7th CPC Allowances: Grant of Extra Work Allowance (abolition of existing Library Allowance) – Railway Board Orders

Government Of India

Ministry Of Railways

(Railway Board)

New Delhi, dated 27-12-2017

The General Managers and Principal Financial Advisers

All Indian Railways & Production Units.

Sub: Implementation of recommendations of Seventh Central Pay Commission accepted by the Government — Grant of Extra Work Allowance (abolition of existing Library Allowance).

Ref: (i) Railway Board’s letter No. E(P&A)I-2009/SP-1/Gen1/1 dated 30.04.2010(Annexure-A-3).

(ii) Ministry of Finance’s OM No.12-3/2016-E.III(A) dated 20.07.2017.

Consequent upon the decisions taken by the government on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission relating to revision of allowances, the President is pleased to abolish Library Allowance payable as a special Allowance to the teachers entrusted with additional charge of library work in railway schools which do not have separate post of Librarian) as a separate allowance. The eligible employees will now be governed by the newly preposed “Extra Work Allowance”, which shall be governed as under:

a. Extra Work Allowance will be paid at a uniform rate of 2% (two percent) of the basic pay per month.

b. An employee shall receive this allowance for a maximum period of one year, and there should be minimum gap of one year before the same employee is deployed for similar duties again.

c. This allowance shall not be combined i.e. if the same employees is performing two or more such duties and is eligible for 2% (two percent) allowance for each add on, then the total Extra Work Allowance payable will remain capped at 2% (two percent) of basic pay.

2. The other terms and conditions for grant of Special Allowance contained in Board’s letters No.E(P&A)I-99/Sp-1/Genl.1 dated 22-07-1999 will remain unchanged.

3. These orders shall be effective from 1st July, 2017.

4. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

(Anil Kumar)

Dy.Director/E(P&A)-I

Railