Death Claims to be Processed within 07 Days and Retirement Claims to be Settled on the Day of Retirement

Death Claims to be Processed within 07 Days and Retirement Claims to be Settled on the Day of Retirement

Payment of Statutory Contributions Henceforth only through Internet Banking

The Prime Minister of India during the PRAGATI review meeting held on 26th October desired that claims related to death cases be prioritized and expedited and retirement claims may be settled on the day of retirement. In accordance, the processes have been reviewed and instructions have been issued to field offices to settle death claims within a period of 07 days from the date of receipt of proposal and retirement claims on the day of retirement. The officials in the facilitation centre of field offices have been instructed to scrutinize the claims and guide the claimant regarding submission of required documents in appropriate shape. An official has been posted in the facilitation centers of EPFO this category of claims.

Employers are now increasingly using internet banking to deposit statutory EPF dues since EPFO made it mandatory to use internet banking as the mode of receipt of EPF dues. 96.03% contributions in October 2016 were received online.

In an important judgment delivered by the High Court of Madras in the matter of writ petition filed by Builders Association of India, Madurai, the High Court dismissed the petition praying non enforcement of EPF & MP Act, 1952 every employee employed in or in connection with the work or that factory or establishment, other than an excluded employee, who has not become a member already shall also be entitled and required to become a member of the Fund from the date of joining the factory or establishment.

To expand the reach of convenience offered to EPF members, EPFO has joined the network of Common Services Centers (CSC). A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between EPFO and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV) on 25th October 2016. The MoU is initially for a period of five years. Every year on 14st November, pensioners were required to submit their life certificates. From this year onward, pensioners can submit digital life certificates via Jeevan Pramaan Patra programme through a large number of points of Presence (PoP) of CSC network in addition to those available at EPFO offices. The pensioners living in remote areas can avoid cost and inconvenience of travelling down to the EPF offices or their banks for filing paper based life certificate through this arrangement.

PIB

Implementation of 7th CPC recommendations especially from the Armed Forces and Nurses

Implementation of 7th CPC recommendations especially from the Armed Forces and Nurses

Representations have been received from various quarters some of which pertain to Armed Forces and Nurses. While approving the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission on pay, pension and other related issues, the Government has set up various Committees to examine and address some of the issues arising out of implementation of Commission’s recommendations. Based on the recommendations of these Committees on these issues, appropriate decisions will be taken by the Government.

This was stated by ‘Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today

PIB

Banks to not exchange Rs. 2000 notes tomorrow, exception for senior citizens only

Banks to not exchange Rs. 2000 notes tomorrow, exception for senior citizens only

Mumbai: Keeping in view that all banks have been working on overdrive since the Centre announced demonetisation, the Indian Bank Association (IBA) on Friday announced that all banks across the nation will not exchange over the counter the new 2000 rupee notes on Saturday in order to update their pending works and tend to their respective customers.

Speaking to ANI here, IBA Chairman Rajeev Rishi stated that ever since demonetisation was announced, all banks have been working for extended hours including holidays to ensure the public at large was not inconvenienced.

“In fact, we have diverted all human resource to make sure that all those who stood in queues got their money exchanged, deposited and withdrawn. In the process what we have felt is that in the last one week our own customers have actually suffered. Routine works are not done and routine works are pending in banking activities,” he said.

However, senior citizens are exempted from the directive and banks will be accepting all their requests.

“We have taken a view that on Saturday, the banks shall not be doing exchange over the counter of 2000 rupees. We will make an exception for senior citizens. But tomorrow we will spend trying to update our works and do the works in relation to our own customers,” Rishi added.

Asserting that the time tomorrow will be used for meeting the needs of their own customers, the chairman further said that all banks will be observing their normal hours and will ensure their patrons get the full service and undivided attention in other matters.

