AN IMPORTANT CIRCULAR ISSUED BY RAILWAY BOARD

Government of India/Bharat Sarkar

Ministry of Railways /Rail Mantraraya

(Railway Board)

PC-VI No. 336

RBE No. 39/2014

No.F(E)1/2011/AL-28/18

New Delhi, dated 29.04.2014

The General Managers,
All Indian Railways etc.
(As per Standard Mailing List)

Sub: Enhancement in the rate of various allowances by 25% as a result of enhancement of Dearness allowance upto 100% w.e.f 01.01.2014.

In accordance with the recommendations of 6th CPC, the rates of various allowances admissible to different categories of railway staff were revised/doubled. The 6th CPC had also recommended that the rates of these

allowances will be increased by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance goes up by 50%.  Railway Board, accordingly, issued instructions in respect of increase in rates of various allowances by 25% vide Board's letter of even number dated 13.06.2011.

2.         Subsequent to enhancement in the rate of Dearness Allowance to 100% w.e.f. 01.01.2014 queries are being received from some of the Railways regarding further enhancement of rates of these allowances. The matter has been examined and It is clarified that the rates of allowances listed in the enclosed Annexure shall increase by a further 25% (over original 6th CPC rate prescribed by Ministry of Railways) with Dearness Allowance now having gone up to 100% w.e.f. 01.01.2014.

3.         The terms and conditions for grant of these allowances will remain the same.

4.         Hindi version is enclosed.

5.         Kindly acknowledge receipts

DA: as above

(Amir Chand Jain)

Dy. Dirs Finance(Estt)

Railway Board

LIST OF THE VARIOUS ALLOWANCES THAT STAND REVISED W.E.F. 01.01.2014 ON ACCOUNT OF ENHANCEMENT IN THE RATE OF DA TO 100%

  

Sl. No.	Name of Allowance	Authority number and date
1.	Daily Allowance	F(E)I/2008/AL-28/14 dated 01.12.2008 (Para 3 of the Annexure to the letter)
2.	Mileage for road journey by taxi/own car/auto-rickshaw/own scooter/bicycle etc.	F(E)I/2008/AL-28/14 dated 01.12.2008 (para 2 D (b) and (c) of the Annexure to the letter
3.	Road Mileage Allowance and rates for transportation of House-hold effects on transfer	F(E)1/2008/AL-28/15 dated 01.12.2008 (Para A (3) & (4) and para C of the Annexure to the letter)
4.	Fixed Conveyance Allowance	F(E)I/2008/AL-7/3 dated 03.10.2008
5.	Cycle Maintenance Allowance	F(E)I/2008/AL-7/2 dated 18.09.2008
6.	Washing Allowance	F(E)I/2008/AL-29/1. dated 30.09.2008
7.	Special Compensatory (Scheduled/ Tribal Area) Allowance	F(E)I/2008/AL-4/7 dated 18.09.2008
8	Special Compensatory (Hill Area) Allowance	F(E)1/2008/AL-4/4 dated 16.09.2008
9.	Special Compensatory (Bad Climate) Allowance	F(E)1/2008/AL4/5 dated 16.09.2008
10.	Special Compensatory (Remote Locality) Allowance	F(E)I/2008/AL-4/6 dated 22.09.2008

(Amir Chand Jain)

Dy. Dir. Finance(Estt.)

Railway Board

DRAFT REPLY TO 7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION QUESTIONNAIRE - SUGGESTION, ADDITION AND ALTERATION, IF ANY, CALLED FOR.

DRAFT REPLY TO 7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION QUESTIONNAIRE - SUGGESTION, ADDITION AND ALTERATION, IF ANY, CALLED FOR.

Dear Comrade,

            We place hereunder the draft reply to the questionnaire issued by the 7^th CPC.  We want you to go through the same and make suggestions to enrich it further.  We propose to place the same at the staff side meeting of the National Council on 6^th May, 2014.  The final version as formulated by the Staff Side will also be published on7th May. 2014.  We have to arrive at a consensus taking into account all shades of opinions.

