Change in date of birth/age of family pensioners regarding

No.1/23/2012-P&PW( E) 

Government of India 

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions 

Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, 

Khan Market, New Delhi 

Dated: 11th September, 2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Change in date of birth/age of family pensioners regarding.

In accordance with the instructions issued vide this Departments OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 21.5.2009, 11.8.2009, 25.6.2010 & 28.9.2010 and OM No.1/19/11-P&PW(E) dated 3.8.2011, additional pension/family pension to old pensioners/family pensioners is allowed on the basis of the date of birth/age recorded in the Pension Payment Order (PPO) or other office records. Only in case the details regarding date of birth/age are not available in the PPO/office records, additional pension/family pension to old pensioners/family pensioners has been allowed on the basis of certain documents i.e. PAN Card, Matriculation certificate, Passport, CGHS Card, Driving licence, Voter’s ID Card and Aadhaar Number issued by UIDAI.

2. During his service and at the time of retirement, a Government servant is required to give details of his family, including date of birth of its members, in Form 3. Date of birth/age of the members of family mentioned by the Government servant in Form 3 was not mandatory to be verified by the Head of Office. It is felt that in some case, the date of birth/age of a family pensioner, as recorded in the PPO/office records might be incorrect.

3. Some representations have been received in this Department regarding the hardship being caused to old family pensioners in getting the additional pension on account of incorrect recording of the date of birth/age in the PPO. They have been requesting for allowing the change of date of birth in the PPO on the basis of the documents prescribed in the various OMs mentioned in Para I above.

4. The matter has been considered in this Department in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure and the following decisions have been made:

i. Since the date of birth of the Government servant is recorded in the PPO on the basis of the service records and the date of superannuation etc. also is determined on the basis of this date of birth, there is no question of allowing change in the date of birth of the retired/deceased pensioner in the PPO.

ii. The request for change of date of birth/age of the Family pensioner (parents and spouse) in the PPO may be submitted by a pensioner/family pensioner to the Head of the Department of the organisation where the Government servant had last served along with at least one of the documents mentioned in Para I above and a declaration on a non-judicial stamp paper regarding the correct date of birth of the family pensioner. The Head of the Department may allow the change in the date of birth of the family pensioner if he is satisfied that the conditions indicated in this Department’s OM No.38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 21.5.2009 have been fulfilled and that a bona-fide mistake has been made in recording the date of birth in the PPO.

iii. No other document will be accepted for allowing the change in date birth/age of the family pensioner in the PPO.

iv. In order to avoid any possibility of recording an incorrect date of birth in the PPO, in future, the Government servant may be required to submit one of the documents indicated in Para I above as proof of date of birth of spouse or parents along with the details of family in Form 3. In the case of children certificate of birth from the Municipal authorities or from the local panchayat or from the head of a recognised school if the child is studying in such a school or from a Board of Education may be accepted.

5. As regards pensioners/family pensioners belonging to the Indian Audit and Accounts Departments, these Orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

6. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their ID. No 428/E.V/2012, dated 27/8/2012.

7. Hindi version will follow.

sd/- 

(Sujasha Choudhury) 

Deputy Secretary

Source : www.pensionersportal.gov.in

GS promoted to PS Gr. B cadre on adhoc basis

Shri Vilas S. Ingale, General Secretary, AIAIPASP has been promoted to PS Group "B" cadre on adhoc basis. Today, he has taken over the charge of Superintendent (Stg.) APSO Inland, Mumbai 400 099. His office telephone no. is 022-26156662.

Source : CHQ Blog

Clarification regarding EMS service with Republic of South Sudan

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DOP OM NO. 22-4/2012-DA DATED 10.09.2012

Centre to Support Metro Rails in Major Cities – Kamal Nath

Centre to Support Metro Rails in Major Cities – Kamal Nath
The Foundation-stone of Kochi Metro was laid by the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh at Kochi, Kerala today. While speaking on the occasion Union Urban Development Minister, Shri Kamal Nath said that the Government of India has decided to support Metro Rails for all the cities of the country having a population of more than 2 Million. He said that efficient and reliable urban transport systems are crucial for India to sustain a high growth rate and alleviate poverty. To improve the current urban transport situation the Government is giving much attention to Metro projects. Metro projects are already under implementation across the country - Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Jaipur.

