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7th CPC NAC: Justification to include Minimum Pay, Increment Anomaly, Index Rationalization, Minimum Pension, Date of Effect of Allowances by JCM

7th CPC NAC: Justification to include Minimum Pay, Increment Anomaly, Index Rationalization, Minimum Pension, Date of Effect of Allowances by JCM

Shiva Gopal Mishra

Secretary
National Council (Staff Side)

Joint Consultative Machinery

for Central Government Employees

13C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
No.NC-JCM-2017/7th CPC Anomaly

December 14, 2017

The Dy. Secretary-JCA,
Department of Personnel & Training,
North Block,
New Delhi.

Sub:- Items proposed by the Staff-Side NC(JCM) for discussion in the National Anomaly Committee – Comments of DOPT regarding


Ref:- Your letter No.11/2/216-JCA-I(pt) dated 30/10/2017

Dear Sir,

Kindly refer to your cited letter.

We are sending our comments on each of the items on which the official side has conveyed objection.

However, we request you to convene a meeting so that the Staff Side can meet, discuss and finalize the items. The containing correspondence in this matter will only delay convening the NAC meeting.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary


7th CPC Minimum Pay, Increment Anomaly, Index Rationalization, Minimum Pension, Date of Effect of Allowances will not discussed in National Anomaly Committee: DoPT


Sno
Description of Anomaly Official Comments Reply by Staff Side

1
Anomaly in computation of Minimum Wage (Item No 1) As against the Minimum Wage decided to be Rs. 18000/- by the Govt.
w.e.f. 01.01.2016, the Staff-Side has said that this should be not less
than Rs. 26,000/-and the multiplication factor ought to have been 3.714
and not 2.57. 
They have further asked for the pay matrix to be changed. Objecting to
the methodology adopted by the 7th CPC in computing the Minimum Wage,
they have given a number of reasons like the retail prices of the
commodities quoted by the Labour Bureau being irrational, adoption of
the 12 monthly average of the retail price being contents to the Dr.
Avkrovd f ormula, the website of the Agriculture Ministry giving the
retail prices of commodities forming the basis of computation of minimum
wage provides a different picture, so on and so forth.

However, when one compares this item with the three situations given in
DoPT’s OM. No. 11/2/2016-jCA dated 16th August, 2016 and 20th February,
2017, it does not appear that this satisfies any of them to be treated
as an anomaly

The 7th CPC categorically stated that the principle adopted for minimum
wage determination is Dr. Aykhoyd formula. But deviated from the same
while actual computation was made. It becomes an anomaly under clause
1(a) of the definition (see OM dated 16.08.2016)

2
3% Increment in all stages (Item No 2) The Staff-Side argues that in spite of the foreword to the Report making
it clear in para 1.19 that the prevailing rate of increment is
considered quite satisfactory and has been retained, an illustrative
list appended by them shows instances where the pay, gone up after the
addition of annual increment by 3%, falls short of what it would have
been. They have quoted para-5.1.38 of the report also which states that
the rate of annual increment would be 3%.

While what the Staff-Side has stated has its own merits, the fact of the
matter is that the principle followed here is whenever a stage of pay,
after addition of an increment, falls short of the nearest hundred by
less than 50, the employee would be entitled to get the amount mentioned
in the immediately next cell in the Pay-Matrix. However, when the gap is
that of more than 50, the pay, on addition of an increment, is rounded
off to the nearest hundred which travels backward.

For instance, if staying at Rs.46,100/- one gets an increment @ 3%,
instead of having his/her pay fixed at Rs. 47,483/- (which is the exact
figure), it will be Rs. 47,500/- (thus gaining by Rs. 13/-). Thus it is
not a case of permanent loss as the loss in one year is made good in the
second/third year. Considering this to he a situation of swings and
roundabouts, this may not be treated as a case of anomaly.

At the stage of admission of the items for anomaly, it is not desirable
to go into the merit of the case. That will have to be the subject
matter of discussion at the meeting. The anomaly on this item has arisen
due to the non-adherence of the principle enunciated by the 7th CPC
while actuals are computed. The item becomes an anomaly under clause (a)
of the definition (see OM.No. dated 16.08.2011)

3
Remove Anomaly due to index rationalization (Item No vi) The Staff-Side has taken exception to the index rationalization followed
by the 7th CPC while formulating its views as per which the fitment
factor varies and moves upward as one goes up the hierarchical ladder
with the level of responsibility and accountability also steadily
climbing up commensurately. The Staff-Side argues that the
multiplication factor should be one, i.e. 2.81.