            The replies are drafted to make it as brief as possible.  It covers only common issues. The staff side National Council will be submitting a detailed memorandum later as and when it is called for by the 7^th CPC.  The said memorandum will be drafted taking into account the views of all organizations including pensioners organisations. Department specific issues are to be covered by the memorandum submitted by the respective departmental organizations.  Since there will be very short time available for submission of memorandum, in view of the overall time frame of 18 months  all affiliates are requested to finalize their approach and prepare the memorandum and keep it ready for submission without loss of time.

            It will be our endeavor that on common issues, complete unanimity of opinion emerges amongst all Federations of Central Govt. employees.

Suggestions may be sent by e-mail to confederationhq@gmail.com

With greetings,

Yours fraternally

S. K. Vyas                                             K. K. N. Kutty                                       M. Krishnan

Advisor                                                President                                             Secretary General

Mob: 09868244035                             Mob: 09811048303                             Mob: 09447068125

DRAFT REPLY : CLICK HERE

CADRE RESTRUCTURING AGREEMENT- UNIONS SIGNED TODAY

CADRE RESTRUCTURING AGREEMENT- UNIONS SIGNED TODAY

                                         NFPE- FNPO

           NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES

         FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANISATION

                           CENTRAL HEAD QUARTERS, NEWDELHI

                                   28/04/2014

               * CADRE RESTRUCTURING AGREEMENT SIGNED *

                 At last after several round of protracted negotiations with the administration, JCM Staff side, Departmental council ( NFPE & FNPO) has signed the cadre restructuring proposal. The staff side has tried to the best of its ability to make maximum improvement in the proposal. In spite of our hard bargaining we could not achieve 100 percent success. Our demand for separate higher pay scale for PO& RMS Accountants, Creation of separate cadre for System Administrators or grant of special pay/allowance, bringing MTS also under cadre restructuring etc is not accepted by the administration. Regarding Postmaster Cadre after much bargaining, it is agreed to examine our claim for higher pay scale after the present proposal is approved by the government.

                  As Govt has already appointed 7^th CPC and the Pay Commission has already published the questionnaire, any further delay in completing the cadre restructuring will adversely affect the interest of Postal employees. We will take up the remaining issues, which are not agreed by the administration in the cadre restructuring committee with the 7^thCPC in our memorandum and make one more effort to get a favourable recommendation.

                  Taking into consideration all the above aspects and also keeping in mind the larger interest of the employees, we have decided to sign the agreement

Copy of the agreement is published below.

The Salient features of the agreement are as follows :

1. Number of LSG posts will increase from 8 % to 22 %

2. Number of HSG II  posts will increase from 2 % to 12 %

3. Number of HSG I  posts will increase from 1.5 % to 4 %

4. After completion of 2 years in HSG I the official will be promoted to 4800 GP (Non-functional Basis)

5. The above proposal will be applicable to RMS, Circle Office and SBCO in the same ratio

6. Postman/Mail guard will get the same ratio of promotion.

  The present proposal is to be approved by Postal Board, DoPT & Finance Ministry. We will make all out effort to get the proposal implemented at an early date.

                                                                        Yours sincerely

    D.Theagarajan                                                                               M.Krishnan

  Secretary General                                                                  Secretary General

         FNPO                                                                                              NFPE

Clarification on increase in certain allowances--

No.A-27012/1/2014-Estt. (Allowance)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension

Department of Personnel & Training

Block-IV, Old JNU Campus

New Delhi, 28th April, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Clarification on increase in certain allowances by further 25% as a result of enhancement of Dearness Allowances w.e.f. 1.1.2014

The undersigned is directed to refer to para 1(j) of this Department’s 0M. No.12011/03/2008-Estt. (Allowance) dated 2.9.2008. This provides that the limits of Children Education Allowance would be automatically raised by 25% every time the Dearness Allowance on the revised pay structure goes up by 50%. References are being received from various quarters with regard to the amount of Children Education Allowance admissible consequent upon enhancement of Dearness Allowance payable to Central Government employees @ 100% w.e.f. 1 January, 2014 announced vide Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M. No.1/l/2014-E-1I (B) dated 27th March, 2014.

2. In accordance with the above, the following shall be the revised limits:

a) The annual ceiling limit for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance shall be Rs.18,000/- per child. Accordingly, the quarterly claim could be more than Rs.4500/- in one quarter. The Hostel Subsidy shall be Rs.4500/- per month per child;

b) The rates of Special Allowance for Child Care to women with disabilities stands revised to Rs. 1500/- per month; and

c) The annual ceiling for reimbursement of Children Education Allowance for disabled children of Government employees shall be treated as revised to Rs.36,000/- per annum per child and the rates of Hostel Subsidy for disabled children of Government employees shall be treated as revised to Rs.9000/- per child per month.

