Sack erring government officials who don't mend ways, PM tells secretaries

 NEW DELHI: In a stern message to government officials refusing to mend their ways despite repeated complaints, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked secretaries to carry out assessment of such employees and recommend action, including dismissal and slashing their pension. 
The PM also asked all central government departments, which have to extensively deal with the public, to set up a grievance-monitoring mechanism. 

The PM's warning came as he reviewed grievances relating to the excise and customs department during his monthly interaction with central government secretaries and chief secretaries of states through Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI), a web-based interface, sources said. 
"Though he (the PM) specifically asked the excise and customs department to identify and take action against such officials, he said the message is for all secretaries and chief secretaries," a secretary level official told TOI. 
 
The department of personnel and training (DoPT) rules specify the circumstances under which an a government officer can be "retired" in "public interest". Rule 56(J) of Fundamental Rules says, "Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, the appropriate authority shall, if it is of the opinion that it is in public interest to do so, have the absolute right to retire any government servant by giving him notice of not less than three months in writing or three months' pay and allowances." 
Employees attaining 55 years can be impacted under this rule. 
Similarly, Rule 48 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rule says, "At any time after a government servant has completed 30 years qualifying service, (a) he may retire from service or (b) he may be required by the appointing authority to retire in public interest, and in case of such retirement, the government servant shall be entitled to a retiring pension."

 As per rules, the government can initiate disciplinary action against any employee for dereliction of duty, and his pension and other benefits can be withheld pending investigation. 
In an official release, the PMO said that taking strong exception to public complaints and grievances related to the customs and excise department, the PM asked for "strict action against responsible officials. He urged all secretaries whose departments have extensive public dealing, to set up a system for top-level monitoring of grievances immediately".

 Officials said though the Central Board of Excise and Customs said it had already been initiating steps to warn errant officials and installed CCTV cameras to keep tab on them, the PM observed that they must take quick action in such cases. 
Sources said Modi also asked top bureaucrats to work together and resolve prickly issues quickly and get out of the "government way of doing business" by passing files from one to another. 
This was Modi's ninth such interaction through PRAGATI. 

Source :  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Recommend Increase In Salary Of Junior And Mid Level Employees Empowered Committee On 7th CPC.

.New Delhi: Central government employees’ pay bill are unlikely to get increased salary from April under the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, as the central government might delay the hike by six months to evaluate the actual needs of employees, said finance ministry officials.

The economists advised the government to measure the possible impact of the salary increase on next year’s budget before implementing it, they said.

The Empowered Committee of Secretaries led by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha may recommend raising salary of junior and middle level employees as employees associations are pressing hard for it.

The committee will submit its report to the finance minister after reviewing the commission’s suggestions, and holding discussions with government high-ups.

Wishing anonymity, a finance ministry official said the government would see whether there would be any wastage of public money in paying increased salary and allowances or any new conditions can be imposed in line with the recommendations of the Pay Commission.

The empowered committee would place a proposal before the cabinet after budget for delaying the implementation of increased salary of Central government employees, said the officials.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while introducing the Seventh Pay Commission report on November 19 said that the final decisions on the Seventh Pay Commission report took five and a half months.

The Seventh Pay Commission award bill is about Rs 1,02,000 crore, according to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that can be afforded.

A pay commission reviews the pay of government employees every 10 years and its recommendations are usually accepted with some modifications.

The Seventh Pay Commission was set up by the UPA government in February 2014, The Commission headed by Justice A K Mathur submitted its 900-page final report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on November 19, recommending 23.55 per cent hike in salaries and allowances of Central government employees and pensioners.

The panel recommended a 14.27 per cent increase in basic pay, the lowest in 70 years. The previous Sixth Pay Commission had recommended a 20 per cent hike, which the government doubled while implementing it in 2008.

The Seventh pay commission recommended fixing the highest basic salary at Rs 250,000 and the lowest at Rs 18,000 and its increased the pay gap between the minimum and maximum from existing 1:12 to 1: 13.8

The Seventh Pay Commission suggested to discontinue the practice of appointing pay commissions in future.

