7% Dearness Allowance increased to Kerala Government Employees

Indian Government News: Dearness Allowance for Kerala Government Employees – 7% of DA/DR hiked


As per the media information, the State Government of Kerala has increased seven percent of Dearness allowance for its employees from July 2014. This benefit will also applicable for state pensioners and the total DA/DR is now increased to 80%.

The Finance Minister K.M.Mani said, the new Dearness allowance would have retrospective effect from July 2014 and also said that with the increase, the employees and pensioners in the state would get the same benefit as that of the Central Government employees and Pensioners.

The increased DA would be disbursed from March 2015. However, the arrears of employees from July 2014 to March 2015 would be merged with the Provident Fund.

Read More

Dearness Allowances: Issue taken as agenda by DPPW in the SCOVA meeting

Indian Government News: Dearness Allowances: Issue taken as agenda by DPPW in the SCOVA meeting 

Simultaneous issue of orders for the release of Dearness Allowances: Issue taken as agenda by DPPW in the SCOVA meeting

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions published an order yesterday regarding the four new agenda items will be discussed in the meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOCA) under the Chairmanship on 3.2.2015.

The four fresh agenda points are given below…

1. Simultaneous issue of orders for the release of Dearness Allowances:

Based on the rise in Consumer Price Index, Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief are granted to serving employees and pensioners respectively with effect from 1st January and 1st July each year. The orders sanctioning DA are issued by the Finance Ministry and the orders sanctioning DR are issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions after the same. While serving employees get the increase in cash after a couple of days from the date of issue of Office Memorandum, the pensioners get it after some days since the issue of O.M, for DR needs to be further approved by Department of Expenditure and CAG. As the payment of DA and DR is being made from the Consolidated Fund of India, the issuance of separate orders for the grant of DA and DR could be unnecessary.

2. Co-authorisation of Family Pension of permanently disabled children/dependent parents and permanently disabled siblings

As a policy initiative of DoPPW, the CPAO vide its O.M no. CPAO/Tech/Simplification/2013-14/252 dated 06.02.2014 allowed co-authorisation
of family pension of permanently disabled’ children/dependent parents and permanently disabled siblings. A similar benefit may be considered by Department of Defence and Ministry of Railways to its pensioners.

3. Non-adherence of extant rules with regard to submission of life certificate

Despite clear instructions from the Ministry of Finance,vide CPAO/Tech/Grievances/2010-11/531 dated 30.06.2011, it has been reported that some’ banks branches are insisting on personal appearance of pensioners for submission of life certificates along with PPOs. The extant rules now exempt personal appearance and the prescribed form is to be signed by any of the persons specified therein.The pensioners thus got put to untoward hardship in addition to stress and strain which could have been avoided. As such, Department of Financial Services is requested to take necessary steps to get the instructions complied with strictly without fail.

4. Provision of CGHS facility for life time to dependent disabled/mentally retarded children of Central Government Employees/Pensioners

a) In the “Definition of Family” under CGH_S,furnished in Ministry of Health & FW O.M. No. 3T-1/2009-C&P/CGHS (P) dated 23-2-2011, daughter as indicated at 51 No.5(ii) can avail the benefits till she starts earning or gets married irrespective of the age-limit, where as son indicated at 51. No. 5(iii) of the list, suffering from any permanent Physical/Mental disability is entitled to avail the facility “irrespective of age- limit”, and son’s marital status may not result in denial of CGHS facility to him ,in as much as there is no mention of marital status in the definition, unlike the definition at 51.5 (i) On the other hand, daughter suffering from any permanent disability (physical disability or mental retardation) loses the facility if she gets married as per the definition at 51. (5)(ii). Hence, the case of a physically disabled/mentally retarded daughter needs to be considered for extension of CGHS facility “irrespective of age-limit, even after her marriage” .

b) Further under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, by an amendment to explanations 1 and 3 after Sub-rule 6 of Rule 54, as communicated vide Department of Pension & PW’O.M. No. 1/33/2012-P&PW(E) dated 16-1-2013, mentally /physically disabled children have been allowed to continue to draw family pension even after their marriage thereby removing the condition of marital status for continued drawal of family pension.

c) Thus on the analogy of pension rules, mentally/physically disabled children (both son and daughter) of Central Government Employees/Pensioners may be allowed to continue to avail CGHS facilities even after their marriage by removing the condition of marital status now existing in respect of daughters only. The “definition of family” under CGHS would need to modified suitably.

