Benefit from the Income Tax sops announced by the Government..?

Benefit from the Income Tax sops announced by the Government..?

In the 2014-15 Budget that was presented recently, it was announced that the income tax exemption slab will be being raised from Rs. 2 lakhs per annum to Rs. 2.5 lakhs.

On July 10, during the parliamentary session, while presenting the budget for the year 2014-15, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that the non-taxable income slab for individual tax payers has been raised from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 2.5 lakhs. Also, the maximum tax exemption of Rs. 1 lakh Under Section 80C has been raised to Rs. 1.5 lakh. Interest deductions on home loan have been increased from Rs. 1.5 lakhs to Rs. 2 lakhs.

Let us now make approximate calculations about the kinds of benefits that taxpayers stand to get from these changes:

Raising the non-taxable income limit from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 2.5 lakhs gives a maximum tax savings of Rs. 5600 additionally.

Since the maximum tax exemption under Section 80C has been raised to Rs. 1.5 lakhs, the tax payer gets to save Rs. 17,000 under certain exemption categories.

Since the maximum exemption under home loan deduction has been raised from Rs. 1.5 laksh to Rs. 2 lakhs, the taxpayer saves another 17,000.

Source: www.employeesnews.in
[http://www.employeesnews.in/2014/07/benefit-from-income-tax-sops-announced.html]

Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Widowed/Divorced/Unmarried daughter in receipt of family pension- clarification by Railway Board vide RBE No. 69/2014 dated 7-07-2014

Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Widowed/Divorced/Unmarried daughter in receipt of family pension- clarification by Railway Board vide RBE No. 69/2014 dated 7-07-2014

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAY
(Railway Board)

S.No. PC-V/507
No. PC-V/2011/A/Med/1

RBE No. 69/2014
New Delhi dated 7-07-2014

The General Manager
All Indian Railways & PUs
(As per mailing list)

Sub:- Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Widowed/Divorced/Unmarried daughter in receipt of family pension- clarification reg.

Some references pointing out doubts regarding admissibility of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to Widowed/Divorced/Unmarried daughter in receipt of family pension has been received in Board’s office. In this context, attention is invited to Board’s letter No. PC-V/98/I/7/1/1 dt. 21-4-1999 and 01-03-2004 whereby sanction of the President has been accorded to grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Railway pensioners/ family pensioners residing beyond 2.5 Kms from a Railway hospital/Health Units subject to fulfillment of conditions laid down therein.

From the above, it is evident that Widowed/divorced/unmarried daughters in receipt of family pension being family pensioner are already covered by relevant instructions and may be extended benefit of grant of FMA provided they fulfill all other terms and conditions in this regard.

As regard the date of eligibility for grant of Fixed Medical Allowance to Family Pensioners, it is clarified that in cases where the existing pensioner/family pensioner was in receipt of Fixed Medical Allowance, the family pensioner next-in-line may be allowed Fixed Medical Allowance from the same date from which he/she becomes eligible for family pension, if he/she otherwise fulfills the conditions for grant of Fixed Medical Allowance.

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

sd/-
(N.P. Singh)
Dy. Director, Pay Commission-V
Railway Board.

(Authority : DoP&PW’s O.M. No. 4/6/2011-P&PW(D) dated 26. 8.2011 and No. 4/250008 P&PW(D) dated 2.5.2014)

Source: AIRF
[http://www.airfindia.com/Orders%202014/RBE%20No.69%20of%202014.pdf]

No proposal for giving reservation in Government jobs in the ratio of population

No proposal for giving reservation in Government jobs in the ratio of population

While answering to a question in Lok Sabha on 9th July 2014, Minister of DoPT Shri DR.Jitendra Singh said in a written form as follows…

Department of Personnel and Training is the nodal department for formulating policies, inter-alia, on reservation in services for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. It is for each Ministry/Department to implement the orders of reservation policy scrupulously. Complaints from individuals regarding non-implementation of reservation policy are forwarded to the concerned Ministries/Departments for appropriate action.

Moreover, Liaison Officers have been appointed in all the Ministries/Departments and offices under the control of Heads of Departments to ensure due compliance of reservation policy. Instructions also exist that Scheduled castes/ Scheduled Tribes employees can directly submit their complaints to National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, as the case may be.

As per decision of the Supreme Court, total reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes cannot exceed the limit of 50%.

