Friday, August 23, 2013

Payment of arrears to the substitutes of Gramin Dak Sevaks who worked in leave vacancies from 01-01-2006 to 09-10-2009.

Payment of arrears to the substitutes of Gramin Dak Sevaks who worked in leave vacancies from 01-01-2006 to 09-10-2009.

Ref :No.6-1/2009-PE.I, Dated : 30-05-2012

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
(ESTABLISHMENT DIVISION)
Dak Bhawan,
Parliament Street

No.6-1/2009-PE.I Dated : 30-05-2012

All Chief Postmasters General
All Postmasters General

Sub:- Payment of arrears to the substitutes of Gramin Dak Sevaks who worked in leave vacancies from 01-01-2006 to 09-10-2009.

Consequent upon the implementation of One Man Committee recommendations, the matter regarding payment of arrears to the substitutes of Gramin Dak Sevaks who worked in leave vacancies from 01-01-2006 has been reviewed.

2. It has now been decided that the arrears of allowances of the substitutes of Gamin Dak Sevaks who worked in leave vacancies from 01-01-2006 to 09-10-2009 may be paid on the basis of minimum of TRCA.

3. The amount of arrears admissible as per extent rules may be paid to the genuine substitute. There should not be any double payment. Before making payment, the DDo or paying authority should take very precaution in this regard.

4. Necessary provision in budget should be made at appropriate stage and availability of funds will have to be ensured before incurring the proposed expenditure.

5. The actual expenditure incurred may be informed to this office immediately after payment of arrears.

6. This issues with the concurrence of Internal Finance Advice (Postal) vide their Dy. No.150/FA/12/CS dated 30-05-2012.

Sd.x.x.x
(SURENDER KUMAR)
Asst. Director General (Establishment)

Copy to :-
(1) Director, RAK NPA, Ghaziabad.
(2) All Postal Accounts Office
(3) All Directors, Postal Training Centres
(4) All Recognized Unions/Associations/Federations
(5) Guard File.




Ref : .No.17-115/2001 - GDS, dated 21-10-2002 (copy of the order)


No.17-115/2001 - GDS
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan
Sansad Marg

New Delhi – 110 001
Dated : October 21, 2002

To
All Principle / Chief Postmasters General
All Postmasters General
Director, Postal Staff College, Ghaziabad
Directors, All Postal Training Centres
All Directors, Dy. Directors of Accounts (Postal)
Addl. Director General, APS, Army Head Quarters, R.K.Puram, New Delhi

Sub:- Guidelines for regulating substitute / provisional arrangements made in place of regular Gramin Dak Sevaks.

Sir,

References are received from Circles for regularizing the employment of substitutes provided by regular GDSs during their periods of leave/absence on the ground that they have been functioning in that capacity “for a longer period”. A number of cases also stand filed in the Tribunals and Courts on this issue. Apparently instructions issued from time to time are not followed rationally by competent authorities in allowing substitutes to continue indefinitely or for long periods.

2. In this context, I am directed to draw your attention to the DG (Posts)’s instructions given below Rule 5 of the P&T ED agents (Conduct & Services) Rules, 1964 corresponding to Rule 7 of the Gramin Dak Sevaks (Conduct& Employment) Rules, 2001 which, inter alia, stipulate the following.

“During leave, every GDS should arrange for his work being carried on by a substitute who should be a person approved by the authority competent to sanction leave to him. Such approval should be obtained in writing” and that:

“It is necessary for the appointing authority to ensure that such a substitute is not allowed to work indefinitely. If the absence from duty of the regular GDS likely to last indefinitely, the appointing authority should take immediate steps to make appointment and the person so appointed need not necessarily be the substitute.

3. Instructions issued vide, this office letter No. 18-37/92-ED & TRG, dated 25/11 enjoined all Divisional Heads to ensure that long leave beyond 180 days is not granted to GDS as a matter of routine to avoid substitutes continuing in place of regular incumbents for long periods.

4. Subsequently, vide letter No. 19-6/2000-ED & TRG, dated 29-12-2000, the decision of the large bench of CAT Bangalore on the issue of whether weightage should be given to persons who have rendered past employment on provisional basis or in the capacity of substitute or GDS, was circulated. Recently, vide letter dated 19.02.2002 the judgment of the larger bench of CAT Bangalore mentioned above, has also been circulated. The said judgment clearly reiterates the position that the substitutes have not legal right as far as regularization in the Department is concerned. It also takes note that the Department’s Recruitment Rules for Gramin Dak Sevaks do not provide for recognization of past service that may have been rendered by them against any post.

5. In the case of Deviks Guha v/s Union of India, the Supreme Court has also not recognized the right of the substitutes for regularization. On the other hand the Apex court has maintained that substitutes have no legal claim in the basis of having worked continuously and if there are cases where the substitutes have worked for a “longer period” it is for the Department to consider the same as to whether there was a proper case for absorption or not, and pass appropriate orders.

6. The matter has been examined in consultation with Ministry of Law. Since the Apex Court has hold that substitutes have not legal claim there can be no definition of the term “longer period” as absorption of substitutes per se on regular vacancies without following prescribed procedures of recruitment could lead to nepotism.

7. Thus, it has become necessary to review and reiterate the existing guidelines relating to “substitute” arrangement of GDSs. This would also involve clarification of the status of the substitute, who is provided at the risk and responsibility of the regular incumbent, vis-a-vis provisional appointees, who are appointed by the Department to meet an interim need.

8. As per extent orders, a regular GDS is required to provide a substitute at his own risk and responsibility but subject to approved by the appointing authority. Hence it is the duty of the appointing authority to ensure that any ineligible person is not approved as a substitute and any “substitute” arrangement is not allowed to continue for long periods. Accordingly, the following guidelines may inevitably be kept in view while dealing with matters relating to “substitute arrangements” or their continuance”.

(i) Before resorting of substitute arrangement the following options may be explored:
(a) In case of short-term arrangements, as far as possible, work will be managed, by combining duties and “substitutes” will not be provided in leave arrangements. In single handed BOs, the work shall be managed by giving combined duty to GDS Mail Deliver/Mail Carrier (Gramin Dak Vitaraka/Vahak) of the neighbouring BO/SO in whose beat the BO falls.

(b) Even in long term arrangements, the combination of duties as in a) above will restricted to; substitutes will be allowed only if work load of the BO as well as its financial position justifies which engagement or filling of the post on regular basis.

(c) In towns and cities, where departmental officials are also available in the same office, the possibility of managing the work by regular staff by combination of duties or by grant of OTA beyond normal working hours may be explored.
(ii) If substitute arrangement is found to be unavoidable then it should be ensured that
(a) No substitute will be allowed to take over charge unless the competent leave-sanctioning/appointing authority is fully satisfied that the substitute possesses all the qualification prescribed for that appointment and has been provided under the risk and responsibility of the regular incumbent.

(b) Drawing& Disbursing authorities shall not draw allowance of a substitute unless the claim is accompanied by a certificate from the competent authority about the possession of requisite qualification by the substitutes and their approval for making continuing the arrangement.

(c) Continuation of substitute arrangements beyond 180 days at a stretch may only be allowed by the authority next higher to the appointing authority and only in exceptional cases where action has been initiated for regular appointment, if justified by work load and financial norms.

(d) No substitute arrangement shall continue beyond one year. Hence regular/alternative arrangements must be made during the period beyond 180 days to ensure this. If for any unavoidable reasons a substitute arrangement is required to be continued beyond one year, specific approval of the Head of Circle will be necessary for reasons to be recorded by the concerned authority.


9. In the case of provisional appointments, it is clarified that such appointment should be resorted to only in case where the GDS is unable, quite unexpectedly, to undertake his duties due to his own action (unauthorized absence, fraud, misappropriation etc.). Due to circumstances beyond his control like sudden serious illness/accident/death or because the department does not want him/her to continue (due to reasons of misconduct/dismissal/removal/put off duty etc.) in all other cases, action should be taken well in advance to fill the post on a regular basis. Even where the post falls vacant unexpectedly, efforts should be made to manage the work through combination of duties as spelt out in Para 8 (i) (a) & (c). Similarly even in case of long term deputation of GDS to APS, action may be taken to full up the post on regular basis and the GDS, on return from deputation may be suitably adjusted against vacancies in existence at that given time.