Although the Staff-Side has remonstrated that the vertical relativity
will suffer distortion in the process, it has to be stated that it is a
policy decision about by the Staff-Side comes to be distorted when the
pay of a feeder-cadre post and that of a promotional post becomes same.
In this case it is not so. Hence it does not appear to qualify for being
called an anomaly.

The vertical relativity between grades that was in existence has been
distributed by assigning different multiplication factor for different
levels by the commission. The so- called policy decision of the
Government has only compounded the anomaly. As stated against item no.
(ii) The merit or demerit of the issue is a matter for discussion at the
meeting and cannot be employed to decide admissibility or otherwise of
an item. The item is an anomaly under clause KO of the definition

4
Minimum Pension (Item No x) The Staff-Side says the minimum pension fixed after 7th CPC should be
corrected and revised orders issued. From the brief explanatory note
recorded under this point, it appears that the CPC had sounded out D/o
pension on what the latter thought what the minimum pension should be.

This is an exclusively pension-related issue on which, as informed by
the Staff-Side, D/o Pension was asked for their views by the 7t1 CPC.
Moreover, as will be evident, the basic focus of DoPT’s Q.M. No.
11/2/2016-JCA dated 16th August, 2016 and 20th February, 2017 is on
taking on board those anomalies which are pay-related. Hence, this item
may be taken up separately by the Staff-Side with the D/o Pension. Thus,
instead of treating this as a case of anomaly, the Staff-Side is
requested to take it up with the D/o Pension separately

Pension related items are not to be excluded from the preview of the
anomaly committee. No such specific decision has ever been taken. May be
main focus is decided to be on pay related matters. That can be the view
of the Govt. The item is clearly within the ambit of definition of
anomaly clause I (a) where it is stated that the policy enunciated is
deviated without the commission assigning any reason. No reason is
adduced by the 7th CPC to fix minimum pension at 50% minimum wage. This
is clearly an anomaly and requires to be admitted as such and discussed
at the meeting.

5
Date of effect of allowances HRA, Transport Allowance, CEA etc.  (Item
No xi)
The Staff-Side has demanded that the grant of the allowances (revised)
mentioned alongside should be made effective from 01.01.2016 and not
from 01.07.2017.

This is a demand and cannot be treated as an anomaly. Moreover, the date
from which a benefit is to be made effective is something which can be
decided only by the Government. Hence, this may not be taken up at the
NAC.

The Govt. has the prerogative to decide upon on any issue. We have not
questioned that  authority at all. it is the rationale behind the
decision that is questioned. While the 7th CPC has gone on record to
state that its recommendations are with effect from 1.1.2016 the
decision to give effect to revision of allowances from another date is a
deviation and contravenes the principle enunciated. The Govt may have
sufficient reason to do so but that can be explained at the meeting. The
item is
therefore an anomaly under clause 1(a) of the definition. In this
connection we may also state that similar decision on earlier occasions
were subjected to discussion and having reached disagreement were
referred to the Board of Arbitration. The Government lost its case
before the Board

6
Anomaly in the grant of D.A instalment w.e.f 01.01.2016. (Item No xviii) Here the Staff-Side has questioned the methodology adopted by the
Government in computing the DA instalment w.e.f. 01.01.2016.

It has, however, to be pointed out that even if there is merit in the
contention of the Staff-Side involving this item, it does not qualify
being called an anomaly when it is examined in the light of the three
situations which, as per DoPT’s Q.M. No. 11/2/2016-JCA dated 16th
August, 2016 and 20th February, 2017, would constitute anomalies.

