Thursday, October 11, 2018

Discrimination in granting Grade Pay on Grant of Financial Benefits under M.A.C.P. - Violation of Government Order

Discrimination in granting Grade Pay on Grant of Financial Benefits under M.A.C.P. - Violation of Government Order

All India Civil Accounts Employees Association
(RECOGNIZED BY GOVT. OF INDIA)
Central Headquarters
Central Office: -
Room No. 351, 'B' Wing,
Loknayak Bhawan, Kali Bari Marg,
Khan Market, New Delhi - 110003
Address for Communication:-
17/2 - C, P & T Quarters,
New Delhi-110001
No:- AICAEA/HQ/A-2/2018/412
Dated: 08.10.2018
To,
Shri Anthony Lianzuala,
Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance,
Department of Expenditure,
4th Floor, GPOA, Block-E, INA,
New Delhi - 110023

Subject : Discrimination in granting Grade Pay on Grant of Financial Benefits under M.A.C.P. - Violation of Government Order and Judicial Verdicts.

Sir,
On behalf of members of this Association I am to submit herewith following facts for your kind consideration and early favourable action.
  1. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension under O.M. No. 38/86/03- P&PW(A) dated 26-04-2004 has granted parity of Pay Scales in organized Accounts cadre w.e.f. 01-01-1996 notionally and actually from 19-02-2003 as shown below:
Sr.No.Name of the PostExisting Pay Scale as on 01-01-
1996
Up-graded Pay Scale to be applicable.
1Auditor/Accountant4000-100-60004500-125-7000
2Sr. Auditor/Sr. Accountant5000-150-80005500-175-9000
3Section Officer/Junior Accounts Officer5500-175-90006500-200-10500
4Asst. Audit Officer/Asst.Accounts Officer6500-200-105007450-225-11500
  1. The hierarchal set up of the Department is:
Accountant Group 'C' Senior Accountant Group 'B' Non- Gazetted
Asst. Accounts Officer Group 'B'
Filled in by Direct Recruitment or by Promotion from L.D.C.Promotional Post to Accountant
Promotion Post to Senior Accounts Officer on passing the Departmental Examination and on seniority - cum - fitness basis

3. The 6th Central Pay Commission has merged the post of Section Officer with Assistant Accounts Officer from 01-01-2006. The 6th Pay Commission has recommended the Pay Band 2 in the Pay Scale of Rs. 9300-34800 Plus Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/- to the Senior Accountant. The Asst. Accounts Officer were also given the Pay Band No. 2 but they were given the Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/-.

4. The Government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions under O.M. No. 35034/3/2008-Estt (D) dated 19-05-2009 has introduced the Scheme of Modified Career Progression Scheme (for brevity M.A.C.P.) which is the modified version of earlier A.C.P. Scheme. As per the Scheme the Government Servants will be granted 3 financial upgradations after completion of 10, 20 and 30 years of service if they have not received any regular Promotion. The condition No. 2 read with 6.2 of the Annexure 1 of the OM. laid down that:

"….financial upgradations under the Scheme should be done strictly in accordance with the hierarchy of grade pays in pay bands as notified vide CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008"

According to the information available to this Association, the Senior Accountants are being granted Grade Pay of Rs. 4600 /-(level 7 of pay matrix) on grant of benefits under M.A.C.P.

In this connection, your kind attention is invited to the following orders/Judgments of the various Tribunals/ High Courts/Supreme Court wherein the Tribunals/ High Courts have held that the Grade Pay of hierarchical Promotion Post has to be given on grant of financial benefits under M.A.C.P.

1. Central Administrative Tribunal (C.A.T.) Ernakulam Order dated 27-09-2011 in T.P.Leena Vs. Union of India.

The Tribunal has granted the Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/- on grant of 1st Financial Benefit under M.A.C.P. from Rs. 4200/-

2. The High Court of Ernakulam has by Judgment dated 21-06-2012 in the case of Union of India Vs. T.P.Leena has upheld the Order of CAT. and Hon’ble Supreme Court has dismissed the S.L.P. by Judgment dated 15-10-2012 holding that there is no reason to interfere with Impugned Order.

[Copies of above Order/ judgments are enclosed as Annexure 'A')

3. CAT New-Delhi by Order dated 26-11-2012 in Sanjay Kumar & others Vs. Ministry of Defence & others has granted the Grade Pay of Promotion Post (Copy enclosed).