Source: CGEN.in

Granting of fixation benefit in cases of promotion from one post to another where the promotional post carries the same grade pay as the feeder post

Granting of fixation benefit in cases of promotion from one post to another where the promotional post carries the same grade pay as the feeder post – IT Department

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES
DIRECTORATE OF INCOME TAX
(HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT)

ICADR Building, Plot No. 6, Vasant Kunj Institutional Area Phase-II
New Delhi— 110070. Ph. 26130592. Fax 26130594

F.NO.HRD/CM/MIsc/221/1/2013- 14/2727

Dated the 16th July, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Directorate letter F.No I-IRD/CM/Misc /221/1/2012-13 dated 08.01.2013 circulating the Department of Exependiture’s Office Memorandum No.10/02/2011-E.III/A dated 07.01.2013 communicating the decision of the Government to grant fixation benefit in cases of promotion from onc post to another where the promotional post carries the same grade pay as the feeder post. It is stated in the above referred Office Memorandum that the fixation of pay in such cases shall be as per Rule 13(i) of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules. 2008.

In this regard. the undersigned is directed to convey the approval of the Departrment of Expenditure on the proposal of the Department seeking fixation of pay under Rule 13 (j) of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules. 2008 in cases of promotion from (a) Steno Grade-II (till merger of Steno Grade -I and II in the year 2010) to Steno Grade-I and (b) Sr Tax Assistant to Office Superintendent where both feeder and promtional posts are in the same Grade Pay in terms of Department of Exependitures Office Memorandum No 10/02/2011-E.III/A dated 07.01.2013 subject to the condition that fixation of pay in such cases was done as per FR 22(1 )(a)( I) prior to 01.01.2006.

sd/-
(Sanjay Gosain)
Deputy Director of Income Tax (HRD)

Source: www.incometaxindia.gov.in
[http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/OM-NO-2727-dated-16.07.2014.pdf]

IRCTC Launches Berth Selection Option While Reserving Tickets

IRCTC Launches Berth Selection Option While Reserving Tickets

IRCTC now gives option to choose the berths and seats at the time of reserving tickets online.

Until now, private bus operators gave users the option to choose their berths and seats at the time of booking their tickets on the internet. From next month onwards, IRTC too is going to give the option to its users when they book their railway tickets online. IRTC has added this facility for the sake of senior citizens, families with children and for the sick and ailing passengers.

Senior citizens, women and those travelling with children were, until now, not given the option to choose the berths they wanted. All they could do was give their preference for middle or lower berths. They would be given those berths only if they were available. Only if all the berths of the S1 coach are filled will the berth allocation for S2 coach begin. So even if the seat desired by the passenger is vacant in the S2 berth, he/she cannot reserve it.

While presenting the annual Railway budget last week in the Parliament, the Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said that passengers will now have the option to choose the coach and berth at the time of reserving the tickets online. He added that there will also be an option to choose the food menu while booking the tickets!

The Railways already offers facilities for users to book resting rooms at the destination station while reserving the tickets. Initially one had to arrive at the station, pay the fees and then book the resting room. Now, at the time of booking their tickets, they can also reserve the resting rooms at the prime destination stations.

Like railway tickets, these rooms too can be booked 90 days in advance. After reserving the tickets, the user has to present the reserved ticket to the officer-in-charge of the resting room and reserve the rooms at the destination station.

Although there are some practical difficulties in executing these plans, the passengers are delighted.
But, despite all these facilities offered, booking tickets on the IRTC website continues to be a daunting task.

Source: CGEN.in
[http://centralgovernmentemployeesnews.in/2014/07/irctc-launches-berth-selection-option-while-reserving-tickets/]

No proposal to hike retirement age of Central Government employees before the Government

No Proposal regarding raising the retirement age before the Government

Following is the text of the Press Statement issued by the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions today, to clarify that there is no proposal before the Government regarding raising the retirement age of Central Government employees from 60 years to 62 years :-

“Attention of the Government has been drawn to reports appearing in some sections of the media regarding raising the retirement age of Central Government employees from 60 to 62 years.

In order to put at rest all such speculations, it is clarified that there is no such proposal before the Government.”

Income Tax Exemption Limit Raised by Rs.50,000 – Does it meet the Central Government employees’ expectations?

Income Tax Exemption Limit Raised by Rs.50,000 – Does it meet the Central Government employees’ expectations?

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that the Income Tax exemption limit for individual taxpayers, below the age of 60 years has been raised from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 2.5 lakhs.