Following is the text of the speech of Shri Kamal Nath at the Foundation-stone laying ceremony of Kochi Metro:

“It is a pleasure to be in the city of Kochi today for the laying of the foundation stone of the Kochi Metro Rail Project. This is a fitting tribute to the ongoing “Emerging Kerala” programme taking place in Kochi. With this, Kochi will join the select list of cities where Metro projects are under implementation. For this, I would like to thank the Hon’ble Prime Minister who has been a great champion of the Kochi Metro Rail project, the Chief Minister of Kerala, the Ministers from Kerala in the Govt. of India, who relentlessly pushed for this and Mr. A. K. Antony, the Hon’ble Defence Minister, who conceived and envisioned this project.
The Kochi Metro Rail Project from Alwaye to Petta (Tripunithura) of 25.3 km will be fully elevated and has a total completion cost of Rs. 5,181 crore. The project will be implemented through joint ownership SPV of Govt of India and Govt of Kerala and is scheduled to be completed in 4 yrs. This will have the most modern fourth generation technology, after the experience gained from Metro Projects in Delhi and Chennai. The implementation mode will be decided by the Center and State Government in a transparent manner. Kochi Metro is unique as it provides multi-modal integration with roads and water ways.
India is urbanising rapidly. India’s urban population has increased from 285 million in 2001 to 400 million in 2011 and by 2030 is likely to reach over 600 million. The number of towns has increased from 5161 in 2001 to 7935 in 2011. Even at this relatively low level of urbanization (31%), India has the second largest urban population in the world.
The urban centres have emerged as engines of economic activity. The urban sector contributes around 60% of GDP which is likely to further increase to over 70% in the next decade. Over 70% of the new jobs are expected to be created in the cities.
Efficient and reliable urban transport systems are crucial for India to sustain a high growth rate and alleviate poverty. To improve the current urban transport situation the Government of India is giving much attention to Metro projects. Metro projects are already under implementation across the country - Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Jaipur. The Government of India has decided to support DPR preparation for Metro Rails for all cities having a population of more than 2 Million.
Another mode of Mass Transport System that needs to be explored is Mono-rails. I am informed that Mono rails is ideal as a feeder system to larger metro networks as well as for stand-alone shorter networks in the densely populated pockets of cities. One Mono-rail corridor has already been identified in Delhi and work has been entrusted to DMRC.
The cities of Calicut and Thiruvananthapuram are also keen on setting up Mono rails. Calicut proposes a Mono rail of 14 Km length at a cost of Rs.1600 crore and Thiruvananthapuram proposes to have a Mono rail of 24 Km at a cost of Rs. 2500 crore. In principal approval has already been accorded to Calicut Mono rail and I would urge the Chief Minister to take-up this Mono rail project on priority and entrust its implementation to Kochi Metro.
In order to make urban travel a more pleasant experience, Government of India sanctioned buses with superior specifications to cities. Kerala has been sanctioned 350 buses (200 for Kochi and 150 for Thiruvananthapuram) with a total project cost of Rs.124 crore. The Additional Central Assistance i.e. Govt. of India share is Rs.78.22 crore.
A major step taken to address the Urban Infrastructure deficit in the country was the launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) by the Government of India in the year 2005. This was a reforms linked central assistance for development of urban infrastructure. In the first phase of JnNURM, 36 projects have been sanctioned for Kerala at an approved cost of Rs 1425 crore, with Central Assistance of Rs 997 crore.
In Kochi, a total of six projects at a total cost of Rs. 509 crore have been sanctioned. Four projects have been sanctioned in basic sectors, one each in water supply, drainage, sewerage and solid waste management. One project each has been sanctioned in road & transport sector and urban renewal.
We are now in the process of finalising the next phase of the Urban Renewal mission. We are keen to explore innovative means to raise resources such as monetization of land and would like to encourage Public Private Partnership and Viability Gap Funding.
A major reform that the State governments need to carry out is in the area of capacity building. We would like each State to create a Municipal Cadre so that our efforts at Urban infrastructure development are more effective and sustainable.
Before I conclude I would like to once again congratulate the people of Kochi and Kerala on this momentous day”. 

SOURCE : PIB

Diesel Price Increased by Rs 5 per litre; Subsidised Domestic LPG Cylinders restricted to 6 in a year