3. These revisions are applicable with effect from 1st January, 2014.

4. These revisions shall be subject to other terms and conditions mentioned in this Department’s O.M. No.12011/03/2008-Estt (Allowance) dated 2.9.2008, O.M. No.12011/04/2008 dated 11.9.2008 and 12011/07(i)12011-Estt.(AL) dated 21.2.2012.

sd/

(Mukul Ratra)

Director

Source:www.persmin.gov.in

Next Induction Trainig Order

It has come to to our notice by source that next Induction training of PA/SA cadre will be started from 15th June, 2014 at PTC, Dwarbhanga. 59 candidates from West Bengal Circle will be allowed.

A D.O LETTER FROM RAILWAY MINISTER TO FINANCE MINISTER REGARDING ABOLITION OF NEW PENSION SCHEME

Hon'ble Minister for Railways Sh. Malikarjun Kharge has written a D.O. Letter to Minister for Finance regarding abolition of New Pension System from India Railways.  The text of the said letter, which has been published by AIRF, is reproduced below:-

MALLIKARJUN KHARGE

MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

NEW DELHI

No. 2012/F(E)III/1/4-Part

29 March, 2014.

Dear Shri P. Chidambaram ji,

Through this letter, I wish to draw your attention to a long standing demand raised by both Staff Federations of Railways on National Pension Scheme (NPS) for employees of Indian Railways. The Federations have been expressing resentment over operation in the Railways of the National Pension Scheme, which is perceived as a lower social security cover for Railway employees. Their contention is that there are enough grounds for Railway employees to be treated differently from other civil employees of the Government, and that Indian Railways should operate the traditional defined .benefit pension scheme available to pre-01-01-2004 appointee's.

You will recall that a few organizations/categories of Government employees were specifically exempted from the purview of NPS on consideration of special, riskier and more onerous nature of duties. The Federations have been drawing parallel with of nature of duties performed by most categories of Railway employees with those in the Armed Forces. They contend that during British period, Railways was conceived and operated as an auxiliary wing of the Army. It was also realized that by virtue of its complex nature, Railways required a high level of discipline and efficiency to be able to perform its role as the prime transport mode. Railways is an operational organization required to be run round the clock through the year. Railway employees have to work in inhospitable conditions, braving extreme weather, unfriendly law and order scenario, and inherent risks associated with the Railway operations itself. As in the Armed Forces, many have to stay away from their families for long periods while performing duties in areas where adequate facilities are lacking.

I feel that there is considerable merit in the contention of the Staff Federations. Besides the critical and complex nature of duties of Railway employees, the hazards involved are also high. Despite best efforts for enhanced safety measures, a large number of Railway employees lose their lives or meet with serious injuries in the course of performance of their duties each year.

During the period 2007-08 to October 2011, the number of Railway employees killed during the course of their duty has been more than number of passengers/other members of public killed in Rail related accidents including accidents at unmanned level crossings. While the nature of duties of Railway employees is inherently high risk during peace time, they also perform functions of critical importance during war time and times of natural calamities, in moving men and materials across the country to maintain supply of essential commodities and safeguard integrity of the nation.

In my view, there are adequate grounds for the Government to consider exemption for Railway employees from the purview of NPS. The implications of this would be that Government expenditure would reduce over the next few years through discontinuance of Government Contribution under the NPS, but the long term liabilities would increase, as financial commitments in the defined benefit pension scheme would be higher. Since Railways are required to meet the pensionary outgo from their internal resources, switch over to defined benefit pension scheme would call for a more systematic provisioning under the Pension Fund through appropriate revenue generating measures. With Rail Tariff Authority on the horizon, I believe that this would be possible.

In the light of the above, I suggest that our request for exemption from operation of the NPS be considered sympathetically and necessary approvals communicated.

A copy of each demands raised by the two Federations is enclosed. 

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

/sd/

(Mallikarjun Khagre)

Shri P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister,

Government of India, North Block,

New Delhi-110001.

