Circular issued by the Secretary Staff Side, National Council (JCM) is placed below in respect of oral evidence to VII CPC, merger of DA and Interim Relief-
Joint
Consultative Machinery for Central Government Employees
No. NC-JCM/2015/S.C
February
26, 2015
The
Standing Committee of the Staff Side, National Council has interaction with the
7th CPC on 25th Feb. 2015 followed by the Standing Committee meeting of
National Council (JCM) with the Secretary DOPT in the afternoon. The meeting
with the Secretary Personnel came as a result of the decisions that we have
conveyed for organizing March to Parliament and other programmes, culminate as
a pre pretretory meaure for an indefinite strike. The agenda for discussion
with the Secretary Personnel was, therefore, the charter of demands (10 points)
we had submitted to the Government after the National Convention of all Central
Government Employees Organizations on 11th December, 2014. The response from
the Government undoubtedly establish the fact that ultimately they have taken
note of the growing discontentment of the Central Government employees
manifested through various programmes we have jointly carried out by this time.
We, therefore, earnestly request the affiliates and leaders of various
organizations at the field formations to intensify the ongoing programmes to
compel the Government to settle our demands. We give hereunder a brief resume
of the discussions we had with the Pay Commission and the Secretary Personnel,
which is indicative of the reflections of both the entities.
Meeting
with the Pay Commission:
The
Chairman informed of his inability to take a final decision on the question of
merger of DA and Interim relief as the Government has not referred this matter
to them and further stated that this Govt. can take decisions on the two
issues, without any report from the CPC. He added that the memoranda received
from the staff Side on these two issues had been forwarded to the Government.
He wanted the staff side to take up the matter with the Government and assured
that on receipt of the reference from the Government they would consider the
matter without any loss of time. However, they indicated that the Commission
would strive to submit their report to the Government within the stipulated
time frame and therefore, the question of Interim relief, in his opinion should
not arise at all. The Staff side requested him to appreciate the fact that the
matter concerning merger of DA and interim relief has been raised by them not
on account of the possible delay on the part of the Pay Commission but emanated
from the fact that the erosion in the real value of wages of the Central
Government has been eroded during the period drastically.
The
methodology to be adopted by the 7th CPC in the matter was discussed at length.
It was ultimately decided that the Staff Side after considering the viewpoints
expressed by the CPC will draw out a plan both for the National Council Staff
Side and for the organizations at the Departmental levels. The scheduled date
for meetings with the Pay Commission will be finalized after Holi festival i.e.
5th March, 2015. The Staff Side will discuss the matter and will submit its
consensus view to the Commission soon in this regard. In any case, the staff
side would require the following information immediately at its office.
1. Name
of the organization which has submitted its memorandum to CPC with date of
submission,
2.
Underwhich Ministry the Department function
3.
Whether the organization is recognized or not
4. The
number of employees, whom the organization represents
5. The
total – Group C and Group B Non Gazetted – strength of the concerned
Department.
The
Chairman assured that he would go thrcu1:1h the Supreme Court Judgment in the
matter. However, fie added that the inclusion or otherwise of the GDS within
the purview of the 7th CPC is the prerogative of the Government and except
making its opinion clear on the subject he might not be able to do anything
further in the matter.
Standing
Committee meeting with Secretary Personnel: There had been no tangible result in the
discussions. The impression gained was that the staff side was invited to show
that the dialogue continues, However, we give here under the response of the
Government in respect of the issues subjected for discussion. The rest of the
issues in the charter will be discussed later on at another meeting, for which
the date has not been indicated
1.
Interim relief, Merger of DA, Date of effect, Inclusion of GDS in the ambit of
7th CPC; Settlement of anomalies:
The
views expressed by the official on each of the above items are as under
a).
Interim relief is normally given if there is an apprehension of abnormal delay.
Government has been informed by the 7th CPC that they would adhere to the time
schedule.
b).
DA merger: Since the Pay Commission would
be submitting its report soon, the question of merger of DA would automatically
be in-built in their recommendation.
c).
It is the prerogative of the CPC to
recommend the date of effect. Govt.’s role will come only after the
recommendations are received.
d).
GDS: Govt. has not considered the
GDS as Civil Servants. However, the latest recommendation received from the
Postal Department in the matter is said to be under the consideration of the
Govt.
e).
The National Anomaly committee will meet
again shortly and the resolution on agreed items would be expedited.
2. FDI
and Privatization of Railways and Defense factories and Corporatization of
Postal.
The
Staff Side was advised to take up the issue at a higher level as the issues
raised were said to be policy matters.
3. No
ban on recruitment.
The
official Side clarified that the Govt. has not instituted any ban on
recruitment. There is only ban on creation of posts. However, for
operational posts, exemption has been provided in compelling situation.
The
official side will look into the letter received from the Railway and Defence
Ministers. The scrapping of the Act was said to be not within the scope of
discussion. The Joint Secretary Financial Services explained the various
provisions of the Act and as to how the contributory pension scheme would be
beneficial to the subscribers. The Staff Side requested the Government to make
it optional that anybody who feels that the new scheme would be beneficial
would opt for it and others will have the opportunity to opt out and adopt the
old defined benefit scheme scheme of Pension.
5.
Closure of Medical Stores Depots and Printing and Stationery Departments
It was
categorically cleared by the Govt that there had been no decision to close down
the Printing Presses and Stationery Department. In view of the new situation in
which all Departments are permitted to purchase the requisite stationery items
from the market, the Urban Development Ministry has suggested certain modernization
and restructuring the of Stationery Department. The Govt. was prepared to
discuss the details thereof and arrive at an amicable settlement, acceptable to
the Staff Side. The official side expressed willingness to discuss the matter
with the staff Side of the concerned Department along with the 3 (three)
members of the standing Committee. In respect of Medical store depots also, the
official side clarified that the department would not be closed down and no
employee will be retrenched. They also wanted the staff side to meet and
discuss the issue with them to clear the doubts and suspicion in the matter.
6.
Active Functioning of JCM
The
Government will convene the meeting of the National Council soon. the convening
of the Departmental Councils would be taken up with the concerned Departmental
heads. The delay in the grant of recognition may be brought to the notice of
the Department of Personnel for corrective action at their end
7.
Compassionate Appointment
Government
will consider lifting of the ceiling of 5% but no assurance was held out. The
other issues in the charter will be subjected to discussion later on.
With
Greetings
Yours
fraternally
Shiv
Gopal Mishra
Convenor
