18900 18900×2.57-48573.  Next stage  in the pay matrix in level 6 =49000
(If option allowed from date of promotion).
Increment on 01-07-2017 18900×3% = 567
= 18900+567 = 19467
= 19470
19470×2.57 = 50038 Next stage in the pay matrix level 6 = 50500.  (If option allowed from date of next increment).

Thus if no option is permissible after 25-07-2016 to fix the pay in the revised scale on the date of promotion ie. 5-12-2016, then by compulsory option from 01-01-2016, the pay will be fixed at 46200 on promotion. If option is permissible after the date of notification to fix the pay in the revised scale on the date of promotion, the pay will be fixed at 49000. The difference is Rs.2,800/-. If option for fixation on next incremen on 01-07-2017 is granted, then the difference will increase further.

In view of the above, it is requested that the case may be reviewed judiciously and clarificatory orders may be issued, permitting the employees whose promotion date become due after the date of notification (25-07-2016) also, to exercise option for fixation of their revised pay from the date of promotion/upgradation or from the date of next increment ie. 01-07-2017, as a one time measure, thereby forgoing the entire arrears from 01-01-2016 to date of promotion or date of next increment on 01-07-2017. In other words, they may be permitted to draw their pay in the pre-revised 6th CPC pay structure till the date of promotion or till the date of next increment on 01-07-2017.

Awaiting favourable orders,

Yours faithfully,

M.Krishnan,
Secretary General, &
Standing Committee Member,
JCM National Council (Staff side).
Mob: 09447068125.
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Copy to:
1) The Secretary,
Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure,
North Block, New Delhi – 110 001 – for favourable action please.

Source: Confederation

Govt revises excise duty evasion limit to warrant arrest

Govt revises excise duty evasion limit to warrant arrest

New Delhi: The government has doubled the limit of excise duty evasion for arrest and prosecution of accused to Rs 2 crore and also asked officials not to resort to penal provision in cases of technical nature.

“It has been decided to revise the monetary limit for arrest and prosecution in Central Excise to maintain uniformity of practice in central excise and service tax,” the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said in an order.

Arrest and prosecution of a person henceforth can be resorted only if the offence relating to evasion of central excise duty or misuse of CENVAT credit is equal to or more than Rs 2 crore, CBEC said.

In October 2015, the monetary limit for excise related offences was set at Rs 1 crore.

“It is again reiterated that arrest and prosecution should not be resorted to in cases of technical nature i.E where the additional demand of duty/tax is based on a difference of opinion regarding interpretation of law,” the order said.

CBEC said “since an arrest impinges on the personal liberty of an individual, this power should be exercised with great responsibility and caution and only after a careful examination of the legal and factual aspects.”

Arrest in case of service tax violations was introduced with effect from May 10, 2013. Subsequent amendments via the Finance Acts have limited the possibility of arrest “only if a person collects any amount as service tax but fails to pay the amount so collected to the credit of the Central Government beyond the period of six months from the date on which such payment becomes due and the amount exceeds Rs 2 crore.”

CBEC said conditions precedent for carrying out an arrest included careful exercise of the power as arrest impinges on the personal liberty and such an action should be able to stand judicial scrutiny.

It said even if the conditions are fulfilled, it should not mean that an arrest must be made.

Once the legal ingredients of the offence are made out, the Commissioner must go ahead with the arrest only if it is determined that the alleged offender is likely to hamper the course of further investigation by his unrestricted movement and is likely to tamper with evidence or intimidate or influence witnesses.

“If the alleged offender is assisting in the investigation and has deposited at least half of the evaded tax, then the need to arrest may not arise,” it said.

PTI

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