Minutes of the 49th Meeting of the National Council (JCM) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary issued by DoP&T

Minutes of the 49th Meeting of the National Council (JCM) held on 11.05.2026 under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary issued by DoP&T Order dated 03.06.2026

Minutes

No.3/1/2025- JCA
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training –
Pers. Policy (JCA) Section

2nd Floor, ‘B’ Wing, Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi
Dated the 3rd June, 2026

To

1. Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary, Staff-Side
National Council, JCM
13-C, Ferozshah Road,
New Dethi-110001

2. All Staff Side Members of National Council (JCM) (as per list attached).

Subject: Minutes of the 49th Meeting of the National Council (JCM) held on 11.05.2026 under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary.

Sir,

I am directed to send herewith a copy of the Minutes of the 49th Meeting of the National Council (JCM) held on 11.05.2026 at 3.00 P.M at the Conference Hall, Cabinet Secretariat, Sewa Teerth, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary for information.

Encl.: As above

(i) General Secretary, AIRF, 4 State Entry Road, New Delhi.
(ii) General Secretary, NFIR, 3 Chelmsford Road, New Delhi

Yours faithfully,

(Amit Pankaj)
Director (JCA)
Tel.No. 24693180

MINUTES OF THE 49th MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (NC) OF THE JOINT CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY (JCM) HELD ON 11.05.2026

The 49th meeting of the National Council (JCM) was held on 11! May, 2026 at 3:00 pm at Cabinet Secretariat, Seva Teerth, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Dr. T.V. Somanathan, Cabinet Secretary. List of participants is Annexed.

2. Secretary, DoPT at the outset, welcomed the Cabinet Secretary who is also Chairman of the National Council (JCM). She also welcomed Leader (Staff Side), Secretary (Staff Side) and other Members of the Staff Side of the NC (JCM) along with representatives of Ministries and Departments on the Diamond Jubilee year of the JCM Scheme. In her opening remarks, Secretary, DoPT stated that the foundation of the scheme of JCM is based on cooperation and harmonious relations between the two sides, and that the dialogue between the two sides should be a continuous and ongoing process. She further stated that since its inception in 1966, the JCM Scheme has played a vital role in institutionalising discussions between the government and its employees. [tis this spirit of constructive consultation that not only fosters mutual trust but also contributes to administrative efficiency. She stated that as a result of continuous deliberations, many issues have been resolved including the decision to constitute the 8th Central Pay Commission, the extension of CGHS facilities etc, which reflect the impact of sustained engagement. She also mentioned that several pending issues are under active consideration in consultation with concerned stakeholders.

3. This was followed by opening remarks by Dr. M. Raghavaiah, Leader, Staff Side and Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra, Secretary, Staff Side.

3.1. Dr. M. Raghavaiah, Leader of Staff Side extended his warm welcome to the Chairman, NC (JCM) and other senior officers, present in the meeting and thanked the Chairman for holding the 49′” meeting of the NC (JCM). Thereafter, Leader, Staff Side made the following points: –

(i) Emphasized the importance of the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) as a platform for resolving service matters through regular meetings.

(ii) Urged for the regular holding of Departmental Council meetings as per the provisions of JCM scheme.

(iii)  Demanded resolution of the pending issue regarding the exemption of TA component of Kilometer Allowance provided to Loco Pilots, Assistant Loco Pilots and Train Managers in the Ministry of Railways from income tax, similar to Travelling Allowance as this matter is pending since long despite the proposal sent by the Chairman, Railway Board.

(iv) Over 2800 deaths of employees have occurred in the COVID-19 Pandemic, but ex-gratia payment/compensation of Rs. 50 lakhs have not been given.

(v) Reconsideration of the proposal for option to switch over to the 7th CPC Pay Scale at least for a period of one year i.e. 25.07.2017.

(vi) Drew attention to the pending awards of the Board of Arbitration and recommended resolving these matters through mutual negotiations, specifically cited the Award in CA ref. No. 3/2001 and DoPT OM of November 2023 in the matter.