When the Govt. takes decision to deviate from the recommendation of Pay
Commission whereby either all or a section of employees are to incur
financial loss, it amounts to deviating from the policy or principle
enunciated by the commission. In the instant case in the face of
recommendation to continue with the existing scheme of DA, the Govt. has
taken decision to reduce DA entitlement. Apart from long term impact it
also unsettles the principle. The item is covered within the ambit of
clause 1(a) of the definition (OM No. Dated 16.08.2016). item has to be
admitted

7
Implement  the recommendation on Parity in Pay Scale between Sr. 
Auditor/Sr. Accountant of IA&AD and organized Accounts with Assistant
Section Officer of CSS. (item No.xii )
The Staff-Side says that although the 5th, 6th and now 7th CPC’s have
recommended that the pay-scales of different cadres/categories/grades
requiring the same recruitment qualifications should be the same, denial
of the same benefit to the Statistical Assistants (SA’s) who are
otherwise at par with Assistant Section Officers (erstwhile ‘Assistant’)
is a violation of the principle. While ASO’s are placed in the
Pay-Matrix of 7, SA’s are in the Pay-Matrix of 6. This arrangement is
stated to have disturbed the horizontal relativity between the
pay-scales of the SA’s in the Organized Accounts and IA&AD Cadre and
ASO’s in the CSS cadre. In conclusion, it has been requested that SA’s
should also be placed in Pay-Matrix no. 7.
Even if, the present case comes across as one of anomaly, it appears
that the interests of the Statistical Assistants only are involved.
ASO’s of CCS are coming into the question; but only as a reference
point, by way of comparison. Hence the Staff-Side is requested to take
up this issue at the Departmental Anomaly Committee concerned.
Where an item is related to more than one department, the said item
shall qualify for admission at the NAC. The item is covered by clause
i(c) of the definition

8
Technical Supervisors  of Railways (item No.xv) This particular item is exclusively Railways-specific. The Staff-Side,
NC OCM) is requested to take it up at the Departmental Anomaly Committee
of MR) Railways
We shall take up the above issue in Railway DAC

9
Anomaly  in  the assignment  of replacement of Levels of pay in the
Ministry of Defence, Railways, Mines etc in the case of Store Keeper 
(item No. Xvi)
Staff-Side says that although ‘Store keeper’ is one such category of
posts which is common to various Departments like Defence, Mines,
Railways etc and in spite of the nature of job, responsibilities being
similar, the pay-scale of storekeepers across all the Departments is not
the same. It is still less in the M/o Defence even after the entry-level
qualifications which were different before the 7th CPC stage, have been
revised.
If what the Staff-Side remonstrates that even after the requisite
changes had been carried out in the R/Rules, the 7th CPC did not take
any cognizance of it is true, it has to be assumed that it is a policy
decision of the Government. Moreover, the issue appears to be M/o
Defence-specific. The Staff-Side is requested to take it up at the
Departmental Anomaly Committee meeting of the M/o Defence.
Where an item is related to more than one department, the said item
shall qualify for admission at the NAC. The item is covered by clause
i(c) of the definition

10
Anomaly arising from the decision to reject option-1 in pension
fixation  (item
No. Vii)
As per the ToR of the NAC, anomalies are basically pay-centric. Under
this point, the contention of the Staff-Side is pension-centric.
Furthermore, the Staff-Side has themselves clarified that post-7th CPC,
Government had set up a CoS headed by Secretary(Pension) to look into
the first option recommended by the 7th CPC. Eventually, this was not
found feasible to be implemented. With such a decision having been taken
at the CoS level, it cannot be called an anomaly. In view of this, we
may inform the Staff-Side to separately take it up with D/0 Pension
without treating it as an anomaly that can be taken up at the NAC.
It the Govt deviates from the recommendation of the Pay Commission it
give rise so anomaly as the Pay Commission recommendations are in
consonance with the policy it had enunciated. In the instant case Govt.
setup a committee to go into the feasibility of
implementation of the recommendation. Feasibility of implementation
cannot be the basis for rejecting a recommendation. The very feasibility
question itself will have to discussed at the meeting. The issue is well
within the ambit of definition of clause i (a) OM Dated 16.8.2016, where
the principle enunciated is disturbed by the Government.

11
Parity in Pay Scales between Assistants/Stenographers in field /
subordinate officers and assistant Section Officer and stenographers in
CSS.  (item No. Xiii)
Although the heading of this item is self-explanatory, the relevant text
given in the paper sent is not complete as the pay-scales of Assistants
and stenos posted in field have not been mentioned therein. Until their
pay-scales are known they cannot be compared to check whether there is
indeed any anomaly. The Staff-Side is requested to provide more
information that is relevant so that it can be properly examined to find
out whether an anomaly arises here or not.
We shall send further details.


items-proposed-by-staff-side-for-discussion
Source: Confederation

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