10. Where provisional appointment becomes unavoidable, action may be initiated to all the posts following all the formalities prescribed for regular appointment, but clearly stipulating that the appointment is on a provisional basis. On no account should a provisional appointment be made without following every formality that is prescribed for regular appointment. Since the whole process will take a period not exceeding 60-90 days, stop gap arrangement may preferably made at the local level in the interim through combination of duties or by allowing the GDS from a neighbouring office to function, or by deploying a Mail Overseer to look after the work. Under no circumstances should such local arrangement exceed 90 days, approval of the next higher authority is to be taken on a one time basis for reasons to be recorded in writing.

11. In cases where the incumbent dies in harness there is no objection to a dependent being allowed to function on interim basis provided the dependent fulfills the qualification/relaxed qualification applicable for post fallen vacant? This may only be resorted to if arrangement by combination of duties is not feasible. However, in such case also such interim appointment should not exceed one year and every effort should be made to take a final view within that time frame. It also needs to be clearly stipulated that such provisional appointment does not entitle the dependent to claim for the post unless his/her case for compassionate appointment is approved by the Circle Relaxation Committee.

12. The extent provisions provide for a provisional appointee to be placed on a waiting list for being considered for a regular appointment after he/she has completed three years of continuous employment. To avoid prolongation of such provisional appointments, approval of the next higher authority should be taken in respect of all provisional appointment exceeding 180 and where the period exceeds one year express approval of the Head of the Region/circle, as the case may be, would be necessary. Where the regular incumbent is not reinstated, immediate action must be taken to regularize the regularly selected provisional appointee against the said post without resorting to fresh recruitment.

13. The above instructions may kindly be brought to the notice of all appointing authorities of GDSs for strict compliance. Any violation of the above instructions will be viewed seriously and action would be required to be taken against officials who allow substitute/provisional arrangements to continue beyond the prescribed limits in contravention of the above instruction.

14. If any previous instructions on the issues of ‘substitute’ and‘provisional appointment’ are found contrary to these provisions, the same will stand superseded by the latter.

15. Receipt of this letter may please be acknowledged to the undersigned.

16. Hindi version is enclosed.


Yours faithfully,
Sd.x.x.x
(Anad Prakash)
Assistant Director General (GDS)

Copy to :

(i) SPB I/SPB II/Vig./Vig. Petition/PAP/PE I/PE II sections of the Directorate.
(ii) All Recognized Unions / Federations
(iii) DDG (PAF) / PA Wing / DDG (M&TS)
(iv) All Dealing Assistants in the GDS section
(v) Spare / Guard file.
Source: http://aipeup3kjr.blogspot.in/2013/08/payment-of-arrears-to-substitutes-of.html

Setting up of 7th Central Pay Commission (7CPC): Matter has been referred to Ministry of Finance by Railway Ministry in view of Strike Call

Setting up of 7th Central Pay Commission (7CPC): Matter has been referred to Ministry of Finance by Railway Ministry in view of Strike Call

 In the reply to a question
in Rajya Sabha regarding strike called by Railways federations the Ministry of Railways stated about  setting up of 7th Central Pay Commission that:

One of the demands of both the Federations is regarding setting up of VIIth Central Pay Commission (7CPC) . Since constitution of Central Pay Commission is a subject matter of Ministry of Finance, the same has been referred to that Ministry.