India Post is going to announce about 20000 vacancies soon

Great news for all the government jobs aspirants as Indian Postal Circle is going to announce one of the biggest employment notifications very soon. The recruitment will be organized for selection of eligible staff for Postal Assistant and Sorting Assistant posts on its official site www.indiapost.gov.in. Now all those qualified candidates are invited for 20000 upcoming job opening whose link will be soon available at their official site. This notification will bring good news for those entire aspirants who were looking for government jobs, 10th pass government jobs, 12th pass government jobs, post office jobs etc.

According to report, India post is going to hire candidates for Postal Assistant and Sorting Assistant posts, Stenographers, Postman and Mail Guard, MTS, Postmaster Cadres, Hindi Typist, Inspector, Director Posts, etc. Aspirant must have completed their Matriculation or Intermediate from recognized board and diploma/ graduation/ bachelors or its equivalent in required discipline from recognized university or institute. The online application process will start from February 2016 and will going to end on March 2016.

India Post operates postal system in India. It was founded during British Empire i.e. 01st April, 1774 and operated under Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Govt of India. But, on 31st March 2011 it was officially declared as the Indian Postal Service and currently has more than 154,866 post offices which are located across India. Main headquarter of post office is located in Sansad Marg, New Delhi.

India post is popular among candidates for providing various services such as Letter post, parcel service, EMS, deposit account, third-party logistics freight forwarding, delivery etc. India post is divided into 22 postal circles which is independently headed by chief postmaster general. Currently more than 4, 70,000 employees are working with Indian postal circle. India Post’s main objective is to provide all type of courier service at low cost than other private firm. For the date of official announcement keep going through their official website daily and stay tuned with us for more news related to latest government job vacancy.

Source:. AIAIPASP..

New circle Head joined.

New Circle Head Dr. Y.P Rai has joined on 25.01.2016 on transfer from Chhattishgarh Circle. Our association members gathered locally and welcomed the officer with bouquet.  Let us hope more positive help from the new Chief Postmaster General in the years to come.

Posting orders.

RO Hyderabad has on 21.01.2016 issued posting orders to ASPs and group "B" adhoc .

1. Sri K.Prakasa Rao ASP Nizamabad posted as SPOs Mahabubnagar on adhoc basis,

2. smt K.Vishnujyothi IP Hyd Stg division posted as ASP (Hqrs) Mahabubnagar DO,

3. Sri V.Nagendar IP Hyd stg division posted as ASP(R) Mahabubnagar DO,

4. Sri Paleti IP Kakinada posted as ASP(Hqrs) Medak division.

Association conveys best wishes to above officers on their promotion.

Expected DA Calculation – Fitment Factor of 7th CPC

Expected DA Calculation will play vital role in determining Fitment Factor of 7th CPC

Expected DA from January 2016 likely to change the Fitment Factor of 7th CPC.

At the end of the Sixth CPC Regime all the Central Government servants are at the verge of receiving their last installment of Dearness Allowance in Sixth Pay Commission. Almost the DA from January 2016 will be finalized after the release of AICPIN for the month of December 2015. The eleven months AICPIN Points released from January 2015 to November 2015 by Labour Bureau suggests that there is a possibility to get 6 to 7 percent hike in DA from January 2016. But the AICPIN for the Month of December will determine the exact rate of hike in Dearness Allowance from Jan 2016.

The rate of DA, as expected by 7th Pay commission, if arrived at 125 % with 6% hike there will be no change in Fitment factor. Because the Fitment Factor 2.57 is arrived by adding the 125% DA, at the rate anticipated on 1.1.2016. If AICPIN for December 2015 necessitates changing the expected DA from 125% to the level of 126 % with hike of 7%, then there will be certainly an impact in the Fitment Factor of 7th CPC. In that case, there will be change in decimals of fitment factor

So, Expected DA from January 2016 will play vital role in determining Fitment Factor if it increases from expected level of 125% to 126%.

What will be the fitment factor if DA reaches at 126% from January 2016.

When it was anticipated that the DA will be 125 % from January 2016, The 7th Pay Commission stated in the Report that “This fitment factor of 2.57 is being proposed to be applied uniformly for all employees. It includes a factor of 2.25 on account of DA neutralization, assuming that the rate of Dearness Allowance would be 125 percent at the time of implementation of the new pay. Accordingly, the actual raise/fitment being recommended is 14.29 percent”

If 126% of DA has to be taken into account for arriving Fitment factor with the recommended 14.29 % increase.

