Re-fixation of pay of Running Staff in 7th CPC pay level

Re-fixation of pay of Running Staff in 7th CPC pay level-reg.

NFIR

 
No.I/2/Part IV

Dated: 02/04/2018

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Re-fixation of pay of Running Staff in 7th CPC pay level-reg.
Ref: (i) NFIR's PNM Item No. 05/2017.

(ii) Railway Board's letter No. PC-VII/2016/IC/2 dated 21/08/2017 (RBE No. 99/2017)

(iii) NFIR's letter No. I/2/Part IV dated 20/02/2018.

(iv) Railway Board's letter No. PC-VIII/2017/R-U/37 dated 07/03/2018 addressed to GS/NFIR.

With reference to reply received from Railway Board vide letter dated 07/03/2018. Federation cites below the specific cases where the running staff promoted during the period July and December, 2016 have not been granted pay re-fixation duly obtaining their option.

(i) On Raipur Division of South East Central Railway, 53 Guard (Goods) PB-I + GP 2800/- were promoted to Senior Guard (Goods) in PB-2 + GP 4200/- on dated 29/07/2016. A copy of notification issued by the Sr. DPO, Raipur Division on 27/07/2016 is enclosed as Annexure to this letter.

(ii) Similarly, 127 Assistant Loco Pilot in PB-I + GP 2400/- were promoted to Loco Pilot (Goods) PB-2 + GP 4200/- on 08th December, 2016 on Kota Division on West Central Railway.

Federation also visualizes that there might be similar cases of Running and other category staff on the different Divisions/Zones where the re-option opportunity not given, resulting loss of fixation benefit.

In this connection, Federation desires to state that in the above situations, the staff were eligible to be continued in the 6th CPC grade pay on promotion and equally opt for a date from which, they should be switched over to 7th CPC pay. These staff when submitted their options to the respective Administrations, they were denied the pay fixation after promotion date, though permissible under the rules. Cases cited above are sufficient to prove that injustice has been done to those promoted in between July and December, 2016 by denying option for pay fixation in 7th CPC pay level after the date of promotion.

NFIR therefore, once again requests the Railway Board to issue clear; classificatory instructions to the Zones, Production Units etc for allowing pay re-fixation in respect of staff who have been promoted during July-December, 2016 on the basis of their option/re-option.

A copy of instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.

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

Source: NFIR

Download Order

Declaration of Holiday on 14th April, 2018 - Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Declaration of Holiday on 14.4.2018 for all Central Government Offices on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

No.12/6/2016-JCA-2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment (JCA-2) Section

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 2nd April, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Declaration of Holiday on 14th April, 2018 - Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

It has been decided to declare Saturday, the 14th April 2018, as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, for all Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments throughout India.

2. The above holiday is also being notified in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881)

3. All Ministries/Departments of Government of India may bring the above decision to the notice of all concerned.

sd/-
(D.K.Sengupta)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of India

View order
Source: http://dopt.gov.in/

Payment of Dearness Allowance to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank including NCs(E) - Revised rates effective from 1st January, 2018

7% DA Order for Armed Forces Officers and PBOR including NCs(E)

Payment of Dearness Allowance to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank including NCs(E)- Revised rates effective from 1st January 2018

F.No.1(2)/2004/D(Pay/Services)

Government of India
Ministry of Defence

New Delhi, the 28th March, 2018

To
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff

Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank including NCs(E) - Revised rates effective from 1st January, 2018.

Sir,
I am directed to refer to this Ministry’s letter No.1(2)/2004/D(Pay/Services) dated 3rd October 2017, on the subject cited above and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank, including Non-Combatants (Enrolled), shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 5% to 7% of the basic pay with effect from 1st January, 2018.

2. The term 'basic pay' in the revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed Level in the Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC recommendations accepted by the Government, but does not include any other type of pay like special pay, etc

3. The Dearness Allowance will continue to be a distinct element of remuneration and will not be treated as pay within the ambit of Pay rules of Defence Force Personnel.

4. The payment on account of Dearness Allowance involving fractions of 50 paise and above may be rounded to the next higher rupee and the fractions of less than 50 paise may be ignored.

