Instructions regarding date of birth/age of family pensioners

Government of India has made date of birth mandatory in the revised PPO for family Pensioners. The OM issued by Department of Pension & Penioners' welfare is reproduced hereunder for the information of members & viewers.



No.1/23/2012-P&PW(E)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,

Khan Market, New Delhi

Dated: 27/9/2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Instructions regarding date of birth/age of family pensioners.

This Department has issued instructions vide OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A), dated 21.5.2009, 11.8.2009, 25.6.2010 & 28.9.2010, OM No.1/19/11-P&PW(E), dated 3.8.2011 and OM No. 1/23/2012-P&PW(E), dated 13.09.2012 for consideration of date of birth/age for grant of additional pension/family pension to old pensioners/family pensioners. Certain documents i.e. PAN Card, Matriculation certificate. Passport, CGHS Card, Driving Licence, Voter’s ID Card and Aadhaar Number issued by UIDAI have been allowed to be accepted in this regard.

2. For revision of an old PPO, date of birth of family pensioner is a mandatory field in the software. Some queries have been received in this Department regarding clarification whether these instructions are applicable for accepting date of birth/age of the spouse at the time of revision of PPOs.

3. It is hereby clarified that the above instructions are applicable at the time of issue/revision of a PPO for a family pensioner irrespective of the age of the family pensioners at that time. It is further clarified that in case the exact date of birth is not available in the PPO/office records, the age of the family pensioner as on 1st January may be taken same as what she/he had completed in the previous year. For example, if a family pensioner completes the age of 54 years in 2012, her/his age as on 1st January, 2013 may be taken as 54 years and PPO may be revised accordingly

Field Attachment Training of IPoS Probationer

Md. Shahnawaj Akhtar and Ms. Aparna Goyal, both IPoS Probationers have been allotted to Delhi Postal Circle for Field Attachment Training w.e.f 17.09.2012.
.
Authority : CO No.Staff/M-1/IX/VIII/KW dated 14.09.2012

RETIREMENT ON SUPERANNUATION IN SEPTEMBER-2012

 Shri Mahendra Singh-I, Supdt., AMPC, New Delhi-110037 is retiring from service on superannuation on 30.09.2012. His contact No. is 9868076826.
IP/ASP Association, Delhi Postal Circle Branch wishes him happy, healthy and peaceful retired life.

Mumbai GPO is biggest post office in the country

     The General Post Office is modelled on the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur, Karnataka. It was designed by British architect John Begg, a consultant architect to the British government. Begg designed the structure in 1902, and construction began on 1 September 1904. It was completed on 13th March 1913 at a cost of Rs. 1,809,000. Black basalt, with a dressing of yellow Kurla stone and white stones from Dhrangdra are the predominant materials used.The building has an area of 120,000 square feet (11,000 m²) and replaced the current Central Telegraph Office at Flora Fountain as the new GPO. The chief feature of the architecture of this building is an ethereal central hall which rises up to the great dome. As the chief post office of the city, the post office handles huge volumes of mail and passes them on to other post offices in the city. The GPO has the Postal Index Number (PIN) 400 001. This GPO is having 101 counters.  It also has a international philately section for enthusiasts.

Levy of Service Tax on Railway Passengers Travelling in AC Class/First Class from 1st October 2012

In compliance of the provisions contained in Finance Bill 2012 and subsequent notifications issued by Ministry of Finance, the Service Tax in case of railway travel, which was exempted upto 30^th September 2012, will be levied on the fare of passenger services in the following classes from 1^st October 2012. 

(i) AC First Class, (ii) Executive Class, (iii) AC-2 tier Class, (iv) AC-3 tier class, (v) AC Chair Car class, (vi) AC Economy class and (vii) First Class.

Since an abatement of 70%  has been permitted on passenger services by Ministry of Finance,  the Service Tax will be charged on 30% of total fare including reservation charge, development charge, superfast surcharge which would be calculated as follows:-

i)                    Service Tax of 12% will be charged on 30% of fare (equivalent to 3.6% on the total fare)

ii)                  Education Cess of 2% on Service Tax will be added (equivalent to 0.072% on total fare) and

iii)                Higher Education Cess of 1% on Service Tax will also be added (equivalent to 0.036% on total fare)

iv)                Total Service Tax implication will be (i)+(ii)+(iii)=3.708% on the total fare.

      On Concessional value tickets/PTO tickets etc. service charge will be levied on 30% of the total fare actually being paid by the passengers.