Read More

CCS (Conduct) Rules – Filing of annual Immovable Property Returns – Dopt Orders 2015

Indian Government News: CCS (Conduct) Rules – Filing of annual Immovable Property Returns – Dopt Orders 2015

IMMEDIATE

F. No. 11013/3/2014-Estt.(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment Division

North Block, New Delhi — 110001
Dated January 16 , 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 — Filing of annual Immovable Property Returns – regarding

The undersigned is directed to state that as per various notifications issued by this Department, relating to the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Returns of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, the public servant who has filed declaration, information and annual returns of property under the provision of the rules applicable to such public servant, should file the declaration, information and return indicating his/her assets and liabilities, as on 01.08.2014, to the competent authority on or before, 30.04.2015. The notifications are available on the Department’s website at http://persmin.gov.in/Lokpal HomePage From CCIS.asp.

2. The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, are being amended to align them with the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. Presently, as per the Rule 18(1)(ii) of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, every Government servant belonging to any service or holding any post included in Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ is required to submit an annual return regarding the immovable property inherited/owned/ acquired/ held on lease or mortgage either in his own name or in the name of any family member or in the name of any other person.

3. It has, inter-alia, been clarified by this Department vide Office Memorandum No. 407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) dated 13.01.2015 that the requirement of filing returns regarding assets and liabilities under the Lokpal Act is in addition to, and not in supersession of the requirement of filing similar returns under the existing Conduct Rules. In view of this, all Government Servants may be directed as follows:

(i) The annual Immovable Property Return, as on 31.12.2014, under the existing CCS(Conduct) Rules, 1964 is required to be filed on or before 31.01.2015;
(ii) The first return under the Lokpal Act (as on 01.08.2014) should be filed on or before 30.04.2015; and
(iii) The next annual return under the Lokpal Act, for the year ending 31.03.2015 should be filed on or before 31.07.2015.

4. It is, therefore, requested that all concerned may be suitably advised to file the Immovable Property Returns (IPRs) and the return under the Lokpal Act as per the dates indicated above, Further, in accordance with the instruction contained in this Department’s Office Memorandum No. 11013/3/2011-Estt.A dated 11.04.2011, IPRs (to be submitted by 31 st January of each year) shall be placed in public domain by 31 st March of that year. A compliance report in respect of the IPRs filed by Group ‘A’ Officers of the Central Civil Services, as on 31.01.2015, may please be furnished to this Department by 30.04.2015.

5. Similar action may kindly be taken by the authorities controlling services not covered by the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

6. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-
(J.A. Vaidyanathan)
Director (Establishment)
Telefax: 2309 3179

Source: www.persmin.gov.in

Read More

7th Pay Commission’s visit to Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Indian Government News: 7th Pay Commission’s visit to Andaman & Nicobar Islands

As per information available in the official website of 7thcpc.india.gov.in, the commission is proposed to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 4th to 7th February, 2015.

The Commission, headed by its Chairman, Justice Shri A. K. Mathur, proposes to visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 4th to 7th February, 2015.

The Commission would like to invite various entities/associations/federations representing any/all categories of employees covered by the terms of reference of the Commission to present their views.

Your request for a meeting with the Commission may be sent through e-mail to the Secretary, 7th Central Pay Commission at secy-7cpc@nic.in. The memorandum already submitted by the requesting entity may also be sent as an attachment with this e-mail.

The last date for receiving request for meeting is 31st January 2015 (1700 hours).

