Sunday, April 30, 2017
Welcome to the Secretary, Department of Posts -- Shri Anant Narayan Nanda, IPoS from NUPEPostmen & MTS Gr-C /FNPO
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Anant Narayan Nanda, IPoS (1982) as Secretary, Department of Posts, vice Shri Boyapati Venkat Sudhakar, IPoS (1981).
Saturday, April 29, 2017
VERY IMPORTANT JUDGEMENT FROM HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF MADRAS
IMPLEMENTATION OF MACP RETROSPECTIVELY W.E.F. 01-09-2008 AND DENYING PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY UNDER ACP FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED REQUIRED SERVICE DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN 01-09-2008 TO 19-05-2009 HELD NOT LEGAL
BSNL to provide broadband services to rural Post Offices
A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding has been signed today among BBNL, Department of Posts and BSNL for providing broadband connectivity of BharatNet to Post Offices in rural areas. The MoU signed under the chairmanship of Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha is the first tri-partite agreement to provide broadband connectivity to about 1.3 lakh, post offices in rural areas and 25,000 sub-post offices for high speed internet connectivity to the rural masses.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sinha said that the first phase of connecting about one lakh Gram Panchayats is nearing its completion and in the remaining one and a half lakh Gram Panchayats 100 mbps broadband connectivity will be completed by December, 2018. In reply to a question, the Minister said that BharatNet is one of the 9 pillars of realising the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India.
Shri Sinha said that provision of citizen services is the focus of BharatNet and in the agreement signed today, BSNL is the service provider, that would provide broadband services, the cost of setting up of infrastructure and the operational expenses would be paid by the Department of Posts. Since the BharatNet is the National Network, BBNL would facilitate and coordinate this entire operation. In future, MoUs with other Government Departments are also proposed to be signed.
Press Information Bureau.
Story from Business Standard staff
Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), the Department of Posts and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have signed a tripartite agreement for providing broadband connectivity of BharatNet to post offices in rural areas.
The MoU signed in the presence of Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha is the first tri-partite agreement to provide broadband connectivity to about 1.3 lakh, post offices in rural areas and 25,000 sub-post offices for high speed internet connectivity to the rural masses.
Speaking on the occasion, Sinha said that the first phase of connecting about one lakh gram panchayats is nearing its completion and in the remaining one and a half lakh gram panchayats 100 mbps broadband connectivity will be completed by December, 2018.
In reply to a question, Sinha said that BharatNet is one of the nine pillars of realising the Prime Minister's vision of Digital India.
Sinha said that provision of citizen services is the focus of BharatNet and in the agreement signed today, BSNL is the service provider, that would provide broadband services, the cost of setting up of infrastructure and the operational expenses would be paid by the Department of Posts.
The Allowances committee report will be now placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet.
The Committee on Allowances headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday; The Report will be now placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet.
The Committee on Allowances, constituted by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India to examine the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances, submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday. The Committee was headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure),M/o Finance, Government of India and had Secretaries of Home Affairs, Defence, Health & Family Welfare, Personnel & Training, Post and Chairman, Railway Board as its Members and Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) as its Member Secretary.
The Committee was set-up in pursuance of the Union Cabinet decision on 29.06.2016 when approving the 7th CPC recommendations on pay, pensions and related issues were approved. The decision to set-up the Committee was taken in view of significant changes recommended by the 7th CPC in the allowances structure and a large number of representations received in this regard from various Staff Associations as well as the apprehensions conveyed by various Ministries / Departments. The 7th CPC had recommended that of a total of 196 Allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.
The Committee took note of all the representations received from various stakeholders on the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances. Representations and demands for modifications were received in respect of 79 allowances which have been examined in detail by the Committee. In doing so, the Committee interacted with all the members of the Standing Committee of National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) as well the representatives of various Staff Associations of Railways, Postal employees, Doctors, Nurses, and Department of Atomic Energy. It also interacted with the representatives of the Defence Forces, DGs of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) namely CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles as also senior officers from IB and SPG to understand the viewpoint of their personnel. As mentioned in the Report, the Committee held a total of 15 meetings and was assisted by a Group of Officers headed by Additional Secretary (D/o Expenditure) in examining the representations.