See the full capture of Rajya Sabha unstarred question:

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF  RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1704
ANSWERED ON-23.08.2013


Demand for new National Pay Commission

1704 .    SHRI D. RAJA

(a)    whether it is a fact that all Railway trade unions have threatened to go on a general strike if their demand for a new National Pay Commission is not announced within a period of four months; and


(b)    if so, the details thereof and Government’s reaction thereto?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI KOTLA JAYA SURYA PRAKASH REDDY)

(a) and (b): There are two recognized staff Federations on Railways. Both the Federations have made numerous demands concerning various service matters of railway employees like pay and allowances, promotion and pension. While one of the Federations have indicated that if their grievances are not resolved in a time bound programme, the Federation would be compelled to conduct strike ballot as a first step. The other Federation have decided to give a time of four months to the Government for satisfactorily settling their demands failing which the Federation will be compelled to give call for ‘Indefinite Strike’ on Railways. One of the demands of both the Federations is regarding setting up of VIIth Central Pay Commission (7CPC). Since constitution of Central Pay Commission is a subject matter of Ministry of Finance, the same has been referred to that Ministry.
7cpc
Source Rajya Sabha Q&A click the above  image.

Recruitment of talented Civil Servants: Rajya Sabha Q&A

Recruitment of talented Civil Servants: Rajya Sabha Q&A
 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF  PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1461
ANSWERED ON: 22.08.2013

Recruitment of talented Civil Servants

1461 . SHRI PARSHOTTAM KHODABHAI RUPALA

(a) the action that has been taken by Central Government to recruit extremely talented personnel in cadre like IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS, etc. so that, these talented personnel would execute properly the policies of Government;

(b) the action that has been taken by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to avoid any external influence while recruiting above said cadre and the details thereof; and

(c) whether Central Government intends to depute or recruit officials from State Government in Indian Foreign Services (IFS) as currently State Government officials are not to get IFS cadre?

ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

(a): Recruitment to IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS etc. is done through the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year within the parameter of CSE Rules notified by the Central Government. With a view to ensure that extremely talented personnel are recruited to the above services, the Central Government keeps on reviewing the scheme/pattern of the examination etc. from time to time. Recently with the same objective the Central Government has approved some changes in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2013.

(b): The UPSC discharges its duties as mandated by the Constitution of India. The examinations are conducted as per Rules notified by Government and merit is the only criteria for selecting the candidates. As such, there is no scope for external influence while recruiting civil servants for various services, viz, IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc.

(c): There is no such proposal

Source: Rajya Sabha

LDC-UDC Issue - Letter sent to the PM forwarded to JCA for action

LDC-UDC Issue - Letter sent to the PM forwarded to JCA for action
All India Association of Administrative Staff (NG), General Secretary Shri TKR Pillai published an important letter on his official blog today that the letter which was sent to Prime Minster is forwarded to JCA section to take necessary and appropriate action.

       LDC-UDC Issue - Letter sent to the PM forwarded to JCA for action

Department of Personal & Training
CS-II Division

I.D.No. 4/3/2013-PMP4/67682 dated 15.07.2013 received from Prime Minister’s Office is forwarded herewith in original. Shri TKR Pillai General Secretary of the All India Association of Administrative Staff (NG) has raised the issue regarding revision of Grade Pay of LDCs and UDCs belonging to Non-CSCS.

2. As subject matter is relates to anomaly in the Grade Pay of LDC and UDC which is the subject matter of JCA Section, they are requested to take necessary action in the matter under intimation to this Division.

Sd/
(K. Suresh Kumar)
Under Secretary (CS. II)

DOP&T (Shri Ashok Kumar DS, JCA, North Block, New Delhi
DOP&T I.D. No. 25/2/2013-CS.II (B) Dated . 7.2013/13.08/2013.

Copy to:

            Shri TKR Pillai,
            General Secretary,
            All India Association of Administrative Staff (NG),
            NSSO (FOD), Hall No. 201 & 205,
            Vijay Stumbh, Zone I,
            Maharana Pratap Nagar,
            Bhopal


Source : http://aiamshq.blogspot.in/
[http://aiamshq.blogspot.in/2013/08/ldc-udc-issue-dopt-forwarded-letter-to.html]

Duties and responsibilities of Multi Tasking Staff: DoPT Order forwarded by EPFO

Duties and responsibilities of Multi Tasking Staff: DoPT Order forwarded by EPFO

 Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India


No. HRD/C-1(3)2010/RR/MTS/9440

Dated: 19 August, 2013
Sub Duties and responsibilities of Multi Tasking Staff — regarding.