Read More

DR Orders for CG Pensioners – Issue taken as agenda by DPPW

Indian Government News: DR Orders for CG Pensioners – Issue taken as agenda by DPPW

Simultaneous issue of orders for the release of Dearness Allowances: Issue taken as agenda by DPPW in the SCOVA meeting

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions published an order yesterday regarding the four new agenda items will be discussed in the meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOCA) under the Chairmanship on 3.2.2015.
The four fresh agenda points are given below…

1. Simultaneous issue of orders for the release of Dearness Allowances:

Based on the rise in Consumer Price Index, Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief are granted to serving employees and pensioners respectively with effect from 1st January and 1st July each year. The orders sanctioning DA are issued by the Finance Ministry and the orders sanctioning DR are issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions after the same. While serving employees get the increase in cash after a couple of days from the date of issue of Office Memorandum, the pensioners get it after some days since the issue of O.M, for DR needs to be further approved by Department of Expenditure and CAG. As the payment of DA and DR is being made from the Consolidated Fund of India, the issuance of separate orders for the grant of DA and DR could be unnecessary.

2. Co-authorisation of Family Pension of permanently disabled children/dependent parents and permanently disabled siblings

As a policy initiative of DoPPW, the CPAO vide its O.M no. CPAO/Tech/Simplification/2013-14/252 dated 06.02.2014 allowed co-authorisation
of family pension of permanently disabled’ children/dependent parents and permanently disabled siblings. A similar benefit may be considered by Department of Defence and Ministry of Railways to its pensioners.

3. Non-adherence of extant rules with regard to submission of life certificate

Despite clear instructions from the Ministry of Finance,vide CPAO/Tech/Grievances/2010-11/531 dated 30.06.2011, it has been reported that some’ banks branches are insisting on personal appearance of pensioners for submission of life certificates along with PPOs. The extant rules now exempt personal appearance and the prescribed form is to be signed by any of the persons specified therein.The pensioners thus got put to untoward hardship in addition to stress and strain which could have been avoided. As such, Department of Financial Services is requested to take necessary steps to get the instructions complied with strictly without fail.

4. Provision of CGHS facility for life time to dependent disabled/mentally retarded children of Central Government Employees/Pensioners

a) In the “Definition of Family” under CGH_S,furnished in Ministry of Health & FW O.M. No. 3T-1/2009-C&P/CGHS (P) dated 23-2-2011, daughter as indicated at 51 No.5(ii) can avail the benefits till she starts earning or gets married irrespective of the age-limit, where as son indicated at 51. No. 5(iii) of the list, suffering from any permanent Physical/Mental disability is entitled to avail the facility “irrespective of age- limit”, and son’s marital status may not result in denial of CGHS facility to him ,in as much as there is no mention of marital status in the definition, unlike the definition at

51.5 (i) On the other hand, daughter suffering from any permanent disability (physical disability or mental retardation) loses the facility if she gets married as per the definition at 51. (5)(ii). Hence, the case of a physically disabled/mentally retarded daughter needs to be considered for extension of CGHS facility “irrespective of age-limit, even after her marriage” .

b) Further under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, by an amendment to explanations 1 and 3 after Sub-rule 6 of Rule 54, as communicated vide Department of Pension & PW’O.M. No. 1/33/2012-P&PW(E) dated 16-1-2013, mentally /physically disabled children have been allowed to continue to draw family pension even after their marriage thereby removing the condition of marital status for continued drawal of family pension.

c) Thus on the analogy of pension rules, mentally/physically disabled children (both son and daughter) of Central Government Employees/Pensioners may be allowed to continue to avail CGHS facilities even after their marriage by removing the condition of marital status now existing in respect of daughters only.

The “definition of family” under CGHS would need to modified suitably.

Read More

Government proposes raising retirement age of scientists from 60 to 65

Indian Government News: Government proposes raising retirement age of scientists from 60 to 65

The government has proposed raising the retirement age of scientists working in all ministries, departments and autonomous institutions from 60 to 65 years.

In a draft cabinet note that has been circulated to all ministries, the science and technology ministry has argued that such a move will help attract scientific manpower and that all institutions would be able to harness the expertise of scientists for a longer duration.

“Most of the scientists at 60 would be leading productive research groups and are involved in mentoring students and young scientists. It is therefore necessary to make use of the productive age of the scientists beyond 60 years so that the effective scientific strength and correspondingly the scientific wealth of the country get enhanced,” the draft note said.

Read more at: Hindustan Times

Read More