Grant of notional increment to the Central Government employees retiring from service on 30th June /31st December. Circular No.02/2024 issued by the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General announces the grant of notional increment to Central Government employees retiring on 30th June/31st December 2023 onwards.
FOR EXCLUSIVE USE IN IA&AD ONLY
Circular No.02 StaffWing/ 2024
No. 24/Staff(Entt-I) 83-2021
OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER &
AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA
DEEN DAYAL UPADHYAYA MARG,
NEW DELHI – 110 124
DATE 18 JAN 2024
To
1. All the Heads of Offices in IA & AD
2. DG (Commercial)
3. PD (P)
4. Director (P)
Sub: Grant of notional increment to the Central Government employees retiring from service on 30¢* June /31st December.
Sir/Madam,
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has ordered/allowed the grant of one annual increment to the petitioners retiring on 30th June/31st December, which they earned on the last day of their service for rendering one year qualifying service preceding one year to the date of retirement.
2. It has been decided to extend the benefit of one annual increment with monetary benefit to all the employees retiring from service on 30th June /31st December, on completion of one year qualifying service, for pension and pensionary benefits, irrespective of whether they are party/applicant to a court case or not with respect to the said matter provided such affected officials are otherwise eligible for the same.
However, the said benefit shall be granted only to those officials who have retired or who will be retiring from service after the date of orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 11.04.23 i.e to the officials retired or retiring on and from 30th June 2023 onwards.
3. Compliance of the above may please be ensured.
Yours faithfully,
Asst. Comptroller & Auditor General (N)
Source: RSCWS
[https://www.rscws.com/pdfdocs/Grant%20of%20notional%20increment%20to%20the%20Central%20Government%20employees.pdf]
COMMENTS
2. It has been decided to extend the benefit of one annual increment with monetary benefit to all the employees retiring from service on 30th June /31st December, on completion of one year qualifying service, for pension and pensionary benefits, irrespective of whether they are party/applicant to a court case or not with respect to the said matter provided such affected officials are otherwise eligible for the same.
However, the said benefit shall be granted only to those officials who have retired or who will be retiring from service after the date of orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 11.04.23 i.e to the officials retired or retiring on and from 30th June 2023 onwards.
The above decision of the Comptroller and Auditor General has left no space for any doubt with regard to implementation of the Judgment of the Honourable Supreme Court. It has made three points clear: 1. Benefit of the judgment will be given to the employees who will be retiring after the pronouncement of the judgment i.e. on or after 30th June 2023. (Prospectively)
2. The benefit of the judgment will be given to all retirees whether they were party to the petitions or not.
3. Since the implementation of the judgment is prospective, question of arrears will not arise.
Though the letter is meant for the employees of the Comptroller and Auditor General only, it may be applicable to the employees of the Central Government and State Governments also.
in my opinion the Central Government has to consider the impact of the C & AG’S letter and issue appropriate clarifications, because certain High Courts have issued directions for payments of arrears, may be with the understanding that the judgment of the Honourable Supreme Court has to be implemented retrospectively.
With deep anguish & dejection it is stated that orders issued by the C & AG of India relating to the issue of grant of notional increment to 30th June retirees are not in complete consonance with the Supreme Court orders dated 11.4.2023 & subsequent orders dated 19 May 2023. Justice given to those only who were the party in the said cases & intervenors only. Where as the persons similarly placed have not been given any justice despite of the clear orders of courts that benefit may also be extended to similarly placed pensioners.