The Revised Fitment Factor will be as follows

The fitment factor after DA neutralization = 2.26

Increase of 14.29% over 2.26 = 0.32

Total (2.26+0.32) = 2.58

Read more at : http://govtstaffnews.in/

Another CAT case win on Grade Pay.

Bangalore CAT judgement on  grant of grade pay Rs. 5400- after completion of 4 years in grade pay Rs. 4800- pronounced. Orders of CAT Bangalore in OA No. 850 of 2014 between R.Satyanarayana retd. Manager NSPV Bangalore and Union of India.

                                                           Order (Oral)

                                                

                                                    Dr.  KB.Suresh member(J).

1.     The matter seems to be covered by the order of the Hyderabad bench in OA No. 296/2014 dated 14.09.2015 which apparently went to the high court and thereafter to S.C and attained finality now. Other benches also followed this.

2.     Therefore this OA is allowed in terms of the order already passed by the Hyderabad bench. Applicant is entitled to the same benefits as in the  other cases. This may be implemented within next two(2) months.

PK.Pradhan  Member(A)  

                                                                                      

DR.KB Suresh Member (J)

MACP on Promotional hierarchy - Case at Supreme court is postponed to 28/03/2016

MACP ON PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY.

AS PER SUPREME COURT CAUSE LIST OF 27 JANUARY, THE CASE HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 28/03/2016. THE REMARKS SHOWN THEREIN IS: “DUE TO COMPELLING REASON. NOW THIS MATTER IS NOTED FOR BEING LISTED ON 23/03/2016”. 

Sankranti greetings-2016

Sankranti wishes to all the members and track viewers.

Central Civil Services (Leave Travel concession) Rules, 1988. DOPT Guidelines for applying for LTC - Block Year, Advance, Claim, Time Limit etc.

Guidelines

1. Please ensure that you have applied for leave and submitted the completely filled self certification form to your Administration before the LTC journey is undertaken.

2. Please check the eligibility before applying for LTC. LTC to Home Town can be availed once in a block of two years and LTC to Any Place in India may be availed once in a four year block. If not availed during these blocks, the LTC may also be availed in the first year of the following block.

3. Please note that the current two year block is 2016-17 and the current four year block is 2014-17.

4. In case of fresh recruits, LTC to Home Town is allowed on three occasions in a block of four years and to any place in India on the fourth occasion. This facility is available to the fresh recruits only for the first two blocks of four years applicable after joining the Government service for the first time. (For details, please refer to DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/7/2013-Estt.(A-IV) dated 26.09.2014 available on `www.permin.nic.in’ << `OMs & Orders'<< ‘Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on LTC entitlements of a Fresh Recruit’)

5. A Fresh recruit may at his option choose to avail LTC under the normal LTC rules as entitled to other regular Government employees subject to the condition that he/she will have to forego his/her eight years LTC entitlement. It may be noted that the option once exercised shall be treated as final for the initial eight occasions of LTC and the fresh recruit shall not be allowed to change it in a later stage.

6. The retiring Government employees are eligible to avail LTC as per their entitlement provided that the return journey is performed before his date of retirement. LTC is not allowed after retirement.

7. Journeys on LTC are to be undertaken in the entitled class of the Government servant in public/Government mode of transport.

8. Travel by private modes of transport is not allowed on LTC, however, wherever a public transport is not available, assistance shall be allowed for the private transport subject to the certification from an Appropriate Authority that no other public/Government mode of transport is available for that particular stretch of journey and these modes operate on a regular basis from point to point with the specific approval of the State Governments/Transport authorities concerned and are authorised to ply as public carriers.

9. If a Government servant travels upto the nearest airport/ railway station by authorized mode of transport and chooses to complete the journey to the declared place of visit by `own arrangement’ (such as personal vehicle or private taxi etc.), if the public transport is already available in that part, then he may be allowed the fare for the journey performed by authorised mode of transport. This will be subject to the undertaking from the Government employee that he has actually travelled to the declared place of visit and is not claiming the fare reimbursement for the same.