Based on such extensive stakeholder consultations and detailed examination, the Committee has suggested certain modifications in the 7th CPC recommendations so as to address the concerns of the stakeholders in the context of the rationale behind the recommendations of the 7th CPC as well as other administrative exigencies. Modifications have been suggested in some allowances which are applicable universally to all employees as well as certain other allowances which apply to specific employee categories such as Railway men, Postal employees, Scientists, Defence Forces personnel, Doctors and Nurses etc.
The Report, now being examined in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, will be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) set-up to screen the 7th CPC recommendations and to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet. It may be recalled that while recommendations of the 7th CPC on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of Cabinet, allowances continue to be paid at old rates. After consideration by the E-CoS, the proposal for implementation of 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances after incorporating the modifications suggested by the Committee on Allowances in its Report shall be placed before the Cabinet for approval.
The Law is Clear: Reserved Category Candidates Are Entitled to General Seats on the Basis of Merit
There is no law prescribing reservation for general category candidates in public employment and therefore there’s no question of reserved category candidates being selected against “their seats”.
Supreme Court. Credit: JSW
In Deepa E.V., the appellant belonged to the OBC category and had availed age relaxation (as was granted to OBC category candidates). Since no candidate from the general category had secured the minimum cut-off score, the appellant filed a writ petition before the high court to be accommodated in the general category. The high court dismissed the petition. The Supreme Court affirmed this decision and held that:
“The appellant, who has applied under OBC Category by availing age relaxation and also attending the interview under the ‘OBC Category’ cannot claim right to be appointed under the General Category.”
The reason, as per the court, was “there is an express bar for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC who have availed relaxation for being considered for General Category candidates.” The court was reading the existing rules and proceedings of Department of Personnel and Training, which stated that: “[W]hen a relaxed standard is applied in selecting an SC/ST/OBC candidates, for example in the age-limit, experience, qualification, permitted number of chances in written examination, extended zone of consideration larger than what is provided for general category candidates, etc., the SC/ST/OBC candidates are to be counted against reserved vacancies. Such candidates would be deemed as unavailable for consideration against unreserved vacancies.”
On similar lines, in 2015, in Gujarat Public Service Commission v. Parmar Nilesh Rajendrakumar, the Gujarat high court had held that:
“Considering the reservation policy applicable in the State of Gujarat contained in circular dated 29.01.2000 and 23.07.2004 and relevant statutory provisions i.e. Recruitment Rules, 1967, 2009 and 2010, it is held that all those candidates belonging to the reserved category if they avail the benefit of age relaxation, it is held to be relaxation in the standard, and therefore, are not entitled to their cases being considered for General Category vacancies and that their cases are required to be considered for the reserved category vacancies.”The proposition developed by the courts in these two judgments is that when there is an existing policy regarding the express bar for those SC/ST/OBCs who have availed relaxation (such as age-relaxation) in a selection process, such “reserved” category candidates won’t be entitled to seats in the general category, even on the basis of merit. However, in Deepa E.V., the court had also observed: “Be it noted, in the instant case, the appellant has not challenged the constitutional validity of the proceedings dated 1.7.1998 read with Rule 9 of the Export Inspection Agency (Recruitment) Rules, 1980… [T]he appellant has only sought for a declaration that Exhibit P5 (proceedings dated 1.7.1998) is not binding on the appellant. No argument was canvassed challenging the constitutional validity of the proceedings before the learned Single Judge or before the Division Bench of the High Court.”
This observation by the Supreme Court is quite important in context of the correct position of the law on this issue. This is because if the constitutional validity of these proceedings had been challenged, they would have been struck down, as they are inconsistent with a number of decisions made by the Supreme Court and the high courts.
In the case of Jitendra Kumar Singh v. State of UP (2010), the Supreme Court was considering the UP Public Services (Reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act, 1994 Act (“UP Act”) and government order dated March 25, 1994. The order stated: “If any person belonging to reserved categories is selected on the basis of merits in open competition along with general category candidates, then he will not be adjusted towards reserved category, that is, he shall be deemed to have been adjusted against the unreserved vacancies. It shall be immaterial that he has availed any facility or relaxation (like relaxation in age limit) available to reserved category.” The Supreme Court thereby stated that a bare perusal of the order implies that there is no express bar in the UP Act for SC/ST/OBC candidates being considered for posts under the general category. It held:
“From the above it becomes quite apparent that the relaxation in age limit is merely to enable the reserved category candidate to compete with the general category candidate, all other things being equal. The State has not treated the relaxation in age and fee as relaxation in the standard for selection, based on the merit of the candidate in the selection test i.e. Main Written Test followed by Interview. Therefore, such relaxations cannot deprive a reserved category candidate of the right to be considered as a general category candidate on the basis of merit in the competitive examination. Sub-section (2) of Section 8 further provides that Government Orders in force on the commencement of the Act in respect of the concessions and relaxations including relaxation in upper age limit which are not inconsistent with the Act continue to be applicable till they are modified or revoked.”The court made it clear that: “With age relaxation and the fee concession, the reserved candidates are merely brought within the zone of consideration, so that they can participate in the open competition on merit.”
In Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) popularly known as the Mandal case, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had held:
“[It] is well to remember that the reservations under Article 16(4) do not operate like a communal reservation. It may well happen that some members belonging to, say, Scheduled Castes get selected in the open competition field on the basis of their own merit; they will not be counted against the quota reserved for Scheduled Castes; they will be treated as open competition candidates.”In R.K. Sabharwal v. State of Punjab (1995), the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court considered the question of appointment and promotion and roster points vis-a-vis reservation and thereby held:
“When a percentage of reservation is fixed in respect of a particular cadre and the roster indicates the reserve points, it has to be taken that the posts shown at the reserve points are to be filled from amongst the members of reserve categories and the candidates belonging to the general category are not entitled to be considered for the reserved posts. On the other hand the reserve category candidates can compete for the non-reserve posts and in the event of their appointment to the said posts; their number cannot be added and taken into consideration for working out the percentage of reservation…In Union of India v. Virpal Singh Chauhan (1995), the Supreme Court held that while determining the number of posts reserved for SC and ST, the candidates belonging to reserved category but selected/promoted on the rule of merit (and not by virtue of rule of reservation) shall not be counted as reserved category candidates.
No general category candidate can be appointed against a slot in the roster which is reserved for the Backward Class. The fact that considerable number of members of a Backward Class have been appointed/promoted against general seats in the State Services may be a relevant factor for the State Government to review the question of continuing reservation for the said class but so long as the instructions/rules providing certain percentage of reservations for the Backward Classes are operative the same have to be followed. Despite any number of appointees/promotees belonging to the Backward Classes against the general category posts the given percentage has to be provided in addition.”
In Ritesh R. Sah v. Dr. Y.L. Yamul (1996), the question was whether a reserved category candidate who is entitled to be selected for admission in open competition on the basis of his/her own merit should be counted against the quota meant for the reserved category or if the candidate should be treated as a general candidate. The court reached the conclusion that when a candidate is admitted to an educational institution on his own merit, then such admission is not to be counted against the quota reserved for schedule castes or any other reserved category. It was held so in the following words:
“[W]hile a reserved category candidate entitled to admission on the basis of his merit will have the option of taking admission in the colleges where a specified number of seats have been kept reserved for reserved category but while computing the percentage of reservation he will be deemed to have been admitted as an open category candidate and not as a reserved category candidate.”In Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences v. Dubbasi Praveen Kumar, the division of the Andhra Pradesh & Telangana high court held:
“There cannot be any dispute with the proposition that if a candidate is entitled to be admitted on the basis of his own merit then such admission should not be counted against the quota reserved for Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe or any other reserved category since that will be against the constitutional mandate enshrined in Article 16(4).”Moreover, in UP Power Corporation Ltd v. Nitin Kumar (Special Appeal No. 310 of 2015, judgment dated 19.05.2015), the division bench of the Allahabad high court, headed by the then chief justice D.Y. Chandrachud, had held that an unreserved post or seat/general category seat is one in which every individual, irrespective of the category to which the person belongs, can compete in open merit. It was further held:
“Where a candidate is meritorious enough to be placed within the zone of selected candidates independent of any claim of reservation and purely on the basis of the merit of the candidate, the candidate ought not to be relegated to a seat against the reserved category. The simple reason for this principle is that reservation is a process by which a certain number of posts or seats is carved out for stipulated categories such as OBC, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Unreserved seats do not constitute a reservation for candidates belonging to categories other than the reserved categories.”Thus, there is no law prescribing reservation for general category candidates in public employment and therefore there does not arise any question of the reserved category candidates occupying or being selected against “their seats”. Since there is no concept of providing reservation to general category candidates, there cannot be any concept of “their fixed seats”. Such seats can be claimed by everyone on basis of merit. The judgment in the Deepa E.V. case is incomplete. Based on the precedents mentioned, the correct position would be that there can’t be any limitation on the reserved category candidates to claim a seat in the general category on the basis of merit. The relaxations provided are merely to bring the candidates of the reserved” category in a level-playing field, which is the spirit under the text of Article 16(4) of the Indian constitution.
