No improvement in Conciliation meeting held on 5.11.2014 – Bank employees Strike on 12.11.2014

No improvement in IBAs offer – UFBU decides to go ahead with the strike on 12.11.2014

Conciliation meeting held by CLC today(5.11.2014) – No improvement in IBAs offer – CLC calls for further meeting on 10th instant – UFBU decides to go ahead with the strike

Further to the Strike notice served on the IBA by the UFBU, conciliation meeting was held today in New Delhi by Mr. P.P. Mitra Chief Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour, Government of India. IBA was represented by Mr. M.V. Tanksale, Chief Executive, Mr. Unnikrishnan, Dy. Chief Executive and other officials. UFBU was represented by all the constituent unions.

During the conciliation proceedings, the IBA contended that due to the reducing profitability of the Banks, they are unable to accept the demands of the UFBU and stated that for the sake of an amicable settlement, they would be willing to consider improving their present offer provided UFBU agrees to substantially reduce the demands. IBA also suggested that UFBU should defer the strike so that the negotiations may be further continued.

On behalf of the UFBU, we explained the reasonability and justification of our demands and stated that the IBAs offer falls too short of our expectations and hence not at all acceptable. We further stated that looking to the runaway inflation as well as the increasing stress and workload under which bank employees and officers are working now-a-days, we deserve adequate wage revision. We also said that besides improvement in emoluments and service conditions, other demands like 5 day banking, regulated working hours for officers, improvement in pension scheme, extending the old pension scheme to the newly recruited employees, etc. are also needed to be resolved but the IBA is not forthcoming on these issues.

IBA informed that they are willing to continue the negotiations further and appealed to the UFBU to defer the strike to facilitate a better atmosphere. UFBU informed that the strike call has been forced on the Unions due to the unhelpful approach and unacceptable offer of the IBA and reiterated its preparedness for further negotiations provided IBA would come forward with substantial improvement in their offer.

After hearing both sides, the Chief Labour Commissioner suggested that both IBA and the UFBU should take steps to reconcile the differences and reach an amicable settlement. He further advised the IBA to talk to the UFBU to find out how the strike could be averted. He also adjourned the conciliation proceedings to 3-00 PM on 10th November, 2014 for further discussions.

Thus, our demands remained unresolved and UFBU decided to go ahead with the strike. Hence, we call upon all our constituent unions and members to march on to 12th November 2014 strike withouut any let up.

sd/-
M V Murali
Convener

Aadhaar Biometric Attendance System – Central Government Employees Attendance Record to be Modernized

Aadhaar Biometric Attendance System – Central Government Employees Attendance Record to be Modernized

A decade before, all the government offices had printed ‘Attendance Register’ in which employees used to sign against their names in order to record their attendance. The register would usually be kept in front of an Secton officer and register should be initialed at the bottom by the Section Officer. Every employee should note down the time of arrival and departure under his /her initial in ink in the Attendance Register. At the end of the 10 minutes grace time, the register would be taken to the department head’s table.

This system was followed by various computerized methods like smartcard, swipe card, and show card. The most popular method now is the Biometric Attendance System, which captures the employees’ fingerprint to record his/her attendance. The Government explained that the new system has been implemented in order to reduce late-coming. The point worth noting is that no changes can be made in the registered time of arrival or leaving, in this method. Higher officials get immediate reports on the time the employee arrived and the time he/she left the office.

Now, the Central Government has gone one step further and has made these attendance records accessible to all. All information including real time chart can be monitored by public also. Through its website, http://attendance.gov.in/, facilities have been made to view the attendance record in real time to bring more transparency. Through the ‘Aadhar’ card-based system, the employee’s fingerprint is captured in the Biometric Attendance device. The details of the employees, including their Aadhar card numbers, are immediately updated on the website. The information collected from various biometric attendance devices are gathered on a centralized Management Information System (MIS) website. All the gathered information is then presented in the form of a Real Time Chart.

All Central Govt Employees Federations have objected to the new attendance system. An order was issued in DOPT dated 28.01.1988, that said that the members of the National Council JCM Staff Side should be consulted with before implementing any new technologies. They asked if the NC JCM’s opinion was considered in this scheme. They have demanded that Pick-up Point System facility must be implemented in order to avoid late-coming in crucial industries, including infrastructure development. They said, every employee is expected to be on seat and to start work at the prescribed opening of office hour.