Sir,
DoPT vide its OM No. AB-14017/6/2009-Estt (RR) dated 30.04.2010 has issued the following duties & responsibilities of the M.T.S:-

  •     Physical maintenance of records of section.
  •     General cleanliness & upkeep of the Section/Unit.
  •     Carrying of files & other papers within the building.
  •     Photocopying, sending of FAX etc.
  •     Other non-clerical work in the Sections/Unit.
  •     Assisting in routine office work like diary, dispatch etc. including on computer.
  •     Delivering of Dak (inside & outside the building)
  •     Watch & ward duties.
  •     Opening & closing of rooms.
  •     Cleaning of rooms.
  •     Dusting of furniture etc.
  •     Cleaning of building, fixture etc.
  •     Work related to his ITI qualification, if it exists
  •     Driving of vehicles, if in possession of valid driving license
  •     Upkeep of parks, lawns, potted plants etc.
  •     Any other work assigned by superior authority.


The above list of duties is only illustrative and not exhaustive. Deptt. is free to add to the list, duties of similar nature ordinarily performed by officials at this level. All the field offices of the organization may use it and take necessary action in the matter.

{This issues with the approval of ACC(HR)

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(A. Kumar)
Regional P F Commissioner-II(HRD)

Source: www.epfindia.com
[http://www.epfindia.com/Circulars/Y2013-14/HRD_MTS_Duties_9440.pdf]

Dopt Orders - Combined Section Officers’/Stenographers’(Gr.B/Gr.I) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2009,2010 & 2011- allocation of qualified candidates- regarding.

Dopt Orders - Combined Section Officers’/Stenographers’(Gr.B/Gr.I) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2009,2010 & 2011- allocation of qualified candidates- regarding.

No.4/6/2013-CS.II(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training


3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated the 22 August 2013.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject :- Combined Section Officers’/Stenographers’(Gr.B/Gr.I) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination 2009,2010 & 2011- allocation of qualified candidates- regarding.

The undersigned is directed to say that on the basis of final results of the SOs/Stenos (Gr. ‘B’/Gr. ‘I’) Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations 2009, 2010 & 2011, 144 candidates have been recommended by the UPSC for their appointment to PS Grade of CSSS for these years. Allocation of the candidates recommended by the Commission on the basis of the above Examination has been made against the vacancies available in the Cadre Units.

2. Cadre Units are requested to relieve the officers immediately subject to their being found clear from vigilance angle for appointment as PS in the Cadre Units to which they have been nominated as per the Annexure to this OM. The candidates may be included in the Select list of PS Grade of CSSS for the Select List year shown against their names (in the Annexure) in the manner indicated in the CSSS Rules,1969/2010. Copies of appointment orders/notifications may please be endorsed to this Department and the UPSC.

3. Allocation of officers have been made in accordance with the Rotational Transfer Policy for CSSS Personnel.

4. The examination dossiers of the candidates, as received from the Commission, are sent herewith, which may be retained as part of their personal tiles.

5. Receipt of the O.M. may please be acknowledged.

Encl: Dossier


sd/-
(Kameshwar Mishra)
Under Secretary to the Government of India


Source : www.persmin.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02csd/PS200911.pdf]

Railway Board Orders - Introduction of Mechatronics Trade at DLW, Varanasi

 Railway Board Orders - Introduction of Mechatronics Trade at Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) Varanasi.


GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR)
MINISTRY OF RMLWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAYA)
(Railway Board)

RBE No.82/2013
No.E (MPP)2013/1/45

New Delhi, dated 13/08/2013
General Manager
D.L.W.
Varanasi

Sub : Introduction of Mechatronics Trade at DLW, Varanasi.