The author is a final year student of B.A. LL.B (Hons.) at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow. His twitter handle is @anuragbhaskar_
Allowances on Committee Report shall be placed before the Cabinet for approval – Finmin Press Note
7th CPC Allowance Committee Report shall be placed before the Cabinet for approval – Finmin Press Note
Friday, April 28, 2017
The Committee on Allowances headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday; The Report will be now placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet.
The Committee on Allowances, constituted by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India to examine the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances, submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday. The Committee was headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure),M/o Finance, Government of India and had Secretaries of Home Affairs, Defence, Health & Family Welfare, Personnel & Training, Post and Chairman, Railway Board as its Members and Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) as its Member Secretary.
The Committee was set-up in pursuance of the Union Cabinet decision on 29.06.2016 when approving the 7th CPC recommendations on pay, pensions and related issues were approved. The decision to set-up the Committee was taken in view of significant changes recommended by the 7th CPC in the allowances structure and a large number of representations received in this regard from various Staff Associations as well as the apprehensions conveyed by various Ministries / Departments. The 7th CPC had recommended that of a total of 196 Allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.
The Committee took note of all the representations received from various stakeholders on the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances. Representations and demands for modifications were received in respect of 79 allowances which have been examined in detail by the Committee. In doing so, the Committee interacted with all the members of the Standing Committee of National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) as well the representatives of various Staff Associations of Railways, Postal employees, Doctors, Nurses, and Department of Atomic Energy. It also interacted with the representatives of the Defence Forces, DGs of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) namely CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles as also senior officers from IB and SPG to understand the viewpoint of their personnel. As mentioned in the Report, the Committee held a total of 15 meetings and was assisted by a Group of Officers headed by Additional Secretary (D/o Expenditure) in examining the representations.
Based on such extensive stakeholder consultations and detailed examination, the Committee has suggested certain modifications in the 7th CPC recommendations so as to address the concerns of the stakeholders in the context of the rationale behind the recommendations of the 7th CPC as well as other administrative exigencies. Modifications have been suggested in some allowances which are applicable universally to all employees as well as certain other allowances which apply to specific employee categories such as Railway men, Postal employees, Scientists, Defence Forces personnel, Doctors and Nurses etc.
The Report, now being examined in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, will be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) set-up to screen the 7th CPC recommendations and to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet. It may be recalled that while recommendations of the 7th CPC on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of Cabinet, allowances continue to be paid at old rates. After consideration by the E-CoS, the proposal for implementation of 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances after incorporating the modifications suggested by the Committee on Allowances in its Report shall be placed before the Cabinet for approval.
Source : http://finmin.nic.in/7cpc/Press_Note_Committee_Allowance_Report27042017.pdf
Source : http://finmin.nic.in/7cpc/Press_Note_Committee_Allowance_Report27042017.pdf
Friday, April 28, 2017
A Complete Profile about B V Sudhakar
Shri Boyapati Venkata Sudhakar, IPoS (1981 batch) has been joined as Secretary, Department of Posts, India. He is the first Telugu person to assume the apex post in the Department of Posts. Earlier he was the Member (Technology) in the Department of Posts at New Delhi during which period he has involved himself in the introduction of Core Banking, Rural ICT programme in the Department of Posts so as to enable to reach the services of the Department to the rural masses.
Shri Sudhakar has born on 18-04-1957 in Kammapalem Village, Nellore District to Smt Anasuyadevi and Shri Yanadaiah.
The schooling of Shri Sudhakar was held at All Saints High School & St. Paul’s High School at Hyderabad. He has completed his Intermediate studies at Alia Junior College, Hyderabad. He has completed his B.Sc graduation from New Science College, Hyderabad and did Post graduation in M.Sc (Physics), M Phil & MBA through Osmania University, Hyderabad.
Before joining the Department of Posts, he has worked as Manager at A.P. Cooperative Bank, Hyderabad during 1978-81.
He has been selected to the Indian Postal Services in 1981. Subsequently he has served the department in various capacities in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal & New Delhi.
Further he has worked as Regional Film Sensor Board Officer, Hyderabad; Director of Postal Accounts ; Commissioner, Employment & Training, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad; and Secretary, Information Commission, Andhra Pradesh on deputation.