The Service Tax will also apply to tickets issued in advance for journeys to commence on or after date of implementation of Service tax.  In the case of tickets already issued excluding service tax,  the service tax on total fare including development charge, superfast surcharge, reservation fee, etc. date of implementation of Service Tax will be recovered  either  by TTEs in the train or by the Booking Offices before commencement of the journey by the passengers. Commercial Inspectors and TIAs have been instructed to visit all important stations and ensure that service tax is levied on tickets issued as per the revised rates. Commercial Officers have also been asked to make surprise checks at the stations and ensure that Service Charges are levied from date of implementation of Service Tax.

The amount of Service Tax collected from passengers will be deposited with the Ministry of Finance as per procedure.  Finance Departments of Zonal Railways have been instructed for proper accountal and remittance of Service Tax amount to the Government.

In case of refund of passenger fare, if any, refund of Service Tax shall be claimed by the passenger from the concerned Service Tax authority.  No refund shall be made by the Railways on this account.  For the purpose of claiming refund, Chief Commercial Manager (CCM)  office of concerned Zonal Railway shall issue a certificate to passenger detailing the amount of refunds to be signed by an Officer authorized by CCM, which shall be countersigned by the Dy. Chief Account Officer (DCAO) or officer authorized by them for this purpose.

Source : PIB

Implementation of Redesigned Network for First Class Mail - Sorting and closing of bags by Business Post Centres (BPCs) and Mail Business Centres (MBCs) handling outward bulk mail

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DEPARTMENT OF POSTS OM NO. 30-7/2012-D DATED 28.09.2012

New Speed Post tariff from 1/10/2012

Speed Post service was introduced by Department of Posts in August, 1986. Department of Posts is getting maximum revenue through this service. Speed Post charges were last restructured during the year 2007.    The operational cost of Speed Post is increasing day by day and there is need for enhancement of tariff. 

Weight in grams	Local (within municipal  limit)	Upto 200 Km.	201 to 1000 Km.	1001 to 2000 Km.	Above 2000 Km.
Upto 50	15	35	35	35	35
51 to 200	25	35	40	60	70
201 to 500	30	50	60	80	90
Additional 500 gm or part thereof	10	15	30	40	50

New rates will come into force w. e. f. 01-10-2012.

Bonus declaration of PLI for the Year 2009-10

Simple Reversionary Bonus rate for the year ending 31.03.2010 on the Postal Life Insurance Policies on their becoming claim, due to death or maturity:-

Sl.	Type of Insurance Policy	Rate of Bonus
(i)	Whole Life Assurance (WLA)	Rs.85 per thousand sum assured
(ii)	Endowment Assurance (EA)	Rs.60 per thousand sum assured
(iii)	Money Back Policies (AEA)	Rs.55 per thousand sum assured
(iv)	Convertible Whole Life Policies	Whole Life Bonus would be applicable but on conversion, Endowment Bonus rate will be applicable
(v)	Terminal Bonus	Rs.20 per sum assured of Rs.10,000 subject to maximum of Rs.1,000 for whole life policies and Endowment policies with term of 20 years and above.

The rate of Bonus for the year 2009-10 will be applicable from the date of receipt of this notification by the Circles and this will also be applicable to claim cases received but not settled till the date of receipt of this Notification.

Interim Bonus at the rates mentioned above will also be payable for all claims arising due to maturity or death until future valuation is completed.

Source:-Directorate of Postal Life Insurance Notification No.4-1/2008-LI dated 17^th September, 2012

One Rank One Pension Scheme approved by the Cabinet

Rs.2300 crore approved to meet the demands of Ex-servicemen pensioners

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Defence 

24-September-2012 21:35 IST

Rs.2300 crore approved to meet the demands of Ex-servicemen pensioners

The Union Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for benefits to ex-servicemen on four issues.   The financial implications of the improvements made as per the Cabinet decision on the four items are broadly estimated at Rs.2300 crore per annum.  The details are as follows:

I.One Rank One Pension:

On One Rank One Pension, the demand of the Defence Forces and Ex-Servicemen Associations is that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. 

The difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank occurs on account of the number of increments earned by the defence personnel in that rank.  There is also a difference between the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 retirees belonging to a particular rank.  The UPA Government on two previous occasions has taken decisions to narrow the gap between the present and past pensioners, particularly those belonging to the ranks of JCOs and Other Ranks.

On the issue of One Rank One Pension, the following have been approved by the Cabinet:

(i) Bridging of the gap in the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 JCO/OR retirees by determining the pension of pre 1.1.06 retirees on the basis of notional maximum for ranks and groups across the three Services as in the case of post 1.1.06 retirees.  In addition, the weightage of qualifying service in the ranks of Sepoys, Naik and Havaldar would be increased by two years for both pre and post 1.1.06 retirees.

(ii) The pension of pre 1.1.06 Commissioned Officer pensioners would be stepped up with reference to the minimum of fitment table for the ranks instead of the minimum of pay band.