Source:  http://centralgovernmentemployeesnews.in

Central Govt Pensioners/Family Pensioners should submit Life Certificate to their respective banks

Central Govt Pensioners/Family Pensioners should submit Life Certificate to their respective banks

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Central Pension Accounting Office

Trikoot-II, Bhikaji Coma Place
New Delhi — 110 066

CPAO/Tech/Life Certificate/2014-15/670-711

31.10.2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Submission of Life Certificate in the month of November, 2014

Attention is invited to this Office OM No. CPAO/Tech/Pre-2006/Revision/2011-12/191 dated 23rd October, 2012 circulating therewith a copy of CPAO’s’ advertisement in English released in the leading national and regional dailies on 21st October, 2012 regarding obtaining of life certificate in the revised format by the authorized banks from the Central Civil pensioner/ family pensioner in November every year.

It was also advised that the information on the current address and telephone number collected from the Life Certificates is to be updated on the banks master data with the CPPC and the updated master data is required to be sent to CPAO not later than the last week of December every year.

Since the pensioners/family pensioners would start approaching the banks for life certificate from 1st of November, it is reiterated that all Pension Account Holding Branches must be sensitized to ensure the receipt of Life Certificate in the revised format (copy enclosed).

The updated master data must reach CPAO not later than the last week of December, 2014. The modified format of Life Certificate is also available on CPAO’s website www.cpao.nic.in at the link “Forms-For Pensioners” appearing on the left pane of Home Page.

(Vijay Singh)
Sr.Accounts Officer(Tech)

Click to download Life Certificate format

MACP on Promotional Hierarchy: Latest judgement by Hon'ble CAT Chandigarh

MACP on Promotional Hierarchy: Latest judgement by Hon'ble CAT Chandigarh

 Hon'ble CAT Chandigarh while disposing the OA No. 1405/CH/2013 & OA No. 1676/HR/2013 has ordered that whatever decision is taken in the pending Writ Petition/SLP in Hon'ble High Court/Hon'ble Supre Court, Both Parties would be abide by the same, whatever decision comes first, out of both cases.
COPY OF THE JUDGEMENT IS PLACED BELOW

Message by Convener, Steering Committee:-

We invite all the parties, filed cases in various courts and all the Unions/Association, who are suffering from the anomalous MACP to join us in the legal fight on grant of MACP on Promotional Hierarchy. The next date of hearing of SLP at Supreme Court is 16/12/2014. Please hurry! Join the extended meeting of the Steering Committee at New Delhi on 15/11/2014.

-TKR Pillai, Convener
Steering Committee
Mob No. 9425372172
e-mail: aiams08@gmail.com

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL
CHANDIGARH BENCH

Date of decision -29.10.2014

CORAM:      HONBLE MR.  SANJEEV KAUSHIK, MEMBER (J)
                       HONBLE MS. RAJWANT SANDHU, MEMBER (A)

O.A No. 1405/CH/2013

1. Jaswant Singh S/o Sh. Inder Singh aged 56 years, Executive Engineer, Chandigarh Central Division No. 2, Central Public Works Department, Chandigarh.
2. Satya Pal Singh Saharan S/o Sh. Shamsher Singh, Executive Engineer (Electrical) Issar Project Electrical Division, Central Public Works Department, Sector 7-B, Chandigarh.
BY ADVOCATE: Sh. V.K. Sharma

APPLICANTS

VERSUS

1. Union of India through the Secretary to Government  of India, Ministry of personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi.
2. Directorate General of Works, Central Public Works Department, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi through its Director General.

RESPONDENTS
BY ADVOCATE:  Sh. Sanjay Goyal.

O.A No. 1676/HR/2013

1. Sh. Paramjit Saini, S/o Sh. Dev Raj Saini, Resident of 15/2-C, Rail Vihar, Sector 4, M.D.C. Panchkula.
2. Sh. Joginder Pal Singh, S/o Sh. Rulia Ram, working as EE in the office of Amritsar Central Division CPWD, Amritsar.
3. Sh. Darshan Singh Shaheed, S/o Sh. Bishan Singh, working as AE in the office of Amritsar Central Division CPWD, Amritsar.
4. Sh. Santokh Singh, S/o Sh. Ram Singh, working as AE in the office of Amritsar Central Division CPWD, Amritsar.
5. Sh. Jagjit Singh, S/o Sh. Saudagar Singh, working as AE in the office of Jalandhar Central Circle CPWD, Jalandhar.
6. Sh.Rakesh Kumar, S/o Sh. Madan Lal working as AE in the office of Amritsar Central Division CPWD, Amritsar.
7. Sh. Pritam Singh, S/o Sh. Harbans Singh, Resident of 649, Rishi Nagar, Near Shankar Garden Jalandhar.
8. Sh. Rajinder Kumar Wadhwa, S/o Sh. Arjun Dev Wadhwa, Resident of 341, Sector 25, Panchkula.
9. Sh. Pancham Chander, S/o Sh. Dhani Ram, age 60 years, R/o House No. 1771, Sector 7-C, Chandigarh.
10. Sh. Satish Chander, S/o Sh. Churangi Lal, working as AE in the office of CEN2I, CPWD, Kendriya Sadan, Chandigarh.
11. Sh. Jai Dev, S/o Sh. Vidya Ram Lal, working as AE in the office of Chandigarh Central Division, CPWD, Sector -7/B, Chandigarh.
12. Sh. Ashok Kumar, S/o Sh. Verinder Nath R/o Flat No. 410 Arwveli, GHS-36, Sector 20, Panchkula.
13. Sh. Madhav Surup, S/o Sh. Sujraj Parkash, R/o House  No. 241, Vivaka Nand Park, Maqsadan, Jallandhar, Pin 144008.
BY ADVOCATE:   Sh. K.B.Sharma, Advocate proxy for Sh. D.R. Sharma, counsel for the applicants.