5. The payment of arrears of Dearness Allowance shall not be made before the date of disbursement of salary of March, 2018.

6. This letter issues with the concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their Dy. No.79-PA dated 26.03.18 based on Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) O.M. No.1/1/2018-E.II(B), dated 15th March, 2018.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(T.D.Prashanth Rao)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: https://mod.gov.in/

Free Personal Accident Death Cover and Permanent Disability Cover of Rs 30 lakhs

Free Personal Accident Death Cover and Permanent Disability Cover of Rs 30 lakhs

"Army personnel will get free personal accident death cover and free permanent disability cover of Rs 30 lakhs, free educational cover of upto Rs 1 Lakh per year for four years for education of dependent child in case of accidental death of defence personnel"

Ministry of Defence
MoU between Indian Army and HDFC Bank

A Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) was signed between the Indian Army and HDFC Bank on the Defence Salary Package on 03 Apr 2018. The first MoU between HDFC Bank and the Indian Army was signed in 2011 and was renewed on 13 Mar 2015. The current MoU is tailor made to suit the requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and families.

The signing in ceremony was chaired by the Director General (MP&PS), Lt Gen S K Saini and was attended by the top dignitaries of HDFC Bank headed by Ms Smita Bhagat, Head Government Business and Branch Banking.

Currently Indian Army has MoUs on Defence Salary Package with 11 public and private sector banks. MoUs are considered for inception and renewal with banks on analyzing their utility and suitability to the requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and families. Army is hoping that this MoU will benefit a large number of serving and retired Army personnel who are having their accounts with HDFC bank; and also provide them an opportunity to access modern banking facilities.

Under the current MoU apart from other benefits the Army personnel will get free personal accident death cover and free permanent disability cover of Rs 30 lakhs, free educational cover of upto Rs 1 Lakh per year for four years for education of dependent child in case of accidental death of defence personnel and 100% processing fees waived for Car Loans and Personal Loans.

Source: PIB

Appointment on Compassionate Grounds - NFIR

Appointment on Compassionate Grounds - NFIR Railway Board Orders

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD

RBE No.42/2018

No.E(NG)II/2018/RC-1/5

New Delhi, dated 21.03.2018

The General Manager(P)
All Indian Railways & PU.

Sub: Appointment on compassionate grounds.

The issue of considering appointment of compassionate grounds(CG) to sons/daughters, born through other than first legally married wife has been engaging the attention of this Ministry for quite some time, in the backdrop of partial quashing of CG related instructions contained in this Ministry’s letter dated 02.01.1992 regarding such appointments, by the Hon'ble High Court/Calcutta in the case (WPCT 20 of 2009) Namita Goldar & Ors. Vs UOI & Others.

2. In this reard, Railway Board has taken into account following observations of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, on the subject of CG appointment, in the case of State Bank of India & another Vs Rajkumar, (Civil appeal No. 1641 of 2010):

"it is now well settled that appointment on compassionate grounds is not a source of recruitment. On the other hand it is an exception to the general rule that recruitment to public services should be on the basis of merit, by an open invitation providing equal opportunity to all eligible persons to participate in the selection process. The dependants of employees, who die in harness, do not have any special claim or right to employment, except by way of the concession that may be extended by the employer under the Rules or by a separate scheme, to enable the family of the deceased to get over the sudden financial crisis. The claim for compassionate appointment is, therefore, traceable only to the scheme framed by the employer for such employment and there is no right whatsoever out side such scheme…"

3. Railway Board has also taken into account following observation of Hon'ble High Court of Jharkhand (Ranchi) in writ petition No. WP(S) 16 of 2014 (pronounced on 24.07.2014) "Compassionate appointment is a matter of policy of the employer and the employer cannot be compelled to provide compassionate appointment contrary to its policy/scheme. When there is specific circular which clearly provides that the children of second marriage of the employee shall not be eligible for compassionate appointment, no direction can be issued to the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner"

4. The matter has been examined and in supersession of this Ministry's letter dated 02.01.1992 issued under RBE No. 01/1992 and No. E(NG)II/2012/RC-1/21 dated 03.04.2013, it has been decided that the first right of being considered for compassionate grounds appointment is vested, in cases of death of Railway servants while in service, with the legally wedded surviving widow provided she has not remarried at the time of making request for appointments on compassionate grounds. It is clarified that in cases of those Railway Servants who are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, there can only be one one legally wedded wife/widow, as second marriage, while spouse is living, is void/voidable in view of the Section 5(1) read with Section 11 of the Act. In this respect, Railway Board’s letter No. E(D&A) 92 GS 1-1 dated 10.04.1992 connects.