LETTER FROM 7th PAY COMMISSION TO NFPE

IMPORTANT VERDICT OF CHENNAI HIGH COURT

High Court  said yesterday that if excess pay was granted to an employee due to erroneous pay fixation done by the department and not due to any misrepresentation by him, that amount shall not be recovered from employee from the retiral benefits, that too after retirement.

Justice D Hariparanthaman, Madras High Court

Allowing a petition from K Syed Razack, a retired Police Inspector, Justice D Hariparanthaman set aside the order of the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, to recover Rs 36,312 from the DCRG (Death-Cum-Retirement Gratuity) of the petitioner.

He directed the authorities not to make any recovery on the ground of any wrong fixation done during the service, as it was not the petitioner’s mistake.

The judge also directed that the amount be refunded if any already recovered from the petitioner within six weeks.

Razack submitted he was appointed Grade-II constable on June 1, 1971. After two promotions, he was listed in ‘C’ list of head constables fit for promotion to Sub-Inspector’s post on Sep 22, 1985. As there was no vacancy, he was not promoted at that time.

Later, he was promoted temporarily as SI on September 15, 1987 and also paid salary by fixing his pay to the post. He was regularised in the post with effect from August 17 1992, promoted as Inspector on October 15,2003 and retired from service on January 31, 2009.

When the pension proposals were sent, the Accountant General opined that the benefit of fixation was given from September 15, 1987 and should be given only from the date of regularisation of service (August 7, 1992).

The Police Commissioner then passed an order to recover Rs 36,312 from the DCRG of Razack towards alleged excess payment due to the fixation.

Citing a judgment of a division bench, which held such recovery was bad, the judge said he was also of the view that the judgement applies to the facts of this particular case.

“Any wrong fixation that was said to have been made in 1987 shall not be sought to be recovered, after retirement in 2009, more particularly, when it is not the case of the authorities that the wrong fixation was done at the instance of the petitioner by way of misrepresentation.”

“Even, if there was any error, the petitioner cannot be made to suffer after retirement, by way of recovery,” the judge said.

PTI

PO & RMS ACCOUNTANT EXAMINATION

PO & RMS ACCOUNTANT EXAMINATION

Po & RMS Accountant examination -2014 will be held on 25-05-14 and the last date of submission of application in prescribed proforma at Divisional office is fixed on 21-04-14.

      A group of newly selected P.A.s, who are awaiting induction training and appointment letter, had a discussion with Com. Janardan Majumder, Circle Secretary, Group-C, yesterday at Yogayog Bhavan. All candidates and our organisation are anxious over the issue of delay in their process of joining. So far the department did not make response to our union's demand to relax the rule like previous two years and allow the selected candidates' joining imparting in-house training, as the Police Verification Report usually takes lot of time to come. This year, the PVR is even more delayed due to Loksabha Election. 

      The Circle Secretary has discussed elaborately on each point and mentioned that our Circle Union and All India Union (Central Headquarters) have written letters to the Directorate on this issue (letters were already displayed in this blog). However, this Circle Union also thinks that West Bengal Circle Administration has also some laxity dealing with this issue and could have done better assessing the situation realistically.

       As the election process has already started in our State, it has been decided in the discussion that immediately after the polls, the Circle Union will  meet the candidates again and vigorously pursue the matter. A resolution will be submitted to the circle administration demanding solution to this impasse. The selected candidates present in the discussion has taken the responsibility of preparing the draft of the resolution sharing opinions with all others who could not attend yesterday. 

      All are invited to come up with their suggestions in this regard.    

DA ORDER OF GDS

Merging of DA with basic pay of Central Government employees- ANSWERED IN RAJYASABHA

Merging of DA with basic pay of Central Government employees- ANSWERED IN RAJYASABHA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2062

ANSWERED ON-11.02.2014

Merging of DA with basic pay of Central Government employees

2062 . SHRI PRABHAT JHA, ARVIND KUMAR SINGH, KUSUM RAI

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is actively considering to merge existing dearness allowance payable to Central Government Employees with basic pay;

(b) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor; 

(c) whether Government has received any representation from employees associations in this regard;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the details of action taken thereon; and

(e) the reasons for delay in constitution of 7th Central Pay Commission?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

( SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)

(a) No Sir.

(b) The 6th Central Pay Commission did not recommend merger of Dearness Allowance with basic pay at any stage. This has been accepted by the Government vide Resolution dated 29th August, 2008. 