10.Government servant may apply for advance for himself and/or his family members sixty five days before the proposed date of the outward journey and he/she is required to produce the tickets within ten days of the drawal of advance, irrespective of the date of commencement of the journey.

11.Reimbursement under LTC scheme does not cover incidental expenses and expenditure incurred on local journeys. Reimbursement for expenses of journey is allowed only on the basis of a point to point journey on a through ticket over the shortest direct route.

12.The time limit for submission of LTC claim is :

• Within three months of completion of return journey, if no advance is drawn;
• Within one month of completion of return journey, if advance is drawn.

13.Government officials entitled to travel by air are required to travel by Air India only in Economy Class at LTC-80 fare or less unless permitted to do so by any general or specific provision.

14. Officers not entitled to travel by air may travel by any airlines, however, reimbursement in such cases shall be restricted to the fare of their entitled class of train or actual expense, whichever is less.

15.In all cases whenever a Govt. servant travels by air, he/she is required to book the air tickets either directly through the airlines or through the approved travel agencies viz: M/s Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd/ M/s Ashok Tours & Travels Ltd/ IRCTC. Booking of tickets through any other agency is not permissible.

16.Travel on tour packages is not allowed, except in the case of tours conducted by Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), State Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (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 is claiming the Leave Travel Concession.

17.Please ensure that your LTC claim is as per the instructions to avoid rejection of your claim.

Govt sets up panel on 7th Pay panel's advice

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Government today decided to set up a high-powered panel headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha to process the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission which will have bearing on the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.

The Cabinet has approved the setting up of Empowered Committee of Secretaries to process the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission in an overall perspective, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.

The implementation of the new pay scales is estimated to put an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore on the exchequer in 2016-17. Subject to acceptance by the government, they will take effect from January 1, 2016.

The Empowered Committee of Secretaries will function as a Screening Committee to process the recommendations with regard to all relevant factors of the Commission in an expeditious detailed and holistic fashion, an official statement said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said earlier that he was not worried about fiscal deficit and government would be able to meet its target despite additional outgo on account of higher pay.

He had admitted however that the impact of implementing the recommendations, which will result in an additional annual burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore on exchequer, would last for two to three years.

Immovable Property Return To Be Submitted By All Central Govt. Employees Within 31.01.2016

DOPT reminded that all Central Govt. employees (Group 'A', 'B', 'C' and erstwhile Group 'D) employees have to submit annual property return for immovable properties for the year 2015 within 31.01.2016. 

As per the prevailing practice and norms, the return had to by filed by Gr A and B officers only. With the introduction of Lokpal and Lokayukt Act 2013, every Govt employee has to file the assets and liabilities return in prescribed form. 

"The undersigned is directed to refer to the Office Memorandum of even number dated the 26th October, 2015 on the above subject and to say that the Annual Property Returns required to be filed under the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 for the year 2015 which is required to be filed by the 31st January, 2016, may be filed in the forms prescribed under the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964. It is reiterated that the returns are required to be filed by all the Government servants belonging to Group 'A', 'B', 'C' and erstwhile Group 'D', in terms of Rule 18(4) of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 which empowers the Government to require a Government servant to submit a statement of movable or immovable property as may be specified in the order."

The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015 notified

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment

08-January-2016 17:47 IST

The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015 notified: Increase in the Eligibility Limit under clause (13) of Section 2 and Calculation Ceiling under Section 12 of the Payment of Bonus Act, 2015.

The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was passed by the Parliament in the just concluded Winter Session of the Parliament. The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015 has been published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary on 1st January, 2016 as Act No. 6 of 2016. The provisions of the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015 shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of April, 2014. 

The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015 envisages enhancement of eligibility limit under section 2(13) from Rs.10,000/- per month to Rs.21,000/- per month and Calculation Ceiling under section 12 from Rs. 3500 to Rs.7000 or the minimum wage for the scheduled employment, as fixed by the appropriate Government, whichever is higher. The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015 also mandates previous publication of draft subordinate legislations, framed under the enabling provisions under the said Act, in the Official Gazette for inviting objections and suggestions before their final notification.

