Confederation: Arrears on Allowances including HRA and Transport Allowance is going to be rejected

Confederation: Arrears on Allowances including HRA and Transport Allowance is going to be rejected

ARREARS ON ALLOWANCES INCLUDING HRA AND TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE IS GOING TO BE REJECTED:

Now it has become clear that the Government has constituted the Allowance Committee headed by Finance Secretary, mainly to delay the implementation of enhanced allowances and finally deny the arrears by implementing the revised allowance either from 01-01-2017 or from 01-04-2017. The four months time fixed for the Allowance Committee is already extended to six months upto 22-02-2017. Reserve Bank Governor, Dr. Urjit Patel had hinted to the media that the burden of payment of arrears during this financial year will not be there, meaning that Government may not give retrospective effect to the revised allowances. The RBI Governor, Dr. Urjit Patel made the following observations, which is published in the RBI website.
"The extension of two months given to the Ministry of Finance to receive the notification on higher allowances under the Pay Commission's award could push its fuller effect into the next financial year rather than this financial year".

Further, the Allowance Committee has not held any negotiation with the JCM Staff Side. It just heard the views of the staff side. The request of the JCM staff side to hold one more meeting with staff side NJCM was not favourably considered by the Finance Secretary, who is the Chairman of the Allowance Committee. No indication is given as to whether the percentage of HRA recommended by 7th CPC will be enhanced to 30%, 20% and 10%. The fate of other allowances are also the same. Unless NJCA take a firm stand and negotiate with the Government by reviving the indefinite strike, the employees will be placed in a desperate and helpless situation, if Government is allowed to unilaterally declare the HRA and other allowances, without retrospective effect from 01-01-2016, and also without much modification, thereby denying crores of rupees as arrears.

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

General Provident Fund (Tamilnadu) : Rate of interest for the period 01.01.2017 to 31.03.2017

General Provident Fund (Tamilnadu) : Rate of interest for the period 01.01.2017 to 31.03.2017

PROVIDENT FUND : General Provident Fund (Tamilnadu) : Rate of interest for the period 01.01.2017 to 31.03.2017 - Orders - Issued.

Read the following:- 1. G.O.Ms.No.276, Finance (Allowances) Department, dated 24.10.2016.
2. From the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs, (Budget Division) New Delhi, Resolution No.5(1)-B(PD)/2016, dated 18.01.2017.

ORDER:
In the Government Order read above, orders were issued fixing interest for the accumulation at the credit of the subscribers to the General Provident Fund (Tamil Nadu) at 8.0% for the period from 1st October 2016 to 31st December, 2016.

2. In its order second read above, the Government of India has announced that during the year 2016-2017 accumulations at the credit of subscribers to the General Provident Fund and other similar funds shall carry interest at the rate of 8.0% with effect from 1st January 2017 to 31st March 2017.

3. The Government now direct that the rate of interest on the accumulation at the credit of the subscribers to the General Provident Fund (Tamil Nadu) shall carry interest at the rate of 8.0% (Eight point zero per cent) during the period from 1st January 2017 to 31st March 2017.

4. The rate of interest on belated final payment of General Provident Fund accumulations remaining unpaid for more than three months of its becoming payable shall be at the same rate as ordered in para 3 above.
(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)

K. SHANMUGAM ADDITIONAL
CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT

Click to view the original order
Authority: www.tn.gov.in

Minutes of the meeting: 29th SCOVA meeting under the chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS(PP)

Minutes of the meeting: 29th SCOVA meeting under the chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS(PP)

F.No.42/16/2016-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-l10003
Date: 16th Feb, 2017

To
All the Pensioners Associations included in the SCOV A vide Resolution dated 25.08.2015

Subject: 29th SCOVA meeting under the chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS(PP) - Minutes of the meeting
Please find enclosed herewith minutes of the 29th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies(SCOVA) held under the chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS(PP) on 12.01.2017 for your kind perusal and necessary action. The minutes of the meeting are also available on this Department's website www.pensionersportal.gov.in.

(Sujasha Choudhury)
Director(P)

Click to view the order

Draft Recruitment Rules for the Post of Multi Tasking Staff in Staff Selection Commission.

Draft Recruitment Rules for the Post of Multi Tasking Staff in Staff Selection Commission.

Draft Recruitment Rules for the post of Multi Tasking Staff in Staff Selection Commission are attached herewith for perusal of all concerned.  Comments of stakeholders, if any, may please be sent to this Department on or before 15.03.2017 at the address Section Officer, Estt.(B.I), Department of Personnel & Training, Room No.215-C, North Block, New Delhi. A soft copy of the comments may also be sent to this Department at selvakumar.m13nic.in .

[ TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (i) ]
No.

Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
New Delhi, the

NOTIFICATION

G. S .R In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution and in accordance with DOPT O.M.No. AB.14017/6/2009- Estt.(RR) dated 30.4.2010 and in supersession of the Staff Selection Commission (Group 'D' posts) Recruitment Rules, 1978; Staff Selection Commission (Examination Work Attendant) Recruitment Rules, 1989 and Staff Selection Commission (Senior Gestetner Operator and Senior Peon) Recruitment Rules, 1996 notified on 31.05.1980, 09.10.1989 and 04.10.1996 respectively, the President hereby makes the following rules regulating the method of recruitment to the post of Multi Tasking Staff

(Group 'C') in the Staff Selection Commission, namely :-

1. Short title and commencement:-  These rules may be called the Staff Selection Commission Group 'C'
"Multi Tasking Staff' Recruitment Rules, 2017.
They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Number of Posts, Classification and Scale of pay :- The number of posts, its classification and the Pay Level in Pay Matrix attached thereto shall be as specified in Column 2 to 4 of the Schedule annexed to these rules.

3. Method of recruitment, age limit and other Qualifications, etc.:- The method of recruitment to the said post, age limit, qualification and other matters relating to thereto shall be as specified in column 5 to 13 of the said Schedule;

4. Disqualification:- No person,
(a) Who has entered into or contracted a marriage with a person having a spouse living, or
(b) Who, having a spouse living, has entered into or contracted a marriage with any person,
shall be eligible for appointment to the said post. Provided that the Central Government may, if satisfied, that such marriage  is permissible under the personal law applicable to such person and the other party to the marriage and that there are other grounds for so doing, exempts any person from the operation of this rule.

5. Power to relax :- Where the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient to do so, it may, by order, and for reasons to be recorded in writing, relax any of the provisions of these rules with respect to any class or category of persons.

6. Saving:- Nothing in these rules shall affect reservations, relaxations of age limit and other concessions required to be provided for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Ex-Servicemen or any other special category of persons in accordance with the orders issued by
the Central Government from time to time in this regard.

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CGA Orders: One day Strike on 16th March 2017

CGA Orders: One day Strike on 16th March 2017

No.A-12017/1/2010/MF.CGA(A)/NGE/Assoc-Agi/1224
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Controller General of Accounts

Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan
E Block, GPO complex, INA
New Delhi-110023

Dated: 13th February, 2017

Subject: One Day Strike on 16th March, 2017.

Reference is invited to this office 0M of even no.502 dated 18th January, 2017. All India Civil Accounts Employees Association has intimated that the proposed One Day Strike on 15th February, 2017 has been to 16th March, 2017.

2. Attention is invited to the provisions of Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) 0M No.25/23/66-Estt(A) dated 09.12.1966 (reproduced as G.l. decision No.2 below Rule 7 of CCS (Conduct) Rules, which inter-alia provides that under Rule 7 (ii) of rules ibid, a Government servant shall NOT resort to or in any way abet any form of strike in connection with any matter to his service or the service of any other Government employees. If any Government servant resorts to any action in violation of Rule 7 (ii) of CCS (Conduct) Rules, disciplinary action would have to be taken against him.

3. Attention is also invited to proviso to FR 17(I) according to which any employee(s) who is absent from duty without permission shall not be entitled to any pay and allowances during the period of absence. Further, unauthorized absence shall be deemed to cause an interruption or break in service Of the employee under FR 17(A).

4. In this regard, the following decisions of the Supreme Court may also be brought to the of the employees under your Ministry/Department. The Supreme Court has held in the Case Of T.K.Rangarajan Vs. Govt. of Tamil Nadu that no right exists with the Govt. employees to strike, whether fundamental, statutory or an equitable right. In All India Bank Employees Association Vs. National Industrial Tribunal & Ors„ (1962 (3) SCR 269) the Constitution Bench of the Suprerme Court specifically held that even very liberal interpretation of sub-clause (C) of Clause (1) of Article 19 of the Constitution cannot lead to the conclusion that the trade unions have a guaranteed right to strike, either as part of collective bargaing or otherwise. There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court also agreed that going on strike is a grave misconduct under the Conduct Rules and that misconduct by Government Employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with law. Hence, once it is proved that an employee has committed the of going on a strike in any form, the Supreme Court has held in Bank of India vs. TS Kelawala [1990 (4) SLR 249] that he will have to face the consequences which may include deduction of wages and even dismissal from service.

5. In this context, it is clarified that strike means refusal of work or stoppage or slowing down of work by a group of employees acting in combination and includes:-

vii) mass abstention from work without permission which is wrongly described mass Casual Leave.
viii) refusal to work on overtime where such overtime work is necessary in public interest.
ix) resort to practice or conduct which is likely to result in or results in the cessation or substantial retardation of work in any organization. Such practice include what are ‘go-slow’, ‘sit-down’, “pen-down’, ‘stay-in’. ‘token’, ‘sympathetic’ or any other similar strike as also absence from work for participation in a ‘Bandh’ or similar movements.

