Thursday, December 1, 2016

Recommendations of the High Power Committee to review the duty hours of running staff - Decisions thereof on Breach of Rest Allowance

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
RBE No. 135/2016
No. 2014/E(P&A)II/HPC Report

New Delhi, dated 18 -11-2016.

The General Managers(P)/CAOs,
All Indian Railways
and Production Units etc.

Sub: Recommendations of the High Power Committee to review the duty hours of  running staff - Decisions thereof on Breach of Rest Allowance.


The High Power Committee, constituted to review the duty hours of running staff and other safety related categories made its recommendations on various aspects related to working hours of these categories. The recommendations have been duly considered by the Board and the following decisions relating to Breach of Rest Allowance have been made:

(i) The provisions contained in Rule 10 regarding Breach of Rest Allowance in the "The Rules for the Payments of Running and other Allowances to the Running Staff on Railways, 1981" are reiterated. Breach of rest whether at Headquarters or at outstation should be permitted only in emergent situations like accidents, natural calamities and national emergencies subject to operational exigencies.

(ii) There should be no Breach of Rest Allowance for breach of rest at Outstations. It will, however, continue to be admissible for breach of rest at Headquarters.

(iii) There should be no Breach of Rest Allowance for breach in periodical rest. However, if need does arise for curtailment of periodical rest, it should be permitted only if the running staff has availed a complete night in bed during the periodical rest.

(iv) The present rates for payment of Breach of Rest Allowance will continue.

(v) Cases of breach of rest should be regularly monitored at a sufficiently high level in divisional offices and zonal offices.

2. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

3. Please acknowledge receipt.


(Salim Md. Ahmed)
Dy. Director/ Estt. (P&A)II,
Railway Board.
Source: www.indianrailways.gov.in
[http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/establishment/E(P%26A)/2016/E(P%26A)II_21112016.pdf]

January Salary Of Central Employees To Follow Higher Allowances: Finance Ministry

January Salary Of Central Employees To Follow Higher Allowances: Finance Ministry

Report says that a top official of the finance ministry today told on condition of anonymity that Central government employees salaries for January will be in line with the higher allowances.

When asked whether the arrears would be paid too, he said, "This depends on the cabinet. If the cabinet gives the nod higher allowances with retrospective effect from August 2016, the arrears will be paid."

"The government faces severe attack for cash crunch because of demonetisation. But the situation will return to normalcy after the deadline of December 30 for deposit of invalid Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes."

He added, "It's better if delayed till sufficient cash is available with the banks."

The government in June approved the 7th Pay Commission recommendations for its employees with higher basic pay, which has been paid with arrears, effective from January 1, 2016 but the hike in allowances other than dearness allowance referred to the ‘Committee on Allowances’ headed by the Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa for examination as as the pay commission had recommended of abolishing 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances.

Until acceptance of higher allowances, existing allowances are to be paid according to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations, says an earlier official statement issued by the finance ministry.
However, the committee on allowances head Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said recently, "We are ready to submit our report, when the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley calls up."

Source: tkbsen.in

Income Tax Exemption Calculation for Interest paid on Housing Loan

Revised Income Tax Exemption Calculator for Interest paid on Housing Loan  Income or Loss or House Property Calculation under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act.

After enactment of Finance Act 2014, maximum housing loan interest amount (Interest on house property) which can be deducted from the income of a tax payer under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act in respect of self occupied house, is Rs. 2 Lakhs (Rs. 2,00,000).

Also there is no limit specified for deduction of home loan interest amount from income in the case of House property being rented out.

How to calculate Income / loss on House Property (Deduction of Home Loan Interest from Total Income) ?

In the case of Self Occupied House Property:

Actual annual value of Interest paid on Home loan or Rs. 2,00,000 whichever is maximum

In the case of House Property rented out:
  1. Actual annual value of Interest paid on Home loan
  2. Add annual rental value of the house property
  3. Less House property Tax paid
  4. Less Rebate 30% of the Annual Value of Rent as Repairs and Maintenance
Section 80EE reintroduced in Finance Act 2016
As per Finance Act 2016, the tax payer is entitled to claim additional deduction of Rs. 50,000 under Section 80 EE if you are a first time home buyern interest. This deduction is over and above the Rs 2 lakhs limit under section 24 of the income tax act. Read more about deduction of Rs 2 lakhs on interest on home loan here.

Section 80EE was introduced effective 2013-14 and was available for 2 years, FY 2013-14 and FY 2014-15 only (assessment year 2014-15 and 2015-16). However, this section has been reintroduced effective FY 2016-17 (assessment year 2017-18).

Who can avail this Deduction?
  • This is the 1st house you have purchased
  • Value of this house is Rs 50 lakhs or less
  • Loan taken for this house is Rs 35 lakhs or less
  • Loan has been sanctioned by a Financial Institution or a Housing Finance Company
  • Loan has been sanctioned between 01.04.2016 to 31.03.2017
  • As on the date of sanction of loan no other house is owned by you

Submission of Pre-budget Views of Central Government Employees : Confederation

Submission of Pre-budget Views of Central Government employees for consideration and inclusion in the Central Budget for the year 2017-18 - Request - Regarding

REF: CONFDN/BUDGET/2016-17
DATED  -12-2016
To,
Shri. Arun Jaitley,
Hon'ble Finance Minister,
Government of India,
North Block, New Delhi - 110001

Sub: Submission of Pre-budget Views of Central Government employees for consideration and inclusion in the Central Budget for the year 2017-18 - Request - Regarding.