The Government has been receiving representations from trade unions for removal of all ceilings under the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. It is also one of the demands made by them during the country-wide General Strike held in February, 2013 and September, 2015. As the last revision in these two ceilings were made in the year 2007 and was made effective from the 1st April, 2006, it was decided by the Government to make appropriate amendments to the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. 

These changes in the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 will benefit thousands of work force.

Children Education Allowance need to be revise based on the class I to XII

The 7th pay commission, which is much expected by all the Central Government Employees, has submitted its report to the government. In its report, the commission has specified that the new pay commission has to be implemented from 01/01/2016 onward.

The expectations of all the Central Government Employees is focused on: Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Children Education Allowance.

The fact that the 6th Pay Commission revived the CEA can never be repudiated. Although there are various problems in getting the reimbursement of the allowance, the 6th Pay Commission stands first when it comes to CEA.

7th CPC recommended CEA Rs 2250 pm from existing Rs 1500pm.

The 7th Pay Commission has taken great pains to do away with the practical problems in 6th CPC (Reimbursement).

Particularly, the recommendation that getting a letter from the schools where the children of the Central Government Employees studying is enough will be certainly welcomed by all.

In order to get CEA for those children, who study in the same school from class 1 to class 12, is it necessary to get a certificate for every year? Or is it enough to get a certificate when the child is transferred to another school?

Questions like these naturally arise in our minds.

Getting good education is depends upon getting admission in standard schools. Naturally fees structure is high in these schools.So education expenses get important place in employees monthly budget.

The fact that same amount of CEA will be given for children who study in class 1 and class 12 is irrational. From class 1, every year when the child goes to higher classes, the minimal sum of Rs 2250 has to be increased by at least 5%.

As per the recommendation of the 7th CPC, when DA exceeds 50%, the CEA increases by 25%. In this case, even to get the first CEA increase one has to wait for at least four or five years. We have to keep in mind that the pay commission is set up only once in ten years.

In spite of all these, the CEA announcement of the 7th CPC is a certainly a laudable one. If it had included the above aspects if would have been even more appreciable.

Source: SA Post.

Immovable property return to be submitted by all Central Govt. employees within 31.01.2016

DOPT reminded that all Central Govt. employees (Group 'A', 'B', 'C' and erstwhile Group 'D) employees have to submit annual property return for immovable properties for the year 2015 within 31.01.2016.

As per the prevailing practice and norms, the return had to by filed by Gr A and B officers only. With the introduction of Lokpal and Lokayukt Act 2013, every Govt employee has to file the assets and liabilities return in prescribed form. 

Transfer and postings in HAG of Indian Postal Service group "A"

Directorate has issued the following transfer and posting orders in HAG cadre vide  order no. 1-2/2015-SPG dated 06.01.2016.

1. Sri Vasumitra CPMG Delhi Circle posted as CPMG Bihar circle,

2. Dr. Y.P Rai CPMG Chhattishgarh Circle posted as CPMG A.P Circle,

3. Smt. Sarita singh CPMG UP Circle posted as CPMG Chhatishgarh Circle,

4. Sri B.Chandrasekhar GM PLI (Dte) posted as CPMG UP Circle,

5. Sri LN.Sharma DDG FS(Dte) posted as CPMG Delhi Circle.

IP/ASP Association AP Circle branch welcomes the New chief PMG Sri Y.P.Rai and conveys best wishes to the new Circle Head.

Group "B" adhoc promotions.

Circle Office vide memo no. ST/12-1/Adhoc GrB/2015/I dated 05.01.2015 issued the following group "B"  adhoc promotion orders for a period of 180 days or till joining of regular incumbent or until further orders.

1. Sri P.Rangaiahnaidu Dy. Manager SPC Vijayawada promoted as AD (Mktg & PG) Circle Office,

2. Sri BV. Ramana SAS(Mails)CO promoted as AD(BD) Circle Office,

3. Sri YMN Varma ASP(Hqrs) TP Gudem Dn promoted and allotted to Hyderabad Region,

4. Sri K.Prakasarao ASP(R) Nizamabad Dn promoted and allotted to Hyderabad Region.

IP/ASP association wishes all the above officers best of luck in the new assignment.

New year 2016 greetings.

New year greetings to all the members and track viewers on the occasion of New year -2016. Let this new year may bring happiness and abundant joy to all of us.