These are expected to largely meet the demands of the defence pensioners on one rank one pension. 

II. Enhancement of Family Pension :

(i) The pension of pre - 1.1.2006 family pensioners(Commissioned Officers, Honorary Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs ) be stepped up based on the minimum of the fitment table instead of the minimum of the Pay Band;

(i) Establishing linkage of the family pension with the pension of JCOs/ORs, in those cases where the death takes place after the retirement of the JCO/OR since such a JCO/OR drew a pension based on the maximum of the pay scales, 60% of the pension applicable to JCO/OR pensioners would be granted to the family pensioner in case of normal family pension calculated a 30% of last pay drawn. Accordingly, based on the rank, group and length of service of the deceased JCO/OR pensioner, his pension would first be determined on notional basis. In cases where death of JCO/OR took place after retirement, the family pensioners in receipt of normal family pension would become entitled to 60% of the said pension determined on notional basis and those in receipt of enhanced family pension will be entitled to 100% of this pension. Similar entitlements would be determined in the case of Special Family Pension; and

(ii) The family pensioner of the JCO/OR would be granted pension arrived at on the basis of the family pension worked out as per the formulation at (i) above or the pension on the basis of stepping up with reference to the minimum of the fitment table, whichever is beneficial. Further, the linkage of family pension with retiring pension be applied in the case of post 1.1.2006 family pensioners of JCOs/ORs also.

III. Dual Family Pension:

Dual family pension would be allowed in the present and future cases where the pensioner drew, is drawing or may draw pension for military service as well as for civil employment.

IV. Family pension to mentally / physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage:

Grant of family pension to mentally/physically challenged children who drew, are drawing or may draw family pension would continue even after their marriage.

The above recommendations made by the Committee on pension issues of Ex-Servicemen may be implemented from a prospective date and payment made accordingly.

CABINET APPROVES 7% HIKE IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE FOR CENTRAL STAFF...

CABINET APPROVES 7% HIKE IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE FOR CENTRAL STAFF...

UNION CABINET APPROVED A PROPOSAL TO HIKE ADDITIONAL DEARNESS ALLOWANCE BY 7% FOR CENTRAL STAFF AND CENTRAL PENSIONERS...

THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TODAY APPROVED A SEVEN PER CENT HIKE IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS, THIS HIKE IS TO BE EFFECTIVE RETROSPECTIVELY FROM JULY 2012...

THE DEARNESS ALLOWANCE AND DEARNESS RELIEF FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SERVING EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS WILL INCREASE FROM 65% PER CENT OF BASIC EMOLUMENTS TO 72% PER CENT WITH EFFECT FROM 1.7.2012.

No roaming charges likely from next year

The communications ministry will do away with roaming charges paid by mobile users when travelling within India from 2013, telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar told ET, even as he added that it would not be possible to specify the exact month of execution.

The finance ministry asked the telecom department to submit the road map for implementation of the 'one nation-free roaming' that was announced by communications minister Kapil Sibal earlier this year. In May, the Union Cabinet had approved the National Telecom Policy - 2012 that aimed at doing away with roaming charges and introducing a pan-India mobile permit (unified licence) that would enable mobile phone firms to offer all communication services.

"Our first priority is the upcoming spectrum auctions. At the same time, we are working on the Unified Licence (UL) and we want to finalise this by December. Once the UL regime is rolled out post December, concepts like 'One nation-free roaming' that is part of it will be introduced. This will happen sometime next year (2013). At this stage it will be impossible to specify the exact timeframe," Chandrasekhar said.

This consumer-centric move, which is bound to bring down the mobile bills of frequent travellers, will dent revenues of India's beleaguered telecom companies since roaming charges account for about 10% of the sector's annual sales.

Source:-The Economic Times

Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi Appointed

 In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President has appointed Shri Justice Darmar Murugesan, Judge of the Madras High Court, as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office. 

Source : PIB

LDCE for promotion to the cadre of Inspector Posts(66.66%) Departmental Quota for the year 2012

  LDCE for promotion to the cadre of Inspector Posts (66.66%) Departmental Quota for the year 2012 will be held on 13th and 14th October, 2012. 
  Examination will be conducted in all Circle Head Quarters except Tamil Nadu Circle. 
Authority : Dte. Memo No. A.34012/07/2012-DE dated 18th September, 2012

Registration for sale of 15 electronic items: Govt

To ensure safety standards, the government has made registration mandatory for 15 electronic products, including video games, laptops and microwave ovens.

"The Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY) has issued the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012, bringing into force a scheme for mandatory regime of registration of identified 15 electronic products so that these products meet specified safety standards," said an official statement.