The General Budget 2014-15 presented by the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley on 10th this month, most Central Government employees were hoping that the Income Tax exemption limit for salaried pupil would be raised to atleast Rs 3 lakhs this time. But the Finance Minister delivered a shock and disappointment to everyone with an increase of a mere Rs. 50,000.

Prior to the election, based on the speeches and statements issued by the now Finance Minister, there were talks that the non-taxable income limits would be raised to Rs. 5 lakhs.

Central Government employees, who were constantly disappointed in the past few years, were not ready to believe it. But they reluctantly hoped that the amount would be raised by Rs. 1 lakh.

The fact that it was increased by only Rs. 50,000 had disappointed many. It could have been much worse had there not been any increase at all or if it was a consolatory hike of Rs. 10,000.

The Minister explained that he couldn’t offer anything more for the time being due to acute cash crunch for the newly elected Government. But he assured everybody that it is just the beginning, and that there will be plenty of positive changes in the future. Since this is the first budget presented by the new Government and since he has already granted exemption of Rs. 50,000, his promise is very believable.

It is worth mentioning that tax exemption under Section 80C is going to be increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.5 lakhs. It is a painful fact that tax exemptions for savings had not been increased for a number of years. There were rumours that the Government is planning to hike the exemption by Rs. 1 lakh, but the Finance Minister has offered much-needed consolation by increasing it by Rs. 50,000.

Although the change is not a huge one for thousands of Government employees who have been waiting for tax relief for a number of years, they are bound to feel mildly reassured.

The table given below shows the non taxable salary slab for the past eight years.

YEAR	MINIMUM INCOME CEILING
2009-10	1,60,000
2010-11	1,60,000
2011-12	1,80,000
2012-13	2,00,000
2013-14	2,00,000
2014-15	2,50,000

Source : CGEN.in
[http://centralgovernmentemployeesnews.in/2014/07/income-tax-exemption-limit-raised-by-rs-50000-does-it-meet-the-central-government-employees-expectations/]

NC JCM Staff Side has demanded Grant of ACP to Draftsmen Cadre of Central Government Departments

NC JCM Staff Side has demanded Grant of ACP to Draftsmen Cadre of Central Government Departments

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary

Ph.: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi - 110001
E Mail: nc.jcm.np@gmail.com

No. NC-JCM-2014/ACP

July 14, 2014

The Secretary,
Department of Personnel & Training,
North Block, New Delhi

The Secretary,
Department of Defence
Production & Supplies,
D.G.Q.A., D.H.Q, New Delhi

Sub:- Grant of ACP to Draftsmen.

Dear Sir,
I may draw your kind attention to the following judgments of Tribunal / High Court and the Supreme Court:

1. CAT Bombay Bench order dated 28.2.2005 in O.A. No.124/2004 Shri K.M. Khopkar & others Vs UoI.
2. Bombay High Court order dated 11.12.2006 in writ petition No. 5269/2005 Union of India & others Vs K.M.Khopkar
3. Supreme Court order dated 10.7.2007 in Petition for SLP (C) CC5027/2007 Union of India & others Vs K.M. Khopkar.

The Hon’ble CAT Bombay has ruled that the placement irregular scale on the basis of Ministry of Defence letter dated 15.9. 1995 granted to Draftsmen of other Departments in pursuance of CPWD Arbitration award cannot be treated as regular promotion and ACP benefit rightly granted to the applicants cannot be withdrawn.

The High Court Bombay has upheld the above ruling of the CAT Bombay.

The Supreme Court had dismissed the appeal observing that they do not find any merit to interfere in this case.

2. The question is whether all draftsmen of other departments would be granted the benefit of this judgment. They are similarly placed employees and there are several directions of the apex court that in the case of similarly placed employees, a decision given by Courts should be treated as judgment in rem and Government should extend such benefits to all similarly placed employees so that there is no multiplication of litigation in a matter which has already been adjudicated.

3. I, therefore, request you kindly to consider and extend the benefit of above ruling which has already attained finality to all the draftsmen not only working in Department of Defence Production & Supplies but also in all other Central Government Departments.

4. Action Taken on this matter may kindly advice to us.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary

Source: www.ncjcmstaffside.com
[http://ncjcmstaffside.com/2014/nc-jcm-staff-side-has-demanded-grant-of-acp-to-draftsmen-cadre-of-central-governement/]