COM.GIRI RAJ SINGH PRESIDENT NFPE & GENERAL SECRETARY R-III ATTENDED 17TH CONGRESS OF WORLD TRADE UNION HELD AT DURBIN FROM 5TH TO 8TH OCTOBER, 2016
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
XVII WORLD TRADE UNION CONGRESS AT DURBIN
COM.GIRI RAJ SINGH PRESIDENT NFPE & GENERAL SECRETARY R-III ATTENDED 17TH CONGRESS OF WORLD TRADE UNION HELD AT DURBIN FROM 5TH TO 8TH OCTOBER, 2016
Govt warns employees against criticising policies
Press Trust of India | New Delhi October 10, 2016
The Centre has warned employees of disciplinary action if they indulge in criticism of the government or its policies.
The move comes after officers of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) and All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers, among others, suggested changes in Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), a private company tasked with creating information technology infrastructure for the goods and services tax (GST), and composition of Revenue Secretary-led GST council secretariat.
“Of late, it has been noticed that some associations or federations have commented adversely on the government and its policies. It may be brought to the notice of all associations or federations that if anyone indulges in criticism of the government and its policies, appropriate action (including disciplinary action) shall be taken,” an order issued recently by finance ministry said.
It cited service rules that bar any government servant from making any adverse criticism of any policy or action of the government.
“No government servant shall, in any radio broadcast, telecast through any electronic media or in any document published in his own name or anonymously, pseudonymously or in the name of any other person or in any communication to the press or in any public utterance, make any statement of fact or opinion which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the central government or state government,” the service rules say.
Citing existing norms, the finance ministry said the primary objective of the service associations is to promote common service interest of its members.
The ministry asked chief commissioners and directors general concerned to ensure that only recognised employees associations get the benefits mentioned in the rules.
All recognised service associations or federations are entitled for certain benefits such as correspondence and meetings with the head of administrative departments, provision of accommodation for the association subject to availability, facility of special casual leave up to 20 days in a year to office-bearers of associations and payment of Travelling Allowance and Dearness Allowance for attending officially sponsored meetings.
“In the case of service associations or federations which are not recognised or whose recognition has expired, office-bearers of such associations or federations shall not be entitled for these benefits,” the finance ministry said.
Besides service associations, Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Subramanian Swamy has also been opposing majority stake for private entities in GSTN and has already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi objecting to this.
The central government holds 24.5 per cent stake in GSTN, while state governments together hold another 24.5 per cent.
The remaining 51 per cent equity is with non-government financial institutions, like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and LIC Housing Finance.
“Management of GSTN be entrusted to Directorate General, Systems of Central Board of Excise and Customs, as GSTN is a newly created special purpose vehicle, which does not have any experience in implementing any IT project or domain knowledge in Indirect Tax laws,” the IRS association had said in a statement.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, had recently approved ‘Project Saksham’, a new indirect tax network (systems integration) of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).
The total project cost involved is Rs 2,256 crore, which will be incurred over a period of seven years.
Monday, 10 October 2016
HC issued notice to the central and state govts over a PIL challenging the validity of the market-linked New Pension Scheme
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NEW PENSION SCHEME |
The Gujarat High Court has issued notice to the central and state governments over a PIL challenging the validity of the market-linked New Pension Scheme (NPS), applicable to government employees who joined on or after January 1, 2004.
A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi issued the notice on October 7 and posted the matter for further hearing after a month.
Petitioner Pranav Desai, a retired scientist of ISRO, stated in his petition that the market-linked new pension scheme provides only annuity and gratuity in place of pension, and has no security for family members of an employee if he passes away.
“Old pension scheme, on the other hand, provided for the 50 per cent of last pay, floor pension, family pension if retiree dies, medical benefits and death gratuity,” he said.
Pension is not a gratuitous payment but deferred payment. Compulsory imposition of NPS violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Government is exercising economic duress by imposing NPS as it will not help employees in his old age but may in all probability make him starve, the petitioner alleged.
“Mathematical simulation shows that a bulk of employees will get annuity less that subsistence of about Rs 14,000. Also, the NPS provides for no family pension unlike OPS, in the event of the employee passing away,” he said.
“There is uncertainty about pension availability to family if the employee dies. NPS is at the mercy of share market. It is annuity that one gets in place of pension,” he said.
The petitioner further said in NPS, pensioners are not allowed a wide choice of fund manager and asset class.
As per the new pension scheme, a beneficiary cannot withdraw money if he subscribes to an account where government makes an equal matching contribution of 10 per cent of mandatory contribution by employees, he said.