Source:-PTI

Multiple gas connections to attract penal action

Oil marketing firms have decided to initiate penal action against users of piped natural gas (PNG) who also own LPG connections as well as consumers who have multiple LPG connections.

The oil companies are soon expected to come out with a deadline for consumers to surrender any additional LPG connections in the same name across multiple households or different names in the same household, failing which they will face a fine, imprisonment or blocking of connection.

However, consumers would get a short-term breather as they will be allowed to purchase three more cylinders at subsidized rates till March 2013, irrespective of the number of cylinders they have consumed till September 15. Confirming the move, IOC director (marketing) Makrand Nene told TOI, "We will share data with HPCL and BPCL and ensure the same user does not hold LPG connections from different oil firms to check misuse of subsidized LPG cylinders."

Source:-The Times of India

MoU/Settlement Reached under Delhi-Gurgaon BOT (Toll) Project

 National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Board in its meeting held on 13.08.2012 finalised the MoU containing the terms of settlement in the matter of termination of the Concession Agreement of Delhi-Gurgaon BOT (Toll) Project. The MoU was given to the Concessionaire and the Financial Institutions (IDFC & 4 other Banks) for agreeing to the same. The matter came up for hearing on 30.08.2012 in Hon`ble Delhi High Court and Hon`ble Court granted a short adjournment till 17.09.2012 as requested by the Concessionaire for responding to the MoU. The matter was heard in Hon`ble Court on 17.09.2012 & 18.09.2012. Finally, the parties (NHAI, Concessionaire & Sr Lenders) signed the MOU in Hon`ble Court on 18.09.2012. The MoU mainly provides for the following:

To avail the concessions for local traffic, earlier the user public were paying for 60 trips per month by taking e-tag on payment of one time deposit of Rs 1500/-. Now the user public have to pay for only 40 trips without payment of cost of e-tag. The revised scheme is to be implemented within 15 days. The local traffic will get a concession of 50% for personal traffic and 33% for commercial traffic. Thus the cost of monthly pass for local traffic will be reduced by 1/3rd. This will enable more and more user public of local traffic to take monthly passes and avail concessions which will help in reducing the congestion at toll plazas due to less cash transactions.
A cheaper touch card technology at a nominal price will also be introduced.
In order to reduce the congestion at the toll plazas, additional 11 lanes will be provided at km 24 and additional 4 lanes at km 42 in a phased manner. Handheld devices will also be used for faster clearance.
For safe and smooth movement of traffic, modifications will be made at entry/exit locations on the project highway.
For improving traffic management, surveillance and safety, CCTV cameras will be installed on the entire project highway alongwith a control room equipped with a video wall to view all camera images.
IDFC & 4 other Public Sector Banks are recognized as Sr lenders for the project for a debt of Rs 1203 crore by reducing their exposure/debt by Rs 367 crore, i.e., Rs 367 crore would be returned by the Concessionaire to the Sr Lenders.
If the Concessionaire does not implement the measures as per MoU, NHAI reserved its right to terminate the Concession Agreement after giving a show cause notice. 

Source : PIB

PROJECT ARROW

Project Arrow is an initiative to transform India Post into a vibrant and responsive organization and to make a visible and positive difference in postal operations to benefit the customers.  It has been launched with objective of modernizing the post and makes visible, tangible and noteworthy differences in the post office operations that matter to “Aam Aadmi”.

In specific terms, Project Arrow entails comprehensive improvement of the core operations of the Post Offices as well as the ambience in which postal transactions are undertaken.  Enhancing the quality of services in ‘core areas’ envisages focus on Mail Delivery, Remittances, Savings Bank and Office service Levels.  This is helping the Department of Posts to emerge as a one-stop shop for retail products and offer a single window facility for banking, money remittances and other financial products and services including social and civic initiatives.  At present Monitoring of performance ‘Core Operations’ is done in 15,584 Post Offices and ‘Look & Feel’ has been improved in 1,843 Post offices.

Project Arrow will benefits Customers through - Direct communication with the outside world and development benefits in rural areas; Simpler and faster Money transactions through instant money order; ‘Local Citizens’ Forums’ formed who decide the performance norms for the respective post offices; Online public grievance handling and Monitoring through Video Conferences ensured sustainability and higher performance.

The Project Arrow experience is a working model for ushering in an integrated and lasting improvement in the postal system and awarded with “Prime ministers’ award for Excellence in Public Administration for 2008-2009” in 2010.

In the future it is proposed to include 3,000 more computerized post offices for monitoring of ‘Core Operations’ under Project Arrow Phase-VI during 2012-13 and later complete all 24,000 computerized Post offices during 12th Plan.

‘Look & Feel’ activity is proposed to be undertaken in 400 more Post offices during the financial year 2012-13 and expand in 2,500 post offices during 12th Plan in addition to existing 1843 post offices. 