DLW vide their letter No.CME/Plant/Mechatronics Trade dated 02/06/2011, have proposed introduction of "Mechatronics” trade in the Technician category. The matter has been considered by Board and it has been decided that a separate cadre of “Mechatronics” trade be created by transferring the existing vacancies of Direct Recruitment quota which is normally 25% of the total vacancies of Technicians in the trades of Mechanical Fitter, Electrician and Motor Mechanics trades in Maintenance Department of DLW. DLW should also ensure that under no circumstances, higher grade posts are transferred and in no case the promotional prospects of the existing staff should be jeopardized.

To begin with Direct Recruitment quota vacancies of only Technician Grade III (in the trades of Mechanical Fitter, Electrician and Motor Mechanics trades in Maintenance Department) shall be transferred to create the "Mechatronics" trade. The DR quota vacancies,  earmarked from the Technician trades stated above, shall only be filled by Direct Recruitment through RRB, as per the qualifications mentioned below :

i) Mechanic Mechatronics
ii) Mechanic Industrial Electronics
iii) Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance
iv) Electrician
v) Instrumental Mechanic
vi) Electronic Mechanic


It has also been decided that pursuant to a new cadre of Mechatronics, DLW would subsequently be reducing the trades of Mechanical Fitter, Electrician and Motor Mechanics and to the extent of lateral transfer of DR quota vacancies to "Mechatronics” trade, there will be no Direct Recruitment in the technician trades of Mechanical Fitter, Electrician and Motor Mechanics.

Any deviation from these instructions would require prior approval of Railway Board.

Kindly acknowledge receipt.


sd/-
(Anuradha Singh)
Director( MPP)
Railway Board


Source: NFIR

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Retirement Age 62 – Again denied in Parliament

Retirement Age 62 – Again denied in Parliament

While answering to a question in Parliament today on 22nd August 2013, the Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri. V.Narayanasamy told that "At present there is no proposal to increase the age of retirement of Government employees".

He also included, as per fundamental Rules 56(a) except as otherwise provided, every Government servant shall retire on attaining the age of 60 years.

The formal announcement about this proposal was looked to be declared, a week before. Now, it has been denied once again by the Central Government in Parliament to not pursue the policy of increasing the age of retirement of Central Government staff.

CVC calls CBI to investigate fake LTC claims and the rackets behind

CVC calls CBI to investigate fake LTC claims and the rackets behind

Kolkata Police stumbled upon racket in March when they detained a flyer carrying more than 600 blank Air India Boarding Passes.

Air India's vigilance division began probe and found that govt employees were forging boarding passes and tickets and inflating fares.

In March, Rajya Sabha secretariat asked AI to look into seven tickets. All found to be fake mentioned non-existent business class for Port Blair. Each ticket priced at Rs.1.35 Lakh

Over 400 employees of Ordnance Factory Board allegedly flew to North East between 2006 and 2008. One forged ticket at Rs.2.11 lakh. Not clear how many actually travelled.

On Aug 16, Central Vigilance Commission asks CBI to probe raket.

News by Times of India:

NEW DELHI: The CBI has been called in by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to investigate a widespread racket in claims of leave travel concession (LTC) involving central government and public sector employees as well as travel agents.

The CBI, which was asked on August 16 by CVC to carry out a criminal investigation, is likely to question dozens of such employees. Large sums are said to have been siphoned out of the government by producing fake Air India tickets and boarding passes (the only airline that government and PSU employees are allowed to use for LTC).

A sizeable number are of the rank of under secretary and above. Most of them claimed to have travelled with their family to the extremities of the country — the northeast, Kerala and the Andamans. The racket, said sources, has been one of the worst kept secrets although there was no actionable evidence against it.

The Kolkata Police was the first to stumble upon the LTC racket in March this year when it detained a passenger at Kolkota airport with more than 600 blank boarding passes of Air India. He was to board a SpiceJet aircraft to Port Blair. On being interrogated, he claimed that he was to deliver it to someone in the Andamans. The surmise is that this someone in the Andamans was to fill up fictitious details of flights there on the blank boarding passes. An investigation by the police is underway, sources said.

Air India's vigilance division began an investigation after the airline was asked about the fake boarding passes. Initial inquiries by the airline confirmed that it was a fairly widespread practice among government employees to manipulate LTC by submitting forged boarding pass and tickets, and hugely inflating fares.