Respected Sir,
Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers is the umbrella organization comprising of various Unions/Associations/Federations of the Central Government employees. Central Government employees are the important segment of the society and contributing for the growth of this country through effective implementation of the policies of the Government of India. Hence, the views of this segment of important stakeholders, I submit, may also be heard and considered. With this request, this organization is bringing the following views for consideration by your good self, as a part of the pre-budget exercise to finalize the budget for the year 2017-18.

Issues of the Central Government employees:

1. New Pension Scheme: Lakhs of employees who joined the Central Government Departments on or after 01-04-2004 are vulnerable to the market fluctuations due to the NPS. It has been pleaded several times to scrap this NPS or grant guarantee of minimum pension at the rate of 50% of last pay drawn. It is requested to concede this request in this budget by making required amendments.

2. Income Tax: It is submitted that Government employees are the most tax compliant segment of the society. At the same time they are the hard hit with heavy tax burden. For many years it is requested to raise the tax exemption limit. It is requested to consider increasing the tax exemption limit for employees to Rs. 5,00,000/-. It is also requested not to include the compensatory allowances in the taxable income.

3. Interest concession on loans and advances: Nationalized Banks are extending housing loans, personal loans for their employees at a lesser rate than the market rate. This facility may also be extended to the Central Government employees.

4. Education loans to the Children of the Central Government employees: In the present set up no bank is giving education loans for pursuing higher studies without keeping immovable property as collateral security. One has to cross many hassles for obtaining education loan for his ward. It is requested that education loan for the ward of a Central Government employee should be hassle free and without any guarantee or collateral security except the employee himself/herself. The total loan should cover the entire fee and living expenses without any restrictions.

5. Minimum Wage & Fitment formula: The minimum wage of Rs.18000/- recommended by 7th CPC is needed to be revised to Rs.26000/- to confirm to the realistic and accepted norms of the wage determination. Accordingly the fitment factor should also be proportionately changed.

6. Curtailment of litigation: Presently due to the policy of DOP&T the Central Government employees are forced to engage in avoidable litigation in the Courts of Law, even on those similar Service matters, which were decided by the Highest Court of the Land. This is resulting in lot of expenditure of Government employees. The judgments of the Courts should be applied to all the similarly placed employees without forcing them to file cases on the very matter.

7. Compassionate appointments: The eligible wards of the employees who died in harness should be given employment by removing the present artificial ceiling of 5% on such employment.

8. Housing needs of the employees working in N.E and Assam Circles: The employees working in these States are facing hardship due to lack of housing facilities. Hence, it is requested to construct more General Pool Resident staff quarters for all the Central Government employees working in N.E. and Assam regions.

9. It is also requested that cash less and Hassle free Medical facilities to serving and retired employees for in-patient and out-patient may also be favourably considered.

General Issues:

Central Trade Unions in their Memorandum dated 19-11-2016 has brought several issues like price raise, strengthening the Public Distribution System, safeguarding the Public Sector, Foreign Direct Investment, employment generation, Same Pay for Same Work, Social Security for unorganized workers, Labour Law Reforms, regularization of Contract and Casual Labour, which has a bearing on the lives of the common masses, employees and workers. This Federation completely endorses their viewpoint on these important issues and requests you to kindly initiate necessary corrective steps in this Budget.

It is earnestly requested to seriously consider the above suggestions for inclusion in the Budget for the year 2017-18, which will go a long way in fulfilling the long pending aspirations of the Central Government employees.

Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Mob:09447068125
E-mail: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Processing of Pension cases mandatorily through Bhavishya (Online Pension Sanction & Payment Tracking System) w.e.f 01/01/2017

Processing of Pension cases mandatorily through Bhavishya (Online Pension Sanction & Payment Tracking System) w.e.f 01/01/2017 - reg.

No. 55/14/2014/P&PW(C)Part-1
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated: 29th November, 2016

OFFICE MEMEORANDUM

Sub: Processing of Pension cases mandatorily through Bhavishya (Online Pension Sanction & Payment Tracking System) w.e.f 01/01/2017 - reg.

Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is responsible for formulation of policy and coordination of matters relating to pension policy and welfare of Central Government pensioners. It has been seen that despite detailed guidelines and instructions to the contrary a large proportion of retiring employees do not get their retirement benefits and the Pension Payment Order(PPO) in time. It is likely that such retired employees find it difficult to get the process completed after retirement. The sanction process starts more than a year before the date of retirement and requires cooperation amongst various agencies. This department has, therefore, launched Bhavishya - an online pension sanction and payment tracking system. The system by keeping track of the progress of each case introduces transparency and accountability. Both the retiring employees as well as administrative authorities can monitor progress at each stage.

2. The system has been running successfully in the main Secretariat of all ministries/departments for the last one year. It has since been extended to cover over 3000 Drawing and Disbursing Officers and Pay and Accounts Offices from various ministries/departments and their attached offices.

3. It has now been decided that all Heads of Offices will henceforth mandatorily process all pension cases only through Bhavishya. In this, where necessary, they will assist the retiring employee to submit the online application form. The Pay and Accounts Offices will process cases generated through Bhavishya through the pension module in COMPACT till the Public Financial Management System(PFMS) is made operational and integrated with Bhavishya.

4. It is to be noted that all authorities will strictly follow the timelines prescribed under the CCS(Pension) Rules and in no case will the pension case be delayed on account of electronic processing through Bhavishya.

5. These instructions take effect from 1st January, 2017.

6. This issues with the approval of competent authority.
Sd/-
(Seema Gupta)
Director
Source : ccis.nic.in

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