He has introduced so many innovative schemes, products, services in the Department of Posts and in other Departments where he was on deputation. Some of the schemes like’ Aaseervachanam (TTD prasadam)’, Sale of TTD tickets through Post Offices, Sale of Haleem through Post Offices during Ramzan season, Introduction of ‘Nanyatha’ scheme to monitor Letter box clearance, sale of Godavari sacred water – ‘God jal’, Mechanised Delivery, Same day delivery, Introduction of new Application softwares like ‘Jabardast’ were the contributions of Shri Sudhakar to the Department as well as for the society. He has ensured the prompt filling-up of vacancies of the Postal Department which were unfilled for so many years. He has initiated to ensure compassionate appointments periodically rather monthly, in the interest of the families of diseased employees.
0FAREWELL TO SECRETARY ON HIS SUPERANNUATIONFAREWELL
Today(28.04.2017) a group of CHQ office bearers consisting of Sri D.Kishanrao, GS, Sri B.Shivakumar, AGS, Sri Sivaji Vasireddy, AGS and Sri Sri Bahagavan, Financial Secretary felicitated Sri Boyapati Venkata Sudhakar, Secretary & Chairman Postal Services Board on his superannuation retirement. The NAPE Group-c remembered the yeoman services rendered to the India Post and it's staff at all levels especially last 9 months as head of the department. During his tenure he recommended to the GDS pay commission, removal of point system, liberalised compassionate appointments changed the transfer, policy introduced online GDS recruitment curbing the corruption in the appointments. As CPMG AP Circle introduced centralised tabulation in Departmental Promotion quota and announced the results before the appointing authority knows the result in a jumbling system. A new era ended today in the India Post progression towards new heights. The NAPE Group-c bids a warm farewell to the officer.
Profile of Shri B.V.SUDHAKAR, Secretary & Chairman Postal Board Dept of Posts : India
Shri Boyapati Venkata Sudhakar, IPoS (1981 batch) has been joined as Secretary, Department of Posts, India. He is the first Telugu person to assume the apex post in the Department of Posts. Earlier he was the Member (Technology) in the Department of Posts at New Delhi during which period he has involved himself in the introduction of Core Banking, Rural ICT programme in the Department of Posts so as to enable to reach the services of the Department to the rural masses.
Shri Sudhakar has born on 18-04-1957 in Kammapalem Village, Nellore District to Smt Anasuyadevi and Shri Yanadaiah.
The schooling of Shri Sudhakar was held at All Saints High School & St. Paul’s High School at Hyderabad. He has completed his Intermediate studies at Alia Junior College, Hyderabad. He has completed his B.Sc graduation from New Science College, Hyderabad and did Post graduation in M.Sc (Physics), M Phil & MBA through Osmania University, Hyderabad.
Before joining the Department of Posts, he has worked as Manager at A.P. Cooperative Bank, Hyderabad during 1978-81.
He has been selected to the Indian Postal Services in 1981. Subsequently he has served the department in various capacities in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal & New Delhi.
Further he has worked as Regional Film Sensor Board Officer, Hyderabad; Director of Postal Accounts ; Commissioner, Employment & Training, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad; and Secretary, Information Commission, Andhra Pradesh on deputation.
He has introduced so many innovative schemes, products, services in the Department of Posts and in other Departments where he was on deputation. Some of the schemes like’ Aaseervachanam (TTD prasadam)’, Sale of TTD tickets through Post Offices, Sale of Haleem through Post Offices during Ramzan season, Introduction of ‘Nanyatha’ scheme to monitor Letter box clearance, sale of Godavari sacred water – ‘God jal’, Mechanised Delivery, Same day delivery, Introduction of new Application softwares like ‘Jabardast’ were the contributions of Shri Sudhakar to the Department as well as for the society. He has ensured the prompt filling-up of vacancies of the Postal Department which were unfilled for so many years. He has initiated to ensure compassionate appointments periodically rather monthly, in the interest of the families of diseased employees.
Latest news on Approval of Lavasa allowances committee report
The Committee on Allowances headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday; The Report will be now placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet.
The Committee on Allowances, constituted by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India to examine the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances, submitted its Report to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley yesterday. The Committee was headed by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure),M/o Finance, Government of India and had Secretaries of Home Affairs, Defence, Health & Family Welfare, Personnel & Training, Post and Chairman, Railway Board as its Members and Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) as its Member Secretary.