In March, the Rajya Sabha secretariat asked Air India for verification of seven tickets issued by a travel agency to secretariat employees on the Delhi-Kolkota-Port Blair sector. Air India reported back that the tickets and boarding passes were fabricated. "No such journey has been undertaken by the seven people," Air India said.

The fictitious tickets submitted to the RS secretariat turned out to be a crude job — they included a business class ticket, even though Air India has no business class seats to Port Blair. Some of the boarding passes had the same number, even same seat numbers. And each ticket was for Rs 1.35 lakh, although the fare on that particular day was nowhere near that amount.

Air India also carried out an internal investigation into another complaint, this one from the Ordnance Factory Board. From the Board's Jabalpur plant over 400 employees and their families ostensibly travelled to the northeast to avail LTC between 2006 and 2008. Under a special order of the government to promote tourism in northeast, even the lowest ranked government employees and their families can fly to northeast sector and claim airfare under LTC.

A ticket submitted by a Jabalpur employee was found to have been valued at an incredible Rs 2.11 lakh; it's hardly surprising that it turned out to be a forgery. While the e-tickets were definitely forged, it is still not clear how on many of these tickets people actually travelled.

It is suspected that some of these tickets may have been bought by cash by travel agents from Air India. And then they may have created forged e-tickets, showing higher fares. Whatever may be the case, the CBI is expected to investigate all the 400 families that travelled to northeast from Jabalpur, sources said.

Sources also said the LTC racket appears to be rampant across government departments, public sector units, and public sector banks.

It also appears that many officials submit forged boarding passes and e-tickets of travel between Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram, while they are actually travelling to Colombo or Singapore. In other words, on the basis of their LTC claims, employees are undertaking foreign trips, which this facility doesn't allow.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Death of government employee does not entitle family for job: Supreme Court

Death of government employee does not entitle family for job: Supreme Court
NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court has held that death of a government employee in harness does not entitle the family to claim compassionate employment and the person seeking appointment must possess the eligibility for the post.

A bench of justices B S Chauhan and S A Bobde also said that the competent authority should examine the financial condition of family of the deceased and job should be offered to the eligible family member only if it is satisfied that they would not be able to cope up with the crisis.

"Mere death of a government employee in harness does not entitle the family to claim compassionate employment.

"The competent authority has to examine the financial condition of the family of the deceased employee and it is only if it is satisfied that without providing employment, the family will not be able to meet the crisis, that a job is to be offered to the eligible member of the family. More so, the person claiming such appointment must possess required eligibility for the post," it said.

The bench allowed an appeal filed by MGB Gramin Bank which had challenged a 2010 judgement of the Rajasthan High Court by which one Chakrawarti Singh, son of a deceased Bank employee, was directed to be appointed under a scheme of compassionate employment.


Singh's father, who was working as a Class III employee with the Bank, had died on April 19, 2006 while in harness. Singh had applied for compassionate appointment on May 12, 2006.

The bench set aside the judgements of the High Court, saying, "The reasoning given by the single judge as well as by the division bench is not sustainable in the eyes of law."

It also said that "an ameliorating relief should not be taken as opening an alternative mode of recruitment to public employment".
The bench said compassionate employment cannot be claimed as a "matter of right, as it is not a vested right".

It also said that every appointment to public office must be made by strictly adhering to the mandatory requirements of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

"An exception by providing employment on compassionate grounds has been carved out in order to remove the financial constraints on the bereaved family, which has lost its bread earner," the bench said.

The Bank had said during pendency of Singh's application, a new scheme dated June 12, 2006 came into force with effect from October 6, 2006 which provided that all applications pending on the date of commencement of the scheme shall be considered for grant of ex-gratia payment to the family instead of compassionate appointment.

This contention was rejected by the High Court which said the cause of action, i.e death of the employee, had arisen prior to the commencement of the new scheme and, therefore, the case was to be considered as per the then existing scheme which provided for compassionate appointment and not for grant of ex-gratia payment.

Source: ET

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