5. If aforementioned legally wedded suriving widow does not want herself to be considered for compassionate grounds appointment, she can nominate, for CG appointment, a "bread winner" for the family from amongst the following"

(a) In cases of those Railway Servants who are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 : Son(including adopted son); or daughter(including widowed/ adopted/married/divorced daughter). However, if such Railway Servant has left sons/daughters, who have been treated as legitimate or deemed to be legitimate, under Section 16 of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, neither widow can nominate them as bread winner for CG appointment nor such sons/daughters can claim CG appointment.

(b) In cases of those Railway Servants who are governed by their respective Personal Laws: Son(including adopted son); or daughter(including widowed/ adopted/married/divorced daughter). However, if such Railway Servant has left sons/daughters through second/subsequent legally valid marriages, i.e. other than through first wife and deceased Railway Servant have failed to obtain requisite permission for such second/subsequent marriage as required under section 21 (relating to restrictions regarding marriage) of the Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966, neither first widow/second/subsequent widow can nominate such sons/daughters as bread winner for CG appointment nor such sons/daughters can claim CG appointment. Moreover, such second/subsequent widow also would not have any right to seek compassionate grounds appointment.

6. All Zonal Railway/PUs/Units are directed to decide cases accordingly.

Please acknowledge receipt.

(Neeraj Kumar)
Director Estt. (N) II,
Railway Board.

View order

Source: NFIR

CGDA: Review of hard and tenue stations

CGDA: Review of hard and tenue stations

OFFICE OF CONTROLLER GENERAL OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS
ULAN BATAR MARG. PALAM, DELHI CANTT - 110010

Circular No. 25012(1)(17)/AN-X/Unpopular

Dated: 28/03/2018

To
All PCsDA'PCA(Fys)/PIFAs/CsDA/IFAs'CFA (FYS)

Subject: Review of hard and tenue stations

Reference: HQrs office letter No.25012/AN/X/2014 dated 15.17.2014.

As you are that certain stations have been categorized as 'Hard' and 'Tenure' stations for the purpose of transfer/posting. In order to rotate staff/officers at hard and tenure stations, a fixed tenure has been prescribed for each of the stations.

2. The service conditions and the accessibility of facilities at various hard and tenure stations continue to change from time to time. Overall economic and infrastructural development in these areas cans for a review from time to time. Hence, the competent authority has decided to review the status of all hard and tenure stations.

3. In order to take an appropriate view on continuation/discontinuation addition of any new station in this category, it is requested that your considered views in respect of hard and tenure stations falling under your jurisdiction may be communicated to HQrs office latest by 15th April 2018 in the enclosed proforma. While forwarding your comments, the degree of climatic/topographic hardships at these stations, availability of basic facilities like schools, hospitals, accommodation etc., accessibility of the station by rail or road or any other mean and effect of revised tenure on volunteers for different stations, if any, may be taken into consideration.

sd/-
(Kavita Garg)
Sr.Dy.CGDA (AN)

View order

Source: http://cgda.nic.in/

BHAVISHYA - Pension Sanction & Payment Tracking System

An Initiative of Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

BHAVISHYA

Department of P&PW has introduced an online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System called 'BHAVISHYA'. Actions for timely payment of retirement dues and issue of Pension Payment Order (PPO) start one years before the date of retirement of the employee. There are a number of intervening stages and the system will pinpoint delays at each stage to enable timely interventions. The tracking can be done by the retiring employee as well as the administrative authorities.

In addition, forms required during the process are available in electronic format. The retiring employee can fill the forms online. It facilitates the administrative authorities by processing the claims and passing on the calculated amounts and other details to the Pay and Accounts Offices. The new system will also capture personal information, service data and contact details like mobile number and e-mail etc. The retiring employees will be kept informed of the progress of pension sanction process through SMS/E-mail.

Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare has implemented an online system called 'BHAVISHYA' for retiring central government civil employees. The system provides for on-line tracking of pension sanction and payment process. Tracking can be done by the individual as well as the administrative authorities for all actions preparatory to grant of pension and other retirement benefits. This is in line with the priorities of Government to ensure transparency and accountability in systems and processes.

At present, Bhavishya is implemented in main secretariat of 89 Ministries/ Departments except Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence, Department of Post, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Tele communication and some security related sensitive organizations.

There is no such proposal to revamp the payment of pension through Public Sector Banks. However, the data base for the existing pensioners is being updated by the Authorized Banks for pensions’ payment once in a year through master data reconciliation with Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) and from time to time based on the Special Seal Authority (SSA) issued by CPAO to Central Pension Processing Centers (CPPCs) of Banks.

The Authorized Banks submit the report of payment of pension through e-scrolls to CPAO after making the payment of pension. Life Certificate is submitted by the Central Civil Pensioners/ Family Pensioners in the month of November every year and excess payment of pension may happen if the pensioner dies before the coming November, i.e., the next due date of submission of Life Certificate. If excess/ wrong payment of pension is paid to the pensioner by Public Sector Banks then entire amount is recovered by the Banks from the pensioners/ family pensioners as per the guidelines of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in this regard. During the financial year 2016-17, an amount of about Rs. 73 crore was received/ recovered from the Authorized Banks by the Central Pension Accounting Office in respect of central civil pensioners/family pensioners.

Final Monthly collection figures of GST

Ministry of Finance
Final Monthly collection figures of GST

02 APR 2018

The revenue collection figures under GST including CGST, SGST, IGST and cess for the period July 2017 - February 2018 paid in the period July 2017 - March 2018 is as follows:

Figures in Rs. Crores)

Month	GST Collection
August	93,590
September	93,029
October	95,132
November	85,931
December	83,716
January	88,929
February	88,047
March	89,264
Total	7,17,638

Besides the above Rs. 27,811 crores were collected as IGST and cess on imports in the month of March. Every month the Department of Revenue released figures for revenue collection under GST which were released usually the day next to the day when settlement of IGST was done. The figures were normally released between 24th-26th of the month. The above figures are month end figures for collection under GST.

PIB

Now 97.05 lakh subscribers base under Atal Pension Yojana

Ministry of Finance

Now 97.05 lakh subscribers base under Atal Pension Yojana

02 APR 2018

At the end of Financial Year 2017-18, 97.05 lakh subscribers have enrolled under Atal Pension Yojana. The incremental addition of 48.21 lakh subscribers was a 98% more than previous Financial Year 2016-17 figure of 48.83 lakhs. PFRDA appreciates the efforts taken out by the APY Service Providers (Banks/DoP) for their contribution towards making India a Pensioned Society.

PFRDA has taken various initiatives for the expansion of outreach and ease the operations under APY. Online facility to view Statement of Account and ePRAN card was enabled for the ease access of account of APY subscribers, going ahead mobile applications for empowering the subscribers to view transactions and other details of their APY account was introduced. For the convenience of the subscriber and promoting the digital initiatives of GOI, PFRDA introduced the online registration facility through eNPS Channel by login to a website www.enps.nsdl.com without any requirement of physical document.

APY became operational from 1st June, 2015 and is available to all citizens of India in the age group of 18-40 years. Under the scheme, a subscriber would receive a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs.1000 to Rs.5000 per month, depending upon his contribution, from the age of 60 years. The same pension would be paid to the spouse of the subscriber and on the demise of both the subscriber and spouse, the accumulated pension wealth is returned to the nominee.

Now APY can also be opened through a complete digital channel through eNPS platform. A subscriber can view and print the ePRAN card and Statement of Transactions. Further, the subscriber can register complaints/ grievance by providing his/ her PRAN details on https://npslite-nsdl.com/CRAlite/grievanceSub.do.

Growth of Atal Pension Yojana during the Previous Financial Years

No. of Subscribers
Financial Year	Absolute	Cumulative
2015-2016	2,484,895	2,484,895
2016-2017	2,398,934	4,883,829
2017-2018	4,821,632	9,705,461