 

Source : PIB

Sad News…. Demand for Grade pay of Rs.4600 for Inspector (Posts) rejected by MOF………Ready for further legal battle

Dear Friends,

  It is really sad to intimate that Department of Expenditure, MOF has rejected the demand for grade pay of Rs.4600 to Inspector (Posts) even after the full justification given by Hon’ble CAT Ernakulam Bench in its order dated 18.10.2011 in OA No. 381/2010 and the good viable proposal submitted by DoP. The official rejection letter is yet to be received. However, as per information received  from DoP under RTI, the issue regarding grant of Grade Pay of Rs.4600/- to Inspector (Posts) was examined and forwarded to Ministry of Finanace and the claim was finally rejected under MOF, D/o Expenditure UO Note No. 6(7)/E.III(B)/2010 dated 24.08.2012.The note sheet of the relevant file has also been received under RTI from DoP.

2.  As available in the note sheets (17/N), the DoP had sent the following proposal with concurrence of IFW and approval of Secretary (Posts) to Department of Expenditure, MOF:

“The hierarchical difference i.e non-availability of intermediary cadre like Assistant Superintendent Posts in CBDT/CBEC and CSS can be resolved by allowing Grade Pay of Rs.4600 to Inspector Posts in Department of Posts (a GCS Group B Non-Gazetted Post) and retaining its promotional cadre of Assistant Superintendent Posts (a GCS Group B Gazetted Post) also in the identical Grade Pay of Rs.4600. In the Accounts cadre, the cadre of Accounts Officer is in Grade Pay of Rs.5400 in PB-2. Its promotional post of Senior Accounts Officer is in Grade Pay of Rs.5400 in PB-3 & its further promotional post of ACAO also in Grade Pay of Rs.5400 in PB-3. This would not thereby involve upgradation in Grade Pays of Assistant Superintendent Posts and PS Group B.”

3.   MOF has rejected the demand for Grade pay of Rs.4600 for Inspector (Posts) without examining the above proposal, and stated the following (written in red colour):

(I)    There was no specific recommendation in para 7.6.14 to the effect that Inspector Post are granted Pre-revised pay scale of Rs. 6500-10500.

(It seems that MOF has not gone through the para 26 of Hon’ble CAT order dated 19.10.2011 in OA No. 381/2010, wherein the import of the observation of the Pay Commission has been clearly mentioned. Moreover, as mentioned in para 7.6.14 of 6^th CPC report   “…………With this upgradation, Inspector (Posts) shall come to lie in an identical pay as that of their promotional post of Assistant Superintendent (Posts) [ASPOs]. ASPOs shall, accordingly, be placed in the next higher pay scale of Rs.7450-11500………….”)

(II)   Inspectors in CBEC/CBDT were placed in the scale of Rs.6500-10500 w.e.f 21.04.2004 i.e prior to 6^th CPC by an executive order of the Govt. keeping in view of their parity with Inspectors of CBI/IB and court directions of CAT Jabalpur Bench. Further, Asstts. Of CSS have also been granted the pay scale of Rs.6500-10500 w.e.f 15.09.2006 on the basis of their traditional parity with Inspectors CBEC/CBDT. Further, it was the conscious decision of the Govt. to keep Asstts. In CSS/Inspector and analogous post in CBEC/CBDT in the higher pre-revised scale i.e Rs.7450-11500/- considering their pre-revising relativities, hierarchical structure, mode of recruitment etc.  The mode of recruitment was not the only criteria as contended by the applicants in the OA. In various cases, Apex Court also opined that wholesale identity between two groups would involve matters relating to nature of work, educational qualification, mode of recruitment, experience etc.

      (The details of the basis for increase from Rs.5500-9000 to Rs.6500-  10500 for Inspectors CBEC/CBDT w.e.f  21.04.2004 and for Assistants in       CSS w.e.f 15.09.2006 along with the note sheet of the relevant file have been asked from MOF under RTI.  Also, Documents available for establishing the “Traditional Parity” / wholesale identity between Inspectors CBEC/CBDT and Assistants in CSS have asked. MOF Response is awaited.  Further, wholesale identity should be decided by the Expert body i.e Pay Commission. 5^th & 6^th CPC had rightly did so for Inspector (Posts) and granted equal pay scale/ grade pay to that of Inspectors CBDT/CBEC and Assistants in CSS. Apex Court in the case of State of West Bengal v. West Bengal Minimum Wages Inspectors Association, (2010) 5 SCC 225 wherein it has been stated as under:-

  "23. It is now well settled that parity cannot be claimed merely on the basis that earlier the subject post and the reference category posts were carrying the same scale of pay. In fact, one of the functions of the Pay Commission is to identify the posts which deserve a higher scale of pay than what was earlier being enjoyed with reference to their duties and responsibilities, and extend such higher scale to those categories of posts.")