ANI

Income Tax Department lists Transactions where PAN will be Mandatory

Income Tax Department lists Transactions where PAN will be Mandatory

The Income Tax Department prescribes a list of transactions for which quoting of Permanent Account Number (PAN) is mandatory. These are listed in Rule 114B of the Income Tax Rules, 1962 which were first inserted with effect from 1st November, 1998 and have been amended from time to time. The list under Rule 114B (read the rule here -  as on date requiring PAN to be quoted includes the following banking transactions :

• Deposit with a banking company or a co-operative bank in cash exceeding fifty thousand rupees during any one day.
• Purchase of bank drafts or pay orders or banker's cheques from a banking company or a co-operative bank in cash for an amount exceeding fifty thousand rupees during any one day.
• A time deposit with a banking company or a co-operative bank or a Post Office
• Opening an account [other than a time-deposit referred to above or a Jandhan / Basic Bank Deposit Account] with a banking company or a co-operative bank.

In addition to the existing requirement of quoting of PAN in respect of cash deposits in excess of Rupees fifty thousand in a day, quoting of PAN will now also be mandatory in respect of cash deposits aggregating to Rupees two lakh fifty thousand or more during the period 09th November, 2016 to 30th December, 2016 as per an amendment notified by CBDT on 15-11-2016. 

The Department has already issued close to 25 crore PAN till date. The persons requiring a PAN for complying with the above requirement may do so by applying to the NSDL in a prescribed format with the necessary documentary proof. The link to the NSDL site  and the instructions for making the application are available on the official website of the Income-tax Department  www.incometaxindia.gov.in  under the ‘Important Links’ head  in  the lower left hand corner of the homepage.

Open Income Tax Rules 114B here

Petrol Bunks started dispensing cash from today against swiping of debit cards

Petrol Bunks started dispensing cash from today against swiping of debit cards

686 petrol pumps had started dispensing cash by 4 p.m today against swiping of debit cards

Cash dispensing facility had become operational at 686 retail outlets by 4 p.m today, of which 350 belonged to IOCL, 266 to BPCL and 70 to HPCL. The Public Sector Oil Companies namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, in association with State Bank of India, have come forward to ease out some of the challenges being faced by the common public regarding availability of currencies for day to day transactions, post demonetization of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes.

Senior officials of IOCL, BPCL and HPCL, had a meeting with Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, State Bank of India, yesterday and it was decided that an amount up to Rs. 2000/- per day per person in cash can be dispensed against swiping of debit card from select petrol pumps where POS machines of SBI are already available. POS machines are the machines which are generally used for debit or credit card transactions. It has been decided to start this facility at around 2500 petrol pumps spread across the country including rural areas, where SBI POS machines are provided. The Oil Industry is also in further discussions with SBI and other Banks to extend this facility to over 20,000 petrol pumps gradually.

This facility will be available even after November 24, 2016. It may be noted that petrol pumps have been accepting currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 denominations and will continue to do so till November 24, 2016. There is no shortage of petroleum products at the petrol pumps and consumers can purchase them as per their needs.

Consumers are also advised to use cashless transactions - credit/debit cards, mobile wallets, loyalty programmes etc. for purchase of fuel so that there is no difficulty to consumers which is mainly associated with cash transactions. In this regard, such facilities for cashless transactions are already available with all the Oil Companies to which substantial number of people have already subscribed.

Source: PIB

Resolve the 7th CPC related issues: Charter of demands - Deferment of Strike Action on Government's assurance

Charter of demands - Deferment of "Strike Action" on Government's assurance.  Resolve the 7th CPC related issues - mainly improvement of Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor: NFIR writes to RM

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

No. IV/NFIR/7CPC(IMP)/2016/R.B.

Dated: 16/11/2016

Shri Suresh Prabhu,
Hon'ble Minister for Railways,
Rail Mantralaya,
New Delhi


Respected Sir,

Sub: Charter of demands - Deferment of "Strike Action" on Government's assurance-reg.


At the outset, NFIR conveys its thanks to the Hon'ble Railway Minister for his initiative which had culminated into a meeting with the Group of Ministers (Hon'ble Finance Minister, Home Minister, Railway Minister and the Minister of State for Railways) on 30th June 2016 and also a separate meeting with the Hon'ble Home Minister on 06th July 2016. Pursuant to the discussions in those meetings held between the NC/JCM (Staff Side) Leaders and the Hon'ble Ministers, an assurance was given by the Government on 6th July, 2016 that High Level Committee would consider 7th CPC issues - Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor etc., for satisfactory settlement through discussions.