Sir, it would not be out of place to submit that the Controller of Accounts C.B.D.T. Mumbai in compliance of C.A.T. Mumbai order has by order No. ZAO/MACP/ADMN/12015-16 dated 01-02-2016 has granted Grade Pay of Rs. 4800[- (level 8 of Pay Matrix] to 13 Senior Accountants on grant of benefits of 2“d M.A.C.P. The copy of the Order is enclosed as Annexure ‘B’ for your perusal.

It is further submitted that the Principal Chief Controller of Accounts. Zonal Accounts Office, CBDT, Mumbai has, while quoting Principal Chief Controller of Accounts C.B.D.T. New- Delhi letter No. -PCCA/CBDT/Estt/Rep/2018-381-382 dated 01-08-2018 has granted benefits of 3rd M.A.C.P. to 16 Senior Accountants under order No. ZAO/CBDT/MUM/ADMN/MACPS/2018-191 742 dated 04-09-2018 [Copy enclosed]. The perusal of the order would exhibit that all the Senior Accountants were in receipt of Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/- (level 8 ef Pay Matrix] on grant of benefits of 2nd M.A.C.P. and they have been granted Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/-[level 9 of Pay Matrix) which is the Grade Pay of hierarchical Post of Asstt. Accounts Officer.

In View of submission made in the letter, it is clear that the members of our Association are meted out with discrimination as far as grant of Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/-[level 8 of Pay Matrix) on grant of benefits of M.A.C.P. to Senior Accountants are concerned. They are given the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- [level 7 of Pay Matrix). This amounts to discrimination and violative of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. It is therefore requested that the Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/-(level 8 of Pay Matrix) may please be granted to all the Senior Accountants who have been granted benefits of M.A.C.P. A comprehensive review may please be taken and set right the grave injustice caused to our members.

In this context the observation of Principal Bench New Delhi in the case of All India Defence Civilian Clerks Association of ADC and Records Office and another Vs. The Secretary, Ministry of Defence and others in order dated 01-02-2012 (Copy enclosed) assumes importance.

We do not understand the logic of the Ministry of Defence, D.0.P & T. Ministry of Finance or even the Ministry of Law as to how the aforesaid directions as upheld by Hon'ble High Court of Delhi and the Apex Court cannot be made applicable to the Applicants who are admittedly similarly placed. In our considered opinion the Respondents/Departments should desist from rejecting the genuine request of the employees and force them to knock the door of Courts unnecessarily without any justifiable grounds.

In view of above observation of Hon'ble Principal Bench 1 request you to consider our request positively and arrange to do justice by removing the discrimination between the two set of similarly situated employees.

Enclo: As stated above.
Thanking you
Yours faithfully
(V. Bhattacharjee)
Secretary General

Additional HRA to the Railway employees serving in the States of North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh

Grant of additional HRA to the Railway employees serving in the States of North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
RBE No.153/2018
No.E(P&A)II-2017/HRA-9
New Delhi, dated 09.10.2018
The General Managers/CA0s,
All Indian Railways & Production Units.

Sub :- Grant of additional HRA to the Railway employees serving in the States of North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh.

Consequent upon revision of rates of House Rent Allowance (HRA)/additional HRA w.e.f. 01.07.2017 vide Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)II-2017/HRA-7, dated 19.07.2017 (RBE No.71/2017) and letter of even number dated 08.11.2017 (RBE No.165/2017) respectively, it has been decided to grant additional HRA at old duty station w.e.f. 01.07.2017 to all those Railway employees who have been transferred to North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Ladakh, prior to 01.07.2017 or after 01.07.2017 and continue to remain posted there after 01.07.2017, as under:-
(i) In case of Railway employees transferred to and posted from a date prior to 01.07.2017 who leave their families behind at the old duty station, the HRA of the old duty station will be calculated on the revised pay drawn on 01.07.2017 with the percentage of rates of HRA effective on 01.07.2017 as per Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)I1-2017/HRA-7, dated 19.07.2017 (RBE No.71/2017).

(ii) In case of Railway employees transferred to and posted from a date on or after 01.07.2017 who leave their families behind at the old duty station, the HRA of the old duty station will be calculated on the revised pay drawn on the date of transfer with the percentage rates of HRA effective on the date of transfer.

2. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
sd/-
(N.P.Singh)
Joint Director/Estt.(P&A),
Railway Board
Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/

Railway Bonus Order: Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to all non-gazetted Railway employees for the Financial Year 2017-18

Railway Bonus Order: Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to all non-gazetted Railway employees for the Financial Year 2017-18

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
RBE No.154/2018.
New Delhi, dated: 10.10.2018.
No. E(P&A)II-2018/PLB-3
The General Managers/CAOs,
All Indian Railways & Production Units etc.