When exiting at the retirement age of 60, one gets 60 per cent of money while 40 per cent has to be invested to LIC-type annuity. And if exiting before retirement age, 80 per cent has to be invested, the new pension scheme mandates, the petitioner said.
“Old pension scheme, on the other hand, provided for the 50 per cent of last pay, floor pension, family pension if retiree dies, medical benefits and death gratuity,” he said.
Pension is not a gratuitous payment but deferred payment. Compulsory imposition of NPS violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Government is exercising economic duress by imposing NPS as it will not help employees in his old age but may in all probability make him starve, the petitioner alleged.
“Mathematical simulation shows that a bulk of employees will get annuity less that subsistence of about Rs 14,000. Also, the NPS provides for no family pension unlike OPS, in the event of the employee passing away,” he said.
“There is uncertainty about pension availability to family if the employee dies. NPS is at the mercy of share market. It is annuity that one gets in place of pension,” he said.
The petitioner further said in NPS, pensioners are not allowed a wide choice of fund manager and asset class.
As per the new pension scheme, a beneficiary cannot withdraw money if he subscribes to an account where government makes an equal matching contribution of 10 per cent of mandatory contribution by employees, he said.
When exiting at the retirement age of 60, one gets 60 per cent of money while 40 per cent has to be invested to LIC-type annuity. And if exiting before retirement age, 80 per cent has to be invested, the new pension scheme mandates, the petitioner said.
PERMISSION TO OPT FOR PAY FIXATION ON A DATE AFTER THE DATE OF ISSUE OF CCS (RP) RULES 2016 NOTIFICATION 25-07-2016 IN CASE PROMOTION BECOMES DUE AFTER 25-07-2016 - CONFEDERATION WRITES TO FINANCE MINISTRY FOR CLARIFICATORY ORDERS
No.Confdn/7th CPC/Option/2016-17 10-10-2016
To Shri.R.K.Chathurvedi,
Joint Secretary to Govt. of India,
Ministry of Finance,
Department of Expenditure
(Implementation Cell),
Room No.124, The Ashok, North Block,
New Delhi - 110 001.
Sir,
Sub: Exercising option for pay fixation in the revised 7th CPC Pay Structure, from the date of promotion or from the date of next increment from
01-01-2017 - C/o.Officials who are due for promotion/upgradation from Grade Pay 2800 to 4200 during the period from 01-01-2016 to
01-07-2017 - Request clarification and permission to exercise revised option as a one-time measure.
01-01-2017 - C/o.Officials who are due for promotion/upgradation from Grade Pay 2800 to 4200 during the period from 01-01-2016 to
01-07-2017 - Request clarification and permission to exercise revised option as a one-time measure.
1. As per Rule 5 of CCS (RP) Rules, 2016 the following provisions are notified by Government on 25-07-2016:
Rule 5 - Government servant may elect to continue to draw pay in the existing pay structure untill the date on which he earns his next increment or any subsequent increment in the existing pay structureor until he vacates his post or ceases to draw pay in the existing pay structure.
Provided further that in cases where a Government servant has been placed in a higher grade pay or scale between 1st day of January 2016 and the date of notification of these rules (ie. 25-07-2016) on account of promotion or upgradation, the Government servant may elect to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion or upgradation as the case may be.
2. As per the above two provisions, a Government servant may elect to continue to draw pay in the existing pay structure until he earns his next or any subsequent increment in the existing (pre-revised) pay structure which implies that in cases where there is no promotion/upgradation between 01-01-2016 to 30-06-2016 (or between 01-01-2016 to 30-06-2017 in the case of subsequent increment on 01-07-2017) option to opt from the date of next increment (01-07-2016) or subsequent increment (01-07-2017) is available, thereby forgoing the arrears from 01-01-2016 to 30-06-2016 (next increment) or upto the date of subsequent increment say, 01-07-2017.
3. Thus, in the case of promotion/upgradation of a Government Servant becoming due before the date of notification ie, 25-07-2016, he should elect to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion/upgradation. He has no option to opt for the next increment (becoming due after the date of promotion/upgradation) for fixation of pay in the revised pay structure.
4. Subsequently a clarificatory order is issued by Department of Expenditure (Implementation Cell) on 29th September 2016, which clarified the position further. As per this clarification, in case an employee is promoted or upgraded to the higher pay structure (in the pre-revised pay structure) he may be permitted to exercise revised option to have his pay fixed under the Revised Pay Rules 2016 from the date of such promotion/upgradation or from the date of next increment as per FR-22(i)(a)(i).
5. Thus an official who got promotion/upgradation on 15-07-2016 (in the month of July 2016), can exercise option to fix his pay under Revised Pay Rules, 2016, either from the date of promotion or from the date of next increment ie; on 01-07-2017.