The Committee was set-up in pursuance of the Union Cabinet decision on 29.06.2016 when approving the 7th CPC recommendations on pay, pensions and related issues were approved. The decision to set-up the Committee was taken in view of significant changes recommended by the 7th CPC in the allowances structure and a large number of representations received in this regard from various Staff Associations as well as the apprehensions conveyed by various Ministries / Departments. The 7th CPC had recommended that of a total of 196 Allowances, 52 be abolished altogether and 36 be abolished as separate identities by subsuming them in another allowance.
The Committee took note of all the representations received from various stakeholders on the 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances. Representations and demands for modifications were received in respect of 79 allowances which have been examined in detail by the Committee. In doing so, the Committee interacted with all the members of the Standing Committee of National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) as well the representatives of various Staff Associations of Railways, Postal employees, Doctors, Nurses, and Department of Atomic Energy. It also interacted with the representatives of the Defence Forces, DGs of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) namely CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles as also senior officers from IB and SPG to understand the viewpoint of their personnel. As mentioned in the Report, the Committee held a total of 15 meetings and was assisted by a Group of Officers headed by Additional Secretary (D/o Expenditure) in examining the representations.
Based on such extensive stakeholder consultations and detailed examination, the Committee has suggested certain modifications in the 7th CPC recommendations so as to address the concerns of the stakeholders in the context of the rationale behind the recommendations of the 7th CPC as well as other administrative exigencies. Modifications have been suggested in some allowances which are applicable universally to all employees as well as certain other allowances which apply to specific employee categories such as Railway men, Postal employees, Scientists, Defence Forces personnel, Doctors and Nurses etc.
The Report, now being examined in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, will be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) set-up to screen the 7th CPC recommendations and to firm-up the proposal for approval of the Cabinet. It may be recalled that while recommendations of the 7th CPC on pay and pension were implemented with the approval of Cabinet, allowances continue to be paid at old rates. After consideration by the E-CoS, the proposal for implementation of 7th CPC recommendations on Allowances after incorporating the modifications suggested by the Committee on Allowances in its Report shall be placed before the Cabinet for approval.
Source : PIB, (Release ID :161372)
Our Chairman, Postal Board, Shri. B. V. Sudhakar is retiring from Service today on superannuation.
During his period, he has done a lot to the downtrodden GDS employees of our Department. His contribution towards the improvement of GDS employees is marvellous and ever rememberable. He, a kind human being with high quality of humanitarian values, has also helped other Postal employees also in many ways.
FNPO always remember the Officers who have worked for the welfare of the employees. Our Federation prays the ALMIGHTY to shower his choicest blessings towards Shri. B.V.Sudhakar and his family members.
Our Chairman, Postal Board, Shri. B. V. Sudhakar is retiring from Service today on superannuation.
During his period, he has done a lot to the downtrodden GDS employees of our Department. His contribution towards the improvement of GDS employees is marvellous and ever rememberable. He, a kind human being with high quality of humanitarian values, has also helped other Postal employees also in many ways.
FNPO always remember the Officers who have worked for the welfare of the employees. Our Federation prays the ALMIGHTY to shower his choicest blessings towards Shri. B.V.Sudhakar and his family members.
7th CPC Allowances Lavasa panel Committee submitted the report today to Finance Ministry
Lavasa said the government will take the final call on the date of payout of revised allowances to government employees
New Delhi, Apr 27 A high-level committee headed by the Finance Secretary submitted today its report on allowances to 47 lakh government employees to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The Ashok Lavasa Committee was constituted in June last year after the government implemented the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.
The pay panel had recommended abolition of or subsuming of allowances like acting, assisting cashier, cycle, condiment, flying squad, haircutting, rajbhasha, rajdhani, robe, shoe, shorthand, soap, spectacle, uniform, vigilance and washing.
After submitting the report to Jaitley, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said the committee has taken into account representations made by various stakeholders.
The report will now be examined by the empowered committee of secretaries and following that it will be placed before the Cabinet, he said.
Out of total 196 allowances, it had recommended abolition of 52 and subsuming of another 36 into larger existing ones.
The commission had recommended hiking the HRA in the range of 8-24 per cent.
If the pay commission recommendations on allowances are implemented fully, then as per estimates the cost to the exchequer will be Rs 29,300 crore.
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