Subject: Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees for the financial year 2017-18.

The President is pleased to sanction Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 (Seventy Eight) days wages without any ceiling on wages for eligibility for the financial year 2017-18 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding all RPF/RPSF personnel). Where, wages exceed Rs.7000/- per month, Productivity Linked Bonus will be calculated as if the 'wages' are Rs. 7000/- p.m.

2. 'Wages' for the purpose of calculating Productivity Linked Bonus shall include 'Basic pay'as defined in the Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 and dearness allowance drawn during the financial year 2017-18. Other conditions of eligibility, method of calculation of wages, etc., as prescribed in this Ministry's instructions and clarifications issued from time to time, shall remain unchanged.

3. It has also been decided that in the case of eligible employees mentioned in Para 1 above who were not placed under suspension, or had not quit service/retired/expired during the financial year 2017-18 or were on leave where leave salary admissible is not less than that admissible on leave on average pay, may be paid an amount of Rs.17,951/- towards Productivity Linked Bonus for the financial year 2017-18. In the case of employees other than those mentioned above, the amount of Productivity Linked Bonus may be calculated in accordance with the extant instructions on the subject.

4. Further, in relaxation to the provisions in Rules 905(2), 908 and 909 of State Railway Provident Fund Rules, as contained in Chapter 9 ofR-I/1985 edition (2003 Reprint edition), such of the subscribers to the SRPF as are entitled to Productivity Linked Bonus may, if they so desire, deposit the whole or pat1 of the amount admissible under the Scheme in their respective State Railway Provident Fund Accounts.

5. Disbursement of Productivity Linked Bonus for the financial year 2017-18 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees mentioned in Para 1 above should be made on priority in the same mode as payment of salary before the ensuing Puja/Dussehra holidays.

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

Joint Director/Estt.(P&A)
Railway Board.

Download Railway Bonus Order

Procedure for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board's Office

Procedure for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board's Office.
Procedure for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board's Office.

भारत सरकार Government of India
रेल मंत्रालय Ministry of Railways
(रेलवे बोर्ड) Railway Board

Office Order No. 104 of 2018 

Sub : Procedure for availing optional scheme of All India Leave Travel Concession (AILTC) facility for officers/staff working in Board's Office. 

Subsequent to IR employees being given AILTC facility on optional basis in accordance with the CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988 as per Boards Order No. E(W) 2017/PS5-l/3 dated 10.09.2018, all officers/staff working in Boards office are also eligible to avail AILTC.