6. Accordingly, Casual Leave or any other kind of leave, if applied for, should not be sanctioned to the officers and employees during the period of proposed One Day Strike on 16th March, 2017 and it should be ensured that the striking activities are not allowed inside and around the office premises. It may also be ensured that the employees, who intend to attend their office work despite the call for the strike, are not prevented from attending the office by the striking employees. Suitable contingency plan may be worked out for carrying out the various functions in field offices and Principal Accounts Offices.

7. The above instructions may be brought to the notice of staff working under your control. All the Pr. CCAs/CCAs/CAs are requested to deal with the cases in respect of employees, Who resort to action as above, in the light of above referred instructions.

8. This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

sd/-
(Sandeep Malhotra)
Sr. Accounts Officer

Click to view the order
Authority: www.cga.nic.in

Grant of Advances- 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations-Amendment to rules on Computer Advance to Railway servants

Grant of Advances- 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations-Amendment to rules on Computer Advance to Railway servants

Government of India (Bharat Sarkar)
Ministry of Railways (Rail Mantralaya)
(Railway Board)

No.I/11-Part I
PC-VII No : 15/2017

RBE No. 10/2017
No. F(E) Spl./2016/ADV.4/1(7th CPC)

The General Managers and FA&CAOs
All Indian Railways & Production Units
(As per standard list)

Subject: Grant of Advances- Seventh Central Pay Commission recommendations-Amendment to rules on Computer Advance to Railway servants.

Consequent upon the decision taken by the Government on the recommendations of Seventh Central Pay Commission, the Ministry of Finance vide their OM No. 12(1)/E.II(A)/2016 dated 07.10.2016 have amended the eligibility criteria in the existing provisions relating to the grant of Personal Computer Advance.

2. Amendment conditions of grant of Computer Advance are as follows:

Advance	Quantum	Eligibility Criteria
Personal Computer Advance	ƻ50,000/- or actual price of PC, whichever is lower.	All Government Servants
The Computer Advance will be allowed maximum five times in the entire service.
The other terms and conditions governing the grant of Personal computer advance shall remain unchanged.

3. Further, Ministry of Finance in their ibid OM have also decided that the other interest bearing advances relating to Motor Car Advance and Motorcycle/Scooter/Moped Advance will stand discontinued.
4. The above mentioned OM of Ministry of Finance relating to grant of interest bearing advances will apply mutatis-mutandis to Railway employees also.

4.1 So far as the interest free advances are concerned, Bicycle and Warm clothing advances stands abolished for Railway employees also in terms of MoF’s decision.

4.2 Orders relating to other interest free advances will be issued separately by concerned Directorates.
5. Necessary Advance Correction Slip to the chapter XI of the Indian Railway Establishment Manual, Vol.I Revised Edition, 1989 will follow.

6. The revised orders are effective from 07.10.2016 i.e. the date of the issue of the aforesaid OM of the Ministry of Finance. Past cases where the advances have already been sanctioned under the provisions of earlier rules on the subject need not be reopened.

7. Please acknowledge receipt.

8. Hindi version will follow.

(A.C. Jain)
Dy. Director Finance (Estt.)
Railway Board

AIRF

Enhancement of Maternity Leave - Lok Sabha Q&A

Enhancement of Maternity Leave - Lok Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 672
ANSWERED ON: 06.02.2017

Maternity Leave

SHASHI THAROOR
Will the Minister of

LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-

(a)whether the Government proposes to extend the time span of the compulsory paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks in private organizations;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)whether the Government also proposes to amend section 4 of the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961, to ensure that women employed in various public sector undertakings receive the same benefit; and
(d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Government has decided to enhance the paid maternity leave from existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks and an Amendment Bill in this regard was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has already passed the Bill on 11.08.2016. With regard to women workers covered under Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, such enhancement has already been effected by amending the ESI (Central) Rules,1950.

(c) & (d): There is no proposal to amend Section 4 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. The benefits under this Act are already applicable and available to women employed in various public sector undertakings.

Authority: www.Loksabha.nic.in

Budget 2017 - New Benefits announced for NPS Subscribers

Budget 2017 - New Benefits announced for NPS Subscribers

PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

PRESS RELEASE

In a bid to provide further impetus to the National Pension System (NPS), the following provisions have teen introduced in the Finance bill 2017 laid down in the Parliament today.

1. Tax-exemption to partial withdrawal from National Pension System (NPS)

The existing provision of section 10(12A) of the Income Tax Act. 1961 provides payment from National Pension System (NPS) to a Subscriber on closure of his account or opting out shall be exempt up to 40% of total corpus at the time of withdrawl . The amount utilized for purchase of annuity is also tax exempt. At the time of normal exit. 40% of the total corpus is mandatorily required to be purchased for annuity. The subscriber has the option to use higher amount for purchase Of annuity.