3.2 Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra, Secretary, Staff Side in his remarks, made the following points: –

(i) Shared a booklet prepared by Staff Side on 60th  year of the JCM Scheme.

(ti) Emphasized the need to hold regular meetings of Departmental Council and Office Councils regularly especially in Ministry of Defence.

(iii) Decision given by Courts in important cases should be treated as in rem and not in personam to avoid multiplicity of litigations.

(iv) Highlighted the issue of non-posting of husband and wife at the same station in case of employees working in AIIMS in different parts of the country.

(v) Requested settlement of pending awards of the Board of Arbitration through dialogue and negotiations.

(vi) Raised the issue of non-accepting nomination of Chargeman in the Ministry of Defence to the NC(JCM).

(vii) Highlighted that, non-functional up-gradation may be ignored for purpose of MACP.

(viii) Mentioned that privatisation in the Government of India should be stopped to protect the welfare of the employee and to preserve safety.

(ix) Highlighted that the Department of Defence Production has stopped compassionate appointments in case where there is an untimely demise of an employee causing untold sufferings to families.

(x) Emphasized the need to implement the decisions of the last NC in a timely manner.

(xi) Informed that, by September 2026, the deemed deputation period of the Defence Civilian Employees of Ordnance Factories will come to an end. Hence, as demanded by the Staff Side of Defence Ministry, Government may publish a notification for extending the deemed deputation of the employees in the 7 New DPSU’s till their retirement.

3.3 Shri C. Srikumar, Member, Staff Side, representative of the Defence Civilian Employees of MoD stated that it has been assured by the Ministry of Defence in the Madras High Court that all the service conditions of the Defence Civilian Employees of the Ordnance Factories will be protected till they remain on deemed deputation. Further, since all the employees have given advance option to remain in Central Government Service till their retirement from Ordnance Factories, Government may publish a notification for extending the deemed deputation of the employees till their retirement as central government employees. This will end the uncertainty. He further requested that the DoPT may issue a Clarification that the Employees Cooperative Societies and Associations under CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993 are outside the purview of Rule 15(i) of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 in light of the Bombay High Court judgement. Moreover, there is no limitation on the tenure in Co-operative Society Act and also in the CCS (RSA) Rules 1993. He also demanded that Ministry of Defence may issue instructions for payment of NDA in 7th CPC Basic Pay notionally calculated at Rs. 43,600/- at par with Railways. The matter is pending with Department of Expenditure. He further requested to consider revision in Rule 10 of CCS (RP) Rules, because for Dies-non, after promotion/MACP Pay fixation, etc the increment get postponed up to 18 months thereby leading to denial in the Annual Increment. Dies-non may not be a factor for postponement of Annual Increments. Alternatively, the 6 months period for the next increment, may be amended to 180 days to give some relief.

4. Cabinet Secretary and Chairman, NC (JCM) extended a warm welcome to the representatives of the Staff Side as well as the Official Side. He stated that the JCM is an old and established platform and in existence since 1966 for dialogue between the two sides and for resolution of all issues between the Government and the employees and congratulated all the participants on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee year of the JCM Scheme on completion of 60 years. The Chair acknowledged the active participation and meaningful contributions made by the Staff Side in raising issues of concern.

He mentioned that Government has to consider alt possible eventualities before taking any decision. Regarding implementation of Board of Arbitration awards, he stated that. the matter will be examined as per the extant guidelines. On pending matters of last National Council items, he assured that action taken will be reviewed by Secretary, DoPT in Standing Committee meeting.

He further stated that the feedback and inputs provided by the Staff Side are instrumental in identifying areas that require policy intervention and administrative improvements. He assured full cooperation in resolving issues, pertaining to the welfare of the employees in a just and fair manner which are also financially feasible.