Diesel Price Increased by Rs 5 per litre; Subsidised Domestic LPG Cylinders restricted to 6 in a year. No increase in PDS Kerosene and Petrol Prices
Press Note
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) met on 13thSeptember, 2012 under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to consider the disturbingsituation arising out of projected massive under-recoveries of Rs. 1,87,127 crore for the financial year 2012-13 in the wake of high international crude oil prices and sharp depreciation of Indian Rupee against US Dollar. The uncompensated under-recovery causes loss tothe Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). The CCPA took the following decisions to be implemented with effect from the midnight of 13/14 September 2012 :
a) Increase in price of Diesel by Rs. 5 per litre excluding VAT. Out of this, Rs. 1.50 per litre is on account of increase in Excise Duty. The balance increase of Rs. 3.50 per litre will reduce the under-recovery of OMCs by about Rs. 15,000 crore for the remaining part of the current financial year.The under-recovery on sale of Diesel during 2012-13, even after this price hike,is estimated to beaboveRs. 1,03,000 crore. The revised RSP of Diesel in Delhi will be approximately Rs 47 per litre. Further, branded Diesel will be sold at the market rate.
b) No increase in the price of Petrol, although the current under-recovery on Petrol is about Rs 6 per litre. The consequent loss to the OMCs will be offset through reduction in Excise Duty on Petrol by Rs 5.30 per litre.
c) Restrict the supply of subsidized LPG cylinders to each consumer to6cylinders (of 14.2 Kg) per annum. This will help in reducing the under-recovery by about Rs. 5,300 crore for the remaining part of the financial year. The under-recovery on sale of Domestic LPG during 2012-13, even after this measure, is estimated to be above Rs. 32,000 crore. Any number of cylinders will be available over and above the cap of 6 cylinders at market rate. The number of subsidized LPG cylinders available to each consumer in the remaining part of the current financial year will be 3 cylinders.While subsidized cylinders will continue to be available at Rs. 399 per cylinder (at Delhi), the market rate of LPG cylinders at non subsidized rates will be notified by the OMCs on monthly basis.
d) No increase in the price of PDS Kerosenewhich is currentlyRs. 14.83 per litre (at Delhi). The under-recovery of the OMCs on sale of Kerosene during 2012-13 will continue to be about Rs.32,000 crore.
It may be recalled that the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural Gas (which has members from all Political Parties) made recommendation on capping of subsidized LPG cylinders to 6 per annum.
The effect of capping supply ofsubsidized LPG cylinders at six per annum will lead to saving of subsidy on one third of the total LPG cylinders.Two third of the total cylinders will still be supplied at subsidized rate. About 44% of the total Domestic LPG consumers, who consume 6 cylinders or less per annum, will not be affected by this decision. Capping of cylinders will also lead to reduction in misuse/diversion of subsidized cylinders.
The above decisions will reduce the under-recovery of OMCs by about Rs. 20,300 crore and the under-recovery for 2012-13 will be about Rs. 1,67,000 crore which is more than the under-recovery of Rs. 1,38,541 crore incurred by OMCs during 2011-12.

SOURCE : PIB

Shri Justice Kabir to be the new Chief Justice of India

 Shri Justice Altamas Kabir will be the new Chief Justice of India. He will assume the new charge on 29th of this month.
Born on July 19, 1948 at Kolkata, Justice Kabir did his LLB and MA from University of Calcutta. He was enrolled at the Bar on August 1, 1973 and was made a permanent judge of Calcutta High Court on August 6, 1990. Justice Kabir assumed the office of acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court on January 11, 2005. He was elevated as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court on March 01, 2005 and was made a judge of the Supreme Court of India on September 09, 2005.
Justice Kabir was responsible for the computerization of the Calcutta High Court and the City Civil Court and other Courts in Kolkatta. He was appointed as Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Authority on January 14, 2010. 

SOURCE : PIB

DOPT issued ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQ) on ‘Right to Information Act’ (RTI)

DOPT issued FAQ on RTI

Department of Personnel and Training has issued an another clarifications on Right to Information Act (RTI) as in the form of FAQ. Nearly seventeen questions and answers are compiled with simple and effective information. We reproduced the contents of the FAQ and given below for your reference…

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ON RTI (AS ON JANURARY 2012)

Q.1. What is Information?  

Information is any material in any form. It includes records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions,  advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data 

material held in any electronic form. It also includes information relating to any private body which can be accessed by the public authority under any law for the time being in force.  

Q.2 What is a Public Authority? 

A "public authority" is  any authority or body or institution of self government established or constituted by or under the Constitution; or by any other law made by the Parliament or a State Legislature; or by notification issued or order made by the Central Government or a State Government. The bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Central Government or  a State Government and non-Government organisations substantially financed by the Central Government or a State Government also fall within the definition of public authority.  The financing of the body or the NGO by the Government may be direct or indirect.  

Q.3 What is a Public Information Officer? 

Public authorities have designated some of its officers as Public Information Officer.  They are responsible to give information to a person who seeks information under the RTI Act.

Q.4 What is an Assistant Public Information Officer? 