6. Even after issuing the above clarificatory orders, dated 29-09-2016, it is not clear, whether an employee who becomes eligible for promotion/financial upgradation on a date after the date of issue of notification, ie, 25-07-2016, but before the date of next increment ie. 01-07-2017, can exercise option now, for fixation of his Revised Pay as per CCS (RP) Rules, 2016, from the date of promotion or from the date of next increment, ie; 01-07-2017, by forgoing the arrears from 01-01-2016 to date of promotion or 30-06-2017, thus allowing him to draw his pay in the pre-revised pay structure of 6th CPC till the date of promotion or till the date of next increment on 01-07-2017. As per the existing orders, all those employees whose date of promotion/upgradation becomes due after 25-07-2016 should compulsoily opt for pay fixation from 01-01-2016 or 01-07-2016, whereas an employee whose promotion is due in July 2016 ie; before the date of notification (25-07-2016) can opt for next increment date on 01-07-2017 for fixation in the Revised Pay structure under FR-22(i)(a)(i). Since the benefeit is extended to a section of employees who were promoted between 01-01-2016 and 25-07-2016 and the same benefeit is denied to the rest of the employee who are promoted after 25-07-2016, this is a clear case of discrimination and denial of natural and equitable justice.
7. If the option as above is not allowed, thousands of employees who are due for promotion/financial upgradation from 2800 Grade Pay to 4200 Grade Pay (in the pre-revised pay structure) from a dateafter the date of notification ie. 25-07-2016, will suffer a recurring loss of Rs.2800 to 3000 per month, throughout their service.
The followingillustrations will explain the above facts:
1st OPTION - 7th CPC - OPTION FROM 01-01-2016
6th CPC 7th CPC
Basic as on 01-01-2016 16490 16490x2.57 = 42379. Next stage in the pay matrix level - 5 = 42800
Increment on 01-07-2016 42800x3%=1284, 42800+1284=44084. Next stage in the Pay matrix = 44100.
MACP-II promotion from 44100x3%=1323, 44100+1323=45423.
2800 GP to 4200 GP on 05-12-2016 Next stage in the pay matrix level-6
(one increment fixation) = 46200.
2ND OPTION (IF ALLOWED) - OPTION FROM DATE OF
SUBSEQUENT INCREMENT ie; 01-07-2017.
6th CPC 7th CPC fixation if option allowed
from date of promotion
or date of next increment on
01-07-2017
Basic as on 01-01-2016 16490
Increment on 01-07-2016 16990
MACP-II promotion from 2800 16990x3% notional 18900x2.57-48573. Next stage
GP to 4200 GP on 05-12-2016 increment - 510. in the pay matrix in level 6 =
(One increment fixation + Grade pay difference= 49000.
Grade Pay difference) 4200-2800 = 1400. (If option allowed from date of
Total Basic = 16990+ promotion).
510+1400=18900.
Increment on 01-07-2017 18900x3% = 567 19470x2.57 = 50038
= 18900+567 = 19467 Next stage in the pay matrix level
= 19470 6 = 50500. (If option allowed from
date of next increment).
Thus if no option is permissible after 25-07-2016 to fix the pay in the revised scale on the date of promotion ie. 5-12-2016, then by compulsory option from
01-01-2016, the pay will be fixed at 46200 on promotion. If option is permissible after the date of notification to fix the pay in the revised scale on the date of promotion, the pay will be fixed at 49000. The difference is Rs.2,800/-. If option for fixation on next incremen on 01-07-2017 is granted, then the difference will increase further.
01-01-2016, the pay will be fixed at 46200 on promotion. If option is permissible after the date of notification to fix the pay in the revised scale on the date of promotion, the pay will be fixed at 49000. The difference is Rs.2,800/-. If option for fixation on next incremen on 01-07-2017 is granted, then the difference will increase further.
In view of the above, it is requested that the case may be reviewed judiciously and clarificatory orders may be issued, permitting the employees whose promotion date become due after the date of notification (25-07-2016) also, to exercise option for fixation of their revised pay from the date of promotion/upgradation or from the date of next increment ie. 01-07-2017, as a one time measure, thereby forgoing the entire arrears from 01-01-2016 to date of promotion or date of next increment on 01-07-2017. In other words, they may be permitted to draw their pay in the pre-revised 6th CPC pay structure till the date of promotion or till the date of next increment on 01-07-2017.
Awaiting favourable orders,
Yours faithfully,
M.Krishnan,
Secretary General,
&
Standing Committee Member,
JCM National Council (Staff side).
Mob: 09447068125.
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
Copy to:
1) The Secretary,
Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure,
North Block, New Delhi - 110 001 - for favourable action please.
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