5. Thereafter, the agenda points were taken up. The discussion & decisions taken is summed up in the following paragraphs: –

5.1 Item No. NC-49/9/26- Full reimbursement of Medical Treatment Expenditure incurred by Central Government Employees governed under CGHS and CS(MA) Rules (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)

5.2 Item No. NC-49/10/26- Option for Central Government Employees governed under CS(MA) Rules, 1944 to avail the medical facilities either for their Parents or Parents-in-law (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)

5.3 Item No. NC-49/16/26- Reimbursement of the cost of Implantation of Teeth and fixation of Dentures to serving and retired Central Government employees (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)

5.4 Item No.NC-49/15/26: Revision of Ward Entitlement (Ministry of Health Family Welfare)

5.5 Item No. NC-49/18/26: MACP entitlement of Pharmacist (M/o Health & FW & DoPT)

5.6 Item No. NC-49/12/26: Implementation of Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendations on grant of additional Pension & medical facilities to the Pensioners (M/o Health & FW & D/o Pension & PW)

5.7 Item No. NC-49/11/26: Family Pension to the physically disabled / crippled children- removal of the condition imposed under Rule 54 (iv) of CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) (D/o Pension & PW)

5.8 Item No. NC-49/14/26: Issues relating to implementation of the DoP&PW OM Dtd. 03.03.2023 on the subject of coverage under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) (D/o Pension & PW)

5.9 Item No. NC-49/19/26: Revise the Definition of ‘Family’ to include Widowed Dependant Daughter-in-law for claiming Family Pension (D/o Pension & PW)

5.10 Item No. NC-49/20/26: Family Pension should not be reduced to 30% of the Notional Pay of the deceased Government Employee / Pensioner (D/o Pension & PW)

5.11 Item No. NC-49/6/26: Grant of retrospective promotions in case the Appointing Authorities delay holding DPCs and effecting promotions (M/o Defence & DoPT)

5.12 Item No. NC-49/24/26: Withdrawal of ban on Compassionate Ground Appointments in the Ministry of Defence (M/o Defence & Dept. of Defence Production)

5.13 Item No. NC-49/5/26: Rationalization of the policy regarding recovery of wrongful/ excess payment made to Government Servants (Department of Expenditure)

5.14 Item No.NC-49/21/26: Not allowing the benefit of favourable Service Litigation judgments to the similarly placed employees (DoPT, DOLA & DoE)

5.15 Item No. NC-49/7/26: Parity in the Pay Scale of Fire Fighting Staff of Central Government at par with the Delhi Fire Service (DoE & MHА)

5.16 Item No.NC-49/17/26: Children Education Allowance (DoPT)

5.17 Item No. NC-49/22/26: Regional Recruitment of non-Gazetted Staffs should be implemented (DoPT)

5.18 Item No. NC-49/8/26: Grant of Pay Fixation Benefit to those employees who are promoted after availing the benefit of MACP (DoPT)

5.19 Item No. NC-49/2/26: Review and withdrawal of the provisions of the FR 56(J)/ (1) and Rule 48 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (DoPT)

5.20 Item No. NC-49/1/26: Facilities to Casual, Contract and Outsourced workers (DOPT, DoE & MoL&E)

5.21 Item No. NC-49/4/26: Determination of minimum qualifying service for promotion to different non-gazetted grades (DoPT)

5.22 Item No. NC-49/23/26: Recognition of Various Service Associations (DoPT & other Ministries)

5.23 Item No. NC-49/13/26: Implementation of the provisions of Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 to the Women Central Government Employees (DoPT)

5.24 Item No. NC-49/3/26: Removal of 5% ceiling on compassionate appointment (DOPT)

6. On completion of discussions on agenda items, Secretary, Staff Side and Leader, Staff side thanked the Chairman for convening the 49th meeting of National Council. The Chairman appreciated Staff Side for their cooperation and for raising the issues. He observed that the dialogue process should continue in future and assured Staff Side that decisions taken in today’s meeting will be implemented within the decided time line.

7. The meeting ended with Vote of thanks to the chair.

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