(c)&(d) A number of representations have been received from Associations/Organizations of Central Government Employees demanding merger of 50% of Dearness Allowance with basic pay. However, in view of (b) above, the same has not been agreed to. 

(e) The Government has already decided to constitute the 7th Central Pay Commission under the Chairmanship of Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, Retired judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

Source: http://rajyasabha.nic.in/

Railways decides to constitute a committee for Productivity Linked Bonus

Government of India

Ministry of Railways

Railway Board

No.ERB-I/2014/23/15

New Delhi, dated 21.3.2014

ORDER

Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) have decided to constitute a Committee for evolving a new formula for Productivity Linked Bonus on Indian Railways. The Committee will consist of the following :-

i) Additional Member (Staff), Railway Board - Convener

ii) Additional Member (Budget), Railway Board - Member

iii) Additional Member (Civil Engineering), Railway Board - Member

iv) Additional Member (Mechanical Engineering), Railway Board - Member

v) Additional Member (Commercial), Railway Board - Member

2. The Terms of reference of the Committee will be as under :

"To evolve a new formula for calculation of number of Productivity Linked Bonus days keeping in view the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission and the views of the Ministry of Finance."

3. The Headquarter of the Committee will be at New Delhi.

4. The Committee shall submit its report within a period of four months from the date of its Constitution.

5. The Convener and Members of the Committee will be eligible to draw TA/DA, as per extant rules.

sd/-

(J.M.S. Rawat)

Deputy Secretary (Estt)

Railway Board

LETTER ISSUED BY CHQ FOR ISSING ORDER WELL IN ADVANCE TO THE TRAINEES

CHQ REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY FOR JOINING OF NEWLY SELECTED PAs IN WB CIRCLE

TRANSFER ORDER OF CL-I & GR-B OFFICERS UNDER WB CIRCLE

Order of the competent authority regarding Adhoc promotion/ transfer/posting of the following officer under WB Circle are issued to have immediate effect vide CO letter No : SFA/P-68/Kol Regn dated 25.03.2014

Sl No	Name of the Officer	Present Posting	Region Allotment on transfer/promotion to JTS Cadre
1.	Sri Haradhan Nandy	ADPS (Staff)  CO	Posted as SSPOs , South Kolkata Dn vice Sri M K Biswas to be retired on 31.03.14 (A/N)

Order of the competent authority regarding Allotment/ transfer/posting of the following officer under WB Circle are issued to have immediate effect vide CO letter No : SFA/P-11/XXVI dated 31.03.2014

Sl No	Name of the Officer S/Sri	Present Posting	Posted on transfer	Remarks
1.	N .C Das	ADPS (E&PN) , CO	ADPS(Staff) , CO	Vice Sri H Nandy ADPS(Staff) promoted to JTS Gr A
2.	Saumen Sarkar	ADPS (A/C) , CO	ADPS (E&PN) , CO	Vice Sri N C Das transferred
3.	Mrinal Kanti Das	ADPS (MM&PO), CO	ADPS(TO) , CO	Vice Sri N K Paul transferred
4.	N K Pal	ADPS (TO) , CO	ADPS (A/C) , CO	Vice Sri S Sarkar transferred
5.	Jayanta Kr Majumder	SRM (Stg) , Sealdah RMS under RMS H Dn	ADPS (MM&PO), CO	Vice M K Das transferre

Sl No	Name of the Officer Sri/Smt	Present Posting	Posted on promotion to Adhoch Gr B Cadre	Remarks
1.	P K Dey	Sr PM , Howrah HPO	SPOs , Bankura Dn	Vide SB Region Memo No : PMG(SB)/SFA/GO/Arrgt/11-13/Ch-II dated 31.03.14
2.	Bishnupada Kharna	ASRM , Letter Stg/2 Kol RMS Dn	Dy SPOs , Asansol Dn	Vide SB Region Memo No : PMG(SB)/SFA/GO/Arrgt/11
3	Bidyut Kr Roy	ASP , Howrah 1st SDn	Sr PM , Howrah HPO	Vide SB Region Memo No : PMG(SB)/SFA/GO/Arrgt/11
8	Tapan Chakraborty	ASP , Purulia Central SDN	SPOs , Purulia Dn