Federation is disappointed to mention that although a Committee headed by Addl. Secretary (Exp), Ministry of Finance, was constituted and a few meetings were held with us, there has been no satisfactory progress. The main issues - Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factors are continued unresolved. Due to procrastination of the matters, the Central Government employees in general and Railway employees in particular are seriously disappointed as they feel that the Government is not sincere to fulfill its assurances. The National Convention of NFIR held at Guwahati from 9th to 11th November, 2016 has expressed grave concern over non- fulfillment of assurance and decided to mobilize railway employees for sustained struggle.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Hon'ble MR to kindly apprise the disappointed feelings of the employees to the Hon'ble Prime Minister for his intervention to resolve the 7th CPC related issues - mainly improvement of Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor through discussions with the Staff Side Federations very soon in order to preserve the healthy industrial relations in Railways.

Yours Sincerely,

sd/-
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source : NFIR

Grant of 7th CPC pay scale to Temporary Status Casual labourers

7th CPC pay scale to Temporary Status Casual labourers : Confederation writes to Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension.

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
1St Floor, North Avenue PO Building, New Delhi - 110001

Ref: Confdn/7th CPC/2016

Dated - 16.11.2016

To
The Secretary
Ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances & Pension
Department of Personnel & Training
North Block, New Delhi - 110001

Sir,
Sub:  Grant of 7th CPC pay scale to Temporary Status Casual labourers - reg.

At present Temporary status Casual Labourers are being paid minimum of the pre-revised 6th CPC pay scale. Consequent on implementation of 7th CPC pay scales with effect from 01.01.2016, their pay scale is to be revised.

I request you to take necessary action for revising the pay of the Temporary status casual labourers at an early date.

Yours faithfully,

(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Confederation
Member, JCM National Council
Standing Committee

Source : Confederation

7th Pay Commission - First Meeting of the Anomaly Committee to be held on 1.12.2016

7th Pay Commission - 1st Meeting of the Anomaly Committee to be held on 1/12/2016

F.No.ll/2/2016-JCA(Pt)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 15th November, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: 1st Meeting of the Anomaly Committee to be held on 1/12/ 2016 under the Chairmans h ip of Secretary (P) on the calculation of the Disability Pension for Defence Forces' Personnel as per the recommendations of the 7 th Central Pay Commission

The first meeting of the Anomaly Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (P), will be held on 1st December, 2016 at 11.00 A.M. in Room No. 190, North Block, New Delhi on the calculation of the Disability Pension for Defence Forces' Personnel as per the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. The detailed agenda note will follow.

2. Kindly make it convenient to attend the meeting

sd/-
(D.K.Sengupta)
Deputy Secretary (JCA)

Source: http://ncjcmstaffside.com/

Government silent on fresh bill to hike retirement age of High Court judges

Government silent on fresh bill to hike retirement age of High Court judges

New Delhi: Amid an ongoing debate on vacancies in the higher judiciary, government has preferred to maintain silence on bringing afresh a bill to increase the retirement age of high court judges from 62 to 65 years.


Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha yesterday on whether any proposal for extension of retirement age of high court judges is under consideration of government, Minister of State for Law P P Chaudhary said in a written reply that a bill brought by the previous UPA government in 2010 lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014.

“The Constitution (114th Amendment) Bill, 2010 which provided for increasing the retirement age of High Court Judges from 62 years to 65 years was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 25, 2010. Thereafter, the Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for examination and report, which recommended that the proposed bill in its present form should be passed without delay.

“The Bill could not be taken up for consideration and passing in the Parliament and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha,” he said.

The UPA proposal had sought to bring at par the retirement age of high court judges with that of Supreme Court judges at 65.

At a time when the 24 high courts face a shortage of nearly 450 judges, the government and the judiciary have agreed that an extraordinary provision of the Constitution can now be invoked to appoint retired judges with proven integrity and track record as judges of high courts to tackle rising pendency.

Nearly three crore cases are pending in courts across India.

PTI