VERSUS

1. Union of India through the Secretary to Government  of India, Ministry of personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi.
2. Directorate General of Works, Central Public Works Department, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi through its Director General.

RESPONDENTS
BY ADVOCATE:  Sh. Sanjay Goyal.

ORDER (ORAL)

HON’BLE MR.  SANJEEV KAUSHIK, MEMBER (J):-

Both the cases involve identical facts and points of law and as such these have been taken up for final disposal by a common order. For the facility of convenience, facts have been taken from O.A. No. 1405/CH/2013 titled Jaswant Singh & Anr. Vs. U.O.I etc. This O.A has been filed by the applicants under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 seeking the following relief:-
(a) Declare the provision of para 1 of the letter dated 19.05.2009 and para 2 of the Scheme to the effect that MACP is to be granted in next higher grade pay instead of pay band as redundant in view of the law laid by this Hon’ble Tribunal and as upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Raj Pal Vs. Union of India and which has since been implemented by the concerned Department.

(b) Quash the action of respondents in not fixing pay of the applicants, while granting 3rd Financial upgradation under MACP, in the promotional pay band + grade of Superintending Engineer i.e. Rs. 37400-67000 + Grade Pay of Rs. 8700/- and instead fixing their pay only in next grade pay of Rs. 7600/- in the Pay Band of Executive Engineer is illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory harsh, void at initio and violative of provisions of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and cannot be sustained in eyes of law more so in view of decision taken in Raj Pal’s (supra).

(c) Issue direction to the respondents to fix the pay of applicants on grant of 3rd Financial upgradation in PB of Rs. 37400-67000 + Grade Pay of Rs. 8700/- i.e. of higher post of Superintending Engineer from due date with all the consequential benefits of arrears of pay and allowances with interest thereon @ 12 % from the date of actual payment and cost of the present petition.

(d) Any other order or direction deemed fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case to which the applicants are held entitled to may also kindly be issued in their favour.
                                          
2.            On the commencement of hearing, learned counsel for the applicants submitted that a similar controversy with regard to the grant to MACP, as raised in the instant O.A. has already been put to rest by this Tribunal in the case of Raj Pal Vs. Union of India and Ors. as upheld by the jurisdictional High Court. Subsequently, in case of Babu Ram and Others Vs. U.O.I & Ors and in case of Tilak Raj Sharma & Ors. Vs. U.O.I. decided on 19.12.2013., this Tribunal had allowed the O.As on the basis of the decision rendered in case of Raj Pal (supra) but both these cases are pending for final adjudication before the higher courts. The former case is pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in SLP No.10435/2014 wherein impugned judgment dated 07.11.2014 passed by the Hon’ble High Court in CWP No. 24279/2013, has been stayed and the latter case is pending before the Hon’ble jurisdictional High Court. He submitted the present O.A may be disposed of in the terms that whatever, decision is taken in the pending Writ Petition and SLP in above cases, both the parties would abide by the same.
3.            Sh. Sanjay Goyal, learned counsel for the respondents did not object to the disposal of the present O.A in the requested manner.
4.            Considering the consensual agreement arrived between the parties and the aforementioned position that similar issue is pending before the highest Court, at this stage, we dispose of the present O.A with an understanding as reached between the parties that whatever decision is taken by the Hon’ble Supreme Court/ Hon’ble High Court in pending petitions, the parties would be abide by the same, whatever decision comes first, out of both cases.
5.            With the observations and directions as above, these O.As stand disposed of with no orders as to costs. 

  
                                                                                                                 (SANJEEV KAUSHIK)
                                                                                                                          MEMBER (J)

                                                                                                                   (RAJWANT SANDHU)

MEMBER (A)
Dated: 29.10.2014

Source: http://aiamshq.blogspot.in/2014/11/macp-on-promotional-hierarchy-cat.html