PROMOTION ORDERS FOR 13 JUNIOR ENGINEERS ISSUED

Promotion orders for 13 Junior Engineers have been issued on 20-03-2015.

TRANSFER ORDERS FOR AD-II/SDE ISSUED

PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE LTC TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO VISIT SAARC COUNTRIES IS UNDER CONSIDERATION

A proposal to provide Leave Travel Concession (LTC) to Government employees to visit some SAARC countries is in its initial stage of consideration. The details are yet to be finalized.

The purpose behind the proposal is to enhance people-to-people contact and bilateral ties in the SAARC region through increase in tourism in the region.

 As per the Government’s order dated 26.09.2014, the Government has extended the facility of conversion of home town LTC to visit the states in the North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands for a period of two years up to 25.09.2016. This facility was first introduced in the year 2008.

Presently, no other proposal is under consideration for including more places under the conversion of Home Town LTC to anywhere in the country.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri M. Raja Mohan Reddy in the Lok Sabha on 13-03-2015.

NO PROPOSAL UNDER CONSIDERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO CURTAIL THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

As per the existing policy, the Central Government Administrative Offices observe up to 17 holidays in a year on specified occasions which consist of 3 National Holidays (on 26th January, 15th August and 2nd October) and 14 other holidays to celebrate festivals of different regions/religion in a diverse country like India.

At present there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to curtail the public holidays for government employees.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri S. Thangavelu in the Rajya Sabha on 13-03-2015.

MACPS ON PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY:

TRANSFER PETITIONS OF SHRI NARAYAN KALITA (373/2015) & SANJAY KUMAR (377/2015) ACCEPTED BY THE HON SUPREME COURT.

The Transfer Petitions of Shri Narayan Kalita (CPWD) & Ors from Guwahati High Court and Sanjay Kumar (Defence) from Delhi High Court regarding grant of MACPS on promotional hierarchy  filed with support of CPWD ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION has been accepted by Supreme Court on 13/03/2015. According to the Association's web site posting, short Notices in this respect have been served to Union of India. These petitions may be clubbed with the four SLPs on MACPS on promotional hierarchy, already under consideration of the Supreme Court.

      

May God gift you all the colors of life, colors of joy, colors of happiness, colors of friendship, colors of prosperity, colors of love and all other colors you want to paint in your life.

INCOME TAX STRUCTURE 2015-16 – NO CHANGE IN INCOME TAX EXEMPTION LIMIT

No change in Income Tax Exemption Limit – 
More Income Tax exemption for health insurance and Transport Allowance

We provide here the Income Tax Structure for the financial year 2015-16 (Assessment Year 2016-17) as per Budget presented by the Finance Minister on 28-02-2015-

1. No change in Slab rate for Individuals.

 2. Transport allowance exemption increased from Rs.800 to Rs.1600.

 3. Medical Insurance exemption increased from Rs.15000 to Rs.25000

 4. Extra Cess of 2% for ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’.

 5. Corporate Slab rate changed from 30% to 25% for forthcoming 4 years.

 6. Abolishment of Wealth tax.

 7. 2% surcharge for Super rich individuals (having annual income more than Rs. 1 Crore).

 8. Sukanya Smridhi Scheme eligible for Section 80C and interest would be tax free.

 9. PAN card mandatory for transaction above Rs. 100000.

(i) The rates of income-tax in the case of every individual (other than those mentioned in (ii) and (iii) below)

Upto Rs. 2, 50,000	Nil.
Rs. 2,50,001 to Rs. 5,00,000	10 per cent.
Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs. 10,00,000	20 per cent.
Above Rs. 10,00,000	30 per cent.

(ii)  In the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the previous year,-

Upto Rs. 3,00,000	Nil.
Rs.3,00,001 to Rs. 5,00,000	10 per cent.
Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs.10,00,000	20 per cent.
Above Rs. 10,00,000	30 per cent.

(iii) in the case of every individual, being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or more at anytime during the previous year,-

Upto Rs. 5,00,000	Nil.
Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs. 10,00,000	20 per cent.
Above Rs. 10,00,000	30 per cent.

Other Budget 2014 highlights relating to Income tax 2014-15

• ·         Personal tax exemption limit raised to Rs 2.5 lakh from current Rs 2 lakh for taxpayers below 60 years
• ·         Senior citizens’ tax exemption limit hiked from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh
• ·         No change in surcharge for corporates, individuals
• ·         Education Cess to stay at current 3%
• ·         Investment limit under Section 80C hiked to Rs 1.5 lakh from current Rs 1 lakh.
•        Exemption on housing loans interest on self-occupied property increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh

EMAIL POLICY OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ISSUED

Only the e-mail services provided by NIC, the Implementing Agency of the Government of India shall be used for official communications by all organizations except those exempted under clause no 14 of this policy. The e-mail services provided by other service providers shall not be used for any official communication.

This policy is applicable to all employees of GoI and employees of those State/UT Governments that use the e-mail services of GoI and also those State/UT Governments that choose to adopt this policy in future. The directives contained in this policy must be followed by all of them with no exceptions. All users of e-mail services can find further information in the supporting policies available on http://www.deity.gov.in/content/policiesguidelines under the caption “E-mail Policy”.

E-mail can be used as part of the electronic file processing in Government of India. Further information in this regard is available at:
http://darpg.gov.in/darpgwebsite_cms/ Document/file/CSMeOP_1st_Edition.pdf.

For downloading the Gazette Notification CLICK HERE.

CIRCULAR OF STAFF SIDE NATIONAL COUNCIL (JCM)

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

Dear Comrade

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.

On Oral Evidence:

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.

Inclusion of GDS

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.

4. Scrap PFRDA Act.

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