These are the officers at sub-divisional level to whom a person can give his RTI application or appeal.  These officers send the application or appeal to the Public Information Officer of the  public authority or the concerned appellate authority.  An Assistant Public  Information Officer is not responsible to supply the information. The Assistant Public Information  Officers appointed by the 

Department of Posts in various post offices are working as Assistant Public Information Officers for all the public authorities under the Government of India. 

Q.5. What is the Fee for Seeking Information from Central Government Public Authorities? 

A person who desires to seek  some information from a Central Government Public Authority is required to send, along with the application, a demand draft or a banker’s cheque or an Indian Postal Order of Rs.10/- (Rupees ten), payable to the Accounts Officer of the public authority as fee prescribed for seeking information.  The payment of fee can also be made by way of cash to the Accounts Officer of the public authority or to the Assistant Public Information Officer against proper receipt.  However, the RTI Fee and the mode of payment may  vary as under Section 27 and Section 28, of the RTI Act, 2005 the  appropriate Government and the competent authority, respectively, by notification  in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Q.6. What is the Fee for the BPL applicant for Seeking Information? 

If the applicant belongs to below poverty line (BPL) category, he is not required to pay any fee. However, he should submit a proof in support of his claim to belong to the below poverty line. 

Q.7. Is there any specific Format of Application? 

There is no prescribed format of application for seeking information. The application can be made on plain paper. The application should, however, have the name and complete postal address of the applicant. 

Q.8. Is it required to give any reason for seeking information? 

The information seeker is not required to give reasons for seeking information.

Q.9. Is there any provision for  exemption from Disclosure of Information? 

Sub-section (1) of section 8  and section 9 of the Act enumerate the types of information which is exempt from disclosure.  Sub-section (2) of section 8, however, provides that information exempted under sub-section (1) or exempted under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 can be disclosed if public interest in disclosure overweighs the harm to the protected interest.     

Q.10. Is there any assistance available to the Applicant for filing RTI application? 

If a person is unable to make a request in writing, he may seek the help of the Public Information  Officer to write his application and the Public Information Officer should render  him reasonable assistance.  Where a decision is taken to give access to a sensorily disabled person to any document, the Public Information Officer, shall provide such assistance to the person as may be appropriate for inspection.

Q.11. What is the Time Period for Supply of Information? 

In normal course, information to an applicant shall be supplied within 30 days from the receipt of application by the public authority.  If information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be supplied within 48 hours.  In case the application is sent through the Assistant Public Information Officer or it is sent to a wrong public authority, five days shall be added to the period of thirty days or 48 hours, as the case may be.  

Q.12. Is there any provision of Appeal under the RTI Act? 

If an applicant is not supplied information within the prescribed time of thirty days or 48 hours,  as the case may be, or  is not satisfied with the information furnished to him,   he may prefer an appeal to the first appellate authority who is an officer senior in rank to the Public Information Officer.  Such an appeal, should be filed within a period of thirty days from the date on which the limit of 30 days of supply of information is expired or from the date on which the information or decision of the Public Information Officer is received. The appellate authority of the public authority shall dispose of the appeal within a period of thirty days or in exceptional cases within 45 days of the receipt of the appeal. 

Q.13. Is there any scope for second appeal under the RTI Act? 

If the first appellate authority fails to pass an order on the appeal within the prescribed period or if the appellant is not satisfied with the order of the first appellate authority, he may prefer a second appeal with the Central Information Commission within ninety  days from the date on which the decision should have been  made by the first appellate authority or was actually received by the appellant.

Q.14. Whether Complaints can be made under this Act? If yes, under what conditions? 

If any person is unable to submit a request to a  Public Information Officer either by reason that such an officer has not been appointed by the concerned public authority; or the Assistant Public Information Officer has refused to accept his or her application or appeal for forwarding the same to the Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be;  or  he has been refused access to any information requested by him under the RTI Act; or he has not been given a response to a request for information within the time limit specified in the  Act; or he has been required to pay an amount of fee which he  considers unreasonable; or he believes that he has been given  incomplete, misleading or false information, he can make a complaint to the Information Commission. 

Q.15. What is Third Party Information? 

Third party in relation to the Act means a person  other than the citizen who has made request for information.  The definition of third party includes a public authority other than the public  authority to whom the request has been made.

Q.16. What is the Method of Seeking Information? 

A citizen who desires to obtain any information under the Act, should make an application to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in writing in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is made. The application should be precise and specific. He should  make payment of application fee at the time of submitting the application as prescribed in the Fee Rules. 

Q.17. Is there any organization(s) exempt from providing information under RTI Act? 

Yes, certain intelligence and security organisations  specified in the Second Schedule, are exempted from providing information excepting the information pertaining  to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

Source: www.persmin.nic.in