In order to provide further relief to the subscriber of NPS, it has been proposed to Insert a new clause (12B) in the section 10 of Income Tax Act, 1961 to provide exemption on partial withdrawal not exceeding 25% of the contribution made by an employee in accordance with the terms and conditions specified under Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act. 2013 and regulations made there under.

This benefit will be effective on partial withdrawal made by the subscriber after 1st April 2017.

2. Further, Contribution up to 20% of the Gross Income of the Self-employed Individual ( Individual other than salaried class) will be deductible from the taxable income under Section 8OCCD(1) of the Income Tax Act.1961, as against 10% earlier.

This is with a view to provide parity between a salaried employee and a self- employed.

This benefit will be available on contribution made by the self employed persons on or after 1st April 2017.

This increased limit tor tax benefit will help the self-employed individuals, to save taxes on higher contribution in NPS and thereby properly plan for their old age income security.

Additional tax deduction on investment upto Rs. 50000/- under Section 80CCD(1B) will continue to remain the same for all NPS subscribers whether salaried or self-employed.

Induction training of Engineering Degree/Diploma Holder Compassionate appointees - training period duration

Induction training of Engineering Degree/Diploma Holder Compassionate appointees - training period duration - reg.

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

 No.II/1-A/Pt.20

Dated: 08/02/2017

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Kind attention D.G./Personnel

Dear Sir,
Sub: Induction training of Engineering Degree/Diploma Holder Compassionate appointees - training period duration - reg.

It has been brough to NFIR's notice that the candidates selected on compassionate ground for the post of Technicians III (Pay Matrix level 2) are being subjected to 3 years induction training although they possess Engineering Degree/Diploma qualification. Federation feels sad to mention that such technically qualified candidates are not even treated at par with the ITI certificate holders/act apprentices who are imparted only 6 months training prior to their absorption as Technician III, GP 1900/revised pay matrix level 2.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to kindly review the extant policy and issue instructions to the Zonal railways, PUs, etc., (particularly South Western Railway) to offer the post commensurating with their technical qualification in higher grades pay/revised pay matrices on compassionate ground. When they are found suitable for Technician III post only, their, training period be limited 6 months as in vogue in the case of ITI certificate holders/act apprentices. Revised instructions on these lines may kindly be issued soon.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Reckoning GP 4200/- PB-2 as entry grade pay for granting financial upgradation under MACPS to the Pharmacist category

Reckoning GP 4200/- PB-2 as entry grade pay for granting financial upgradation under MACPS to the Pharmacist category

 NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI - 110 055

Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)

No. IV/MACPS/09/Part 10

Dated: 07/02/2017

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi.

Dear Sir,
Sub: Reckoning GP 4200/- PB-2 as entry grade pay for granting financial upgradation under MACPS to the Pharmacist category - reg.

Ref: (i) NFIR's letter No. IV/MACPS/09/Part 10 dated 30/08/2016 and 22/12/2016.
(ii) Railway Board's reply vide No. PC-V/2011/M/NFIR dated 24/01/2017

Federation does not agree with the view taken by the Railway Board by misinterpretation of the contents of DoP&T's OM dated 4th Feb 1992. In this connection, Federation once again cites below the facts which have been ignored by the Board while considering the demand:

• It is true that vide para 2 of the said OM, while the DoP&T has laid down criteria for assessing the suitability of the incumbents of the posts due to revision of pay scales/upgradation, at the same time in sub-para 2 of the same OM, it has been clarified that  where the upgradation involves replacement scale without higher responsibilities or higher qualification but with higher eligibility of service, in such situation suitability may not be assessed.
• It has been further clarified that those who fulfill the criteria of qualifying service, should be appointed to the upgraded post from the date on which they complete the qualifying service.
• The condition stipulated in sub-para 2 of DoP&T's OM dated 4th Feb 1992 has been fulfilled by the Pharmacists who though recruited in GP 2800 have been appointed to GP 4200 (6th CPC) on completion of 2 years service in GP 2800/- (PB-1).

The plea taken by the Railway Board that the said OM of DoP&T is applicable for assessing the suitability of the incumbents, is therefore, misconceived, illogical and unjustified. On the other hand, the case of Pharmacists for granting MACP benefit is required to be dealt applying the provisions contained in the DoP&T's OM dated 4th Feb,1992.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway instructions to the Zones etc., allowing MACP endorsed to the Federation.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Copy to the Executive Director,PC-I, Railway Board, DFCC Building, Metro Bhavan, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi for information and necessary action please.
Copy to the General Secretaries of the Affiliated Unions of NFIR.

Source: NFIR