2. For availing the facility of AILTC, Officer/Staff working in Board's Office should have rendered four or more years of continuous service on the date of the commencement of the journey. The following guidelines may be adhered to by the applicant for availing AILTC:-
i) Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC) may be obtained from 'G Branch by following the prescribed procedure as contained in Boards letter dated 10.09.2018. However, in the first instance before applying for PPSC, the concerned staff should check his/her eligibility for availing AILTC.
ii) Leave of any type may be applied for and a declaration/advance intimation letter as per proforma enclosed at Annexure-I intending to avail AILTC may be submitted to the concerned Establishment Branch (ERB-I, ERB-II & ERB-V) along with original copy of PPSC issued by 'G' Branch.
iii) In case, AILTC advance is required, a separate request may be submitted as per prescri bed proforma enclosed at Annexure-II to the concerned ERB section ( ERB-I, II & V) in addition to submission of self-declaration/advance intimation letter. AILTC advance is to be applied 65 days (in case of Air travel) or 125 days ( in case of train travel) before the proposed date of outward journey and within ten days of the drawal of advance, the concerned employee is to produce tickets, irrespective of the date of commencement of the journey.
iv) LTC advance upto 90% of the estimated fare would be sanctioned.
v) In case, an employee performs journey without intimation and submission of original PPSC to the concerned ERB section, claim for reimbursement under AILTC would not be entertained.
vi) Subsequent to performing the journey related to AILTC, necessary claims for reimbursement /difference of expenditure ( in case of advance) may be submitted directly to respective Cash-I/II/III Sections as per enclosed proforma at Annexure-III for final settlement with all necessary required document.
vii) LTC claim as per Annexure-III is to be submitted within three months of completion of return journey, if no advance has been drawn; else, within one month of completion of return journey, if advance has been drawn.
viii) After undertaking journey, unspent amount of AILTC advance, if any, should be remitted within one month and in one lumpsum.
ix) Travel by Premium trains/Premium Tatkal trains/Suvidha trains are allowed on LTC however, travel in such train is to be by shortest route. Reimbursement of tatkal charges or premium tatkal charges shall also be admissible for the purpose of LTC. Flexi Fare (dynamic fare) applicable in Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains is also admissible for the journey(s) performed by these trains on LTC.
x) Those officials entitled for Air travel are required to travel by Air India only at LTC-80 fare or less. Fare indicated at LTC-80 is the maximum permissible ceiling limit for reimbursement; however, efforts should be made to book Air tickets at the cheapest fare possible.
xi) Those employees ( i.e, Pay Level 1 to 8 of Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC) who are not entitled to travel by Air may travel by any airline; however, reimbursement in such cases shall be restricted to the fare of their entitled class of train /transport or actual expense, whichever is less. Further, dynamic fare component in respect of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains shall not be admissible in such cases i.e., where a non­ entitled Government servant travels by air and claims reimbursement for the entitled class of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains.
xii) In all cases, Air ticket is required to be booked either directly through the airlines ( Booking Counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz 'MIS Balmer Lawrie & Company', M/s Ashok Travels & Tours', and IRCTC ( to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DOP&Ts OM No. 31011/6/2002-Estt(A) dated 2.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted and no request for relaxation of rules for booking the tickets through any other agencies shall be considered by Boards office.
xiii) ) It may also be noted that Travel on Tour packages is not allowed, except in case of tours conducted by Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), State Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and IRCTC. In such cases, only the fare component shall be reimbursable provided ITDC/STDC/IRCTC separately indicate the fare component and certify that the journey was actually performed by the Government servant and his family members for which he/she is claiming the All India Leave Travel Concession.
xiv) All tickets purchased should be submitted in original along with boarding passes duly stamped by Airport authorities (in case of Air travel) at the time of submitting claims after performing journey.
xv) In respect of special relaxation relating to travel by Air ( for those who are not entitled for Air travel under AILTC) on LTC to North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar, DOP&Ts OM No. 31011/3/2018-Estt(A-IV) dated 20.09.2018 may be referred to.
3. Role of 'G-Branch', ERB-I, II, V, Cash-I, II & III sections and PAO/Office/RB would be as under:-
a) General Branch will issue the Privilege Pass Surrender Certificate (PPSC) for AILTC purpose within 10 days of receiving the request from Applicant as per the instructions contained in E(W)'s above mentioned letter.
b) After receiving the request for optional AILTC as per Annexure-I & II, respective Establishment Branches (ERB-I, ERB-II & ERB-V) would verify/certify the necessary columns in it along with checking the admissibility as to whether the concerned employee is eligible for AILTC as per extant policy instruction and forward it to concerned Cash Section in case LTC advance has been sought.
c) An acknowledgement to the concerned employee may also be made and a copy of guidelines for perusal of employee may be given so as to ensure that the concerned employee is fully aware of the extant rules to be followed while availing optional AILTC and that there is no issue with regard to clearing of AILTC claim. In case AILTC is not admissible for the concerned employee, the same be advised in writing to the employee within three working days of the receipt of the intimation. A copy be also endorsed to the concerned Cash Section for information and record.
d) Concerned Cash section would process the case for LTC advance and reimbursement/claim as per extant rule for AILTC issued by Board's Office like normal reimbursement of TA/DA, Children Education Allowance (CEA) claim without referring it to Associate Finance. However, if any clarification is required on the extant rules, the nodal branch may be consulted. In respect of AILTC advance/clearing of claim, concerned Cash section are to sanction the amount based on concerned employee's eligibility for travel in AILTC, fares of shortest route by train and as per fare available under LTC-80 in respect of Air ticket.
e) After clearing of LTC claim, the concerned Cash Section would maintain the details of such claim separately as per CCS(LTC) Rule for maintaining register of LTC claim. Proforma is at Annexure-IV.
f) ERB-II, V and PAO Sections would also be required to make an entry in the service book of concerned employee claiming LTC along with an undertaking of completion of four or more years of service in this regard.
g) ERB-I, II, V, Cash-I, II, Ill & PAO sections may also go through the instructions issued on AI LTC/LTC by E(W) branch & DOP&T before processing the request related to AILTC.
4. All concerned may note that any misuse of AILTC will be viewed seriously and the concerned official would be liable for appropriate action under the relevant rules. Cash section may also randomly get some of the air tickets verified from the airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-a-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials.

5. The above issues with the approval of competent authority.

Encl: Annexure- I to IV

No. 2018/0&M/2/15
Dated: 26/09/2018
(H. Moharana)
Joint Secretary/Railway Board
 Source: Indian Railways

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