(III)  It is pertinent to mention here that the OM dated 13.11.2009 and 16.11.2009 came into existence as a result of demand from various quarters of Govt. seeking upgradation for pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500 due to functional requirement. However, hierarchical structure of Inspector Posts does not demand such functional requirement, as post of ASP in the scale of Pay of Rs.9300-34800 GP of Rs.4600/- PB-2 corresponding to the pre-revised scale of Rs.7450-11500 still exists, even after implementation of 6^th CPC.

(Regarding the hierarchical differences, a viable proposal was submitted by DoP wherein it was clearly mentioned that the hierarchical difference i.e. non-availability of intermediary cadre like Assistant Superintendent Posts in CBDT/CBEC and CSS can be resolved by allowing Grade Pay of Rs.4600 to Inspector Posts in Department of Posts (a GCS Group B Non-Gazetted Post) and retaining its promotional cadre of Assistant Superintendent Posts (a GCS Group B Gazetted Post) also in the identical Grade Pay of Rs.4600. The example of AO, Sr. AO & ACAO was also given in the proposal. But, MOF overlooked the same.)

(IV)   Since Inspector Post have come in the Pay Scale of Rs.9300-3400 GP of Rs.4200/- PB-2 corresponding to pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500, the hierarchical posts in their cadre i.e ASP and SP had to be placed in the GP OF Rs.4600/- and Rs.4800/- respectively to maintain the relativity in the cadre. Moreover, the scale of other similarly placed posts i.e Asstt. Manager and Manager in mail Motor Service were also placed in the GP of Rs.4600/- and Rs.4800/- respectively. In case the demand of Inspector Posts for GP of Rs.4600/- is accepted, it will have cascading effect involving huge financial implications. Also, the demand for upgradation from similarly placed posts in Mail Motor Service etc. will arise immediately.

(In the proposal, it was clearly mentioned that this would not involve upgradation in Grade Pays of Assistant Superintendent Posts and PS Group B. Asst. Manager & Manager, Mail Motor Service are placed in the Grade pay of Rs.4600 & Rs.4800 respectively. Hence the imagination of MOF that In case the demand of Inspector Posts for GP of Rs.4600/- is accepted, the demand for upgradation from similarly placed posts in Mail Motor Service etc. will arise immediately, is hypothetical. Further, while submitting the proposal, DoP had given the figures for financial implications and for Inspector (posts), it is Rs. 1.01 crores only. Hence the ground that in case the demand of Inspector Posts for GP of Rs.4600/- is accepted, it will have cascading effect involving huge financial implications, does not hold any ground.)

(V)  The duties and responsibilities assigned to Assistant of CSS and Inspector, CBDT/CBEC are quite different from Inspector (Posts). There is no comparison between Assistants CSS & Inspector CBDT/CBEC and Inspector (Posts). They are performing different duties in their respective cadres.

(As a matter of fact, the duties and responsibilities assigned to different cadres in different Department / Ministries will be different and after comparison only, specific pay scale/grade pay is given to particular cadres by the expert bodies i.e Pay Commission. The details regarding comparison of “Duties & Responsibilities” of Inspectors CBDT/CBEC and Inspector (Posts) have been asked from MOF under RTI.

Further,  Para 30 of CAT Ernakulam Bench Order dated 19.10.2011 in OA No. 381/10 reproduced below:

“This Tribunal need not have to labour more to arrive at the finding that the functional responsibilities of the Inspector (Posts) are certainly onerous and evidently, it is on the basis of adequate justification that the successive Pay Commissions have appreciated the need to revise the pay scale of Inspector (Posts).”

 4.    It is very much clear from the grounds given by MOF that they were pre-determined not to allow Grade Pay of Rs.4600 to Inspector Posts in any case and they simply overlooked the full justification given by the Hon’ble CAT Ernakulam Bench and also the good viable proposal given by DoP. It can also be seen that the matter was disposed first time at the level of Jt. Secretary even after the clear instruction from Hon’ble CAT to re-look in the matter at the level of Secretary.  It is also evident form the notings of the DoP at 28/N, which is reproduced below:

                “Views taken by Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure contains neither any details of examination of the proposal made by this Department on 17/N nor reasoning based on which the proposal was admitted/rejected.”

5.     Accordingly the file was re-referred to the Department of Expenditure, MOF. However, Department of Expenditure, MOF returned the file stating that: 

   “The matter has been examined in this Deptt. and AM is advised to issue a    reasoned speaking order rejecting the claim of the applicants on the grounds indicated in U.O note dated 28.05.2012.

      This issues with the approval of Finance (Secretary).”  

6.            Our case for upgradation of Grade pay of Inspector (Posts) to Rs.4600 under OA No. 381/2010, had already been considered by Hon’ble  CAT Ernakulam Bench within the parameters prescribed by the Apex Court in respect of the powers of the Tribunal in dealing with the fixation of Pay scale and  had viewd that :

(a)   The decision of the Ministry of Finance does not appear to have taken into account the clear recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission nor for that matter the full justifications given by the Department of Posts.

(b)    The Tribunal is of the considered view that there is no justification in denying the Inspector (Posts) the higher Grade Pay of Rs 4600 when the same is admissible to Inspectors of other Departments with whom parity has been established by the very Sixth Pay Commission vide its report at para 7.6.14 extracted above. The Ministry of Finance has to have a re-look in the matter dispassionately at the level of Secretary keeping in view the aforesaid discussion.

7.    From the documents received under RTI, the rejection of our demand of Grade pay of Rs.4600 for Inspector (Posts) has been disclosed. However, we may wait for the official rejection letter.   Further, we wish to move to High Court at the earliest, to get Justice.

                Views and comments are requested, so that we may move further.

Thanks.

Permanand

 

Source : Postal Inspectors Blog For Grade Pay Hike

Recognition of qualification of Prathama Examination conducted by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS 

RAILWAY BOARD

RBE No.94/2012
No.E(NG)II/2005/RR-1/6

New Delhi, Dated 30.8.2012

The General Managers (P),
All Zonal Railways/Production Units, CORE/ALD, Metro Railway/Kolkata;
CAO/MTP/Chennai, Mumbai;
CAO (R), DMW/Patiala, COFMOW/New Delhi;
Chairmen/All Railway Recruitment Borads;
Director General, RDSO/Licknow & RSC/Vadodara;
Directro, IRISET/Secundrabad, IRICEN/Pune, IRIEEN/Nasik & IRIM & EE / Jamalpur;
DFCCIL/New Delhi and Managing Director/Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd.

Sub : Recognition of qualification of Prathama Examination conducted by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad.

Ref : Letter No. E(NG)II/2002/RR-1/7 dated 25.1.2002 (RBE No. 11/2002), letters of even number dated 26.4.2005 (RBE No.67/2005) & 23.1.2007(RBE No. 13/2007).

Attention is invited to this office letters quoted above vide which instructions were issued recognizing and

extending recognition granted to PRATHAMA examination awarded by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad, for the purpose of employment under Central Government, for the post for which desired qualification was matriculation, up to 26.10.2010.

Queries regarding extension of currency of aforesaid recognition beyond 26.10.2010 have been received from various zonal railways. The matter has been examined in consultation with M/o Human Resource Development and it is informed that no further extension has been granted to the above state examination mentioned above. Accordingly, instructions contained in letter No. E(NG)II/2001/RR-1/48 dated 23.5.2002 (RBE No. 71/2002) with respect to above state examination stand suitably amended.

Please acknowledge receipt.

(Harsha Dass)

Joint Director Estt. (N)-II

Railway Board.

Source: www.indianrailways.gov.in

Rajdhani-like coaches for all trains

KAPURTHALA (PUNJAB)/ AMRITSAR: Stainless steel seems to be future for Indian railways desperately trying to increase the life span of its coaches and wagons and increase the general safety standards in its network.

In an ambitious move, the railways have decided to replace all its traditional blue coloured Express train ICF coaches with the new and popular stainless steel made LHB coaches that are now being used in only select trains that include Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Durantos.

All the LHB coaches will be made of stainless steel, making the coaches lighter and with a life span ranging between 30-35 years instead of the usual 20-25 years. The target is to replace all rakes of running express trains to LHB by the end of 2016. In the beginning, the AC rakes are to be replaced.

The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) Kapurthala which is making such coaches has been instructed to also step up production of AC coaches in general keeping in view the ever increasing popularity in AC travel — one of the cheapest mode of air-conditioned travel around the world.

From a mere 16 per cent of total coaches produced a couple of years back, the AC coaches now constitute 36 per cent of the 1500 coaches produced annually by the RCF. According to B N Rajsekhar, general manager, RCF, they have also begun the production of non AC LHB coaches for the first time.

"A train in Punjab is already running on LHB normal sleeper coaches. We are now trying to gift Northern Railway LHB coaches on its busiest route — the Delhi-Patna-Dhanbad route. These coaches will begin running soon.

These trains can run at a maximum speed of 160 Km/ hr instead of the usual 120 Km/hr with top speed braking within 1.1 km. These can be upgraded easily with very small changes to run at a maximum speed of 200km/ hr,'' he said. 

Source:-The Economic Times

Special LDCE JAO Part-II Examination for promotion to the cadre of AAO scheduled to be held on 29.12.2012 & 30.12.2012

As clarified vide Department of Posts (PA wing) letter No.3-24/10-PACE/Exam(DE)/2211-2260 dated 12th September, 2012, such officials who have qualified in JAO Part-I (Postal) examination and awaiting for taking up JAO-Part-II examination are only eligible to take up the Special Limited Departmental Examination scheduled to be held on 29th and 30th December, 2012. Officials who would have passed JAO Part-I examination and also already absorbed against the post of Inspector of Post Offices on regular basis are not eligible to take up the Special LDCE. Although their names appears in the list notified, such officials shall not be considered to take up the Special LDCE.

UIDAI’s Iris Authentication proof of concept study successful

 The UIDAI has successfully conducted the proof of concept Iris authentication study in Mysore district of Karnataka. The study brought out the high accuracy levels (above 99.2%) achieved by iris authentication. A combination of iris and fingerprint authentication can further the goals of universal inclusion and pave the way for successful applications based on Aadhaar authentication. In line with UIDAI’s successful and proven practice of conducting Proof of Concept (PoC) studies before launching any service, a PoC has been conducted to characterize & identify optimal authentication setups for online iris authentication. The PoC was conducted in semi urban setting in Nanjangud taluk in Mysore district of Karnataka between May 27th and July 30th 2012. 215,342 iris authentication transactions from 5833 residents were studied in this PoC. Eight models of iris cameras through six different OEMs participated in this study. This study has also brought out the specific improvement areas that biometric ecosystem needs to work upon to further improve the accuracy and coverage percentage. The detailed findings are documented in a report which is being published on UIDAI’s website. This will be followed by a workshop with the device vendors to guide them on the specific actions to be taken by them to improve algorithms and devices. UIDAI will then take up further field studies. These studies would also lead to formulation of iris device specifications for certification and deployment purposes. It may also be noted that as a result of feedback to the biometric ecosystem, the performance of fingerprint authentication improved substantially from the time UIDAI conducted its first fingerprint authentication PoC to the last PoC. Same is expected in iris authentication domain too, which points that iris authentication has a scope of providing accuracy levels above 99.5%.

Source : PIB

Reimburse Central Government employees for private treatment

‘Reimburse government staff for private treatment’

A central government servant is entitled for reimbursement even if he takes treatment in a private hospital under emergent situation, the TN Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has held.
M Mohamed Salia, Deputy Chief Engineer, Southern Railway, while returning home, suffered a heart attack on November 20, 2008. Due to the urgency of the matter, his wife admitted him in the nearest private hospital Frontier Lifeline, as the Railway Hospital was 10 km away from her residence. After a by-pass surgery and necessary treatment, he was discharged on December 12, 2008. He paid Rs.3.10 lakh towards hospital bills.

When he applied for reimbursement of Rs.2 lakh to which he was entitled, the railway authorities rejected his claim on the ground that treatment in a non-recognised private hospital without referral by the railway authorised medical officer was not admissible. Hence, the present application.

  Rejecting the contentions, CAT judicial member G Santhappa said that in this case, the applicant had produced the emergency certificate and that had not been considered by the railways. The Personnel Branches Circular (PBC) dated May 4, 1994 listed under what circumstances reimbursement of medical expenses could be made. It included that if a patient falls ill at a place where there was no government or railway hospital and that if transporting the patient to the nearest government hospital would result in loss of life, the servant could be admitted in a private hospital. The rejection was against the law laid down by the SC, the tribunal said, set aside the order and directed the railways to sanction the amount in a month.

 

Source : www.newindianexpress.com
[http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article601428.ece]

Five foreign consultants in race for "Post Bank of India" (PIB) project.

The Department of Posts has issued request for proposals (RFP) to five top notch foreign consultancy firms for the proposed Post Bank of India project.

The five short-listed firms are Accenture Services, Boston Consulting Group, Ernst & Young, KPMG Advisory Services and McKinsey & Co.

The Department of Posts (DoP) is looking to set up a bank — Post Bank of India (PBI) — to provide banking services with special focus on rural areas.

Besides providing a platform for financial inclusion, the Post Bank of India will provide means of additional revenue generation for the DoP.

The consultancy firms chosen, out of the five short-listed ones, will as part of the assignment focus on Detailed Project Report (DPR) on creation of PBI, financial viability of PBI, proposed organisational structure of PBI in the light of RBI regulations, and relationship between PBI and Post Office Savings Bank.

Source : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com

Recommendations of the Santosh Gauriar Committee on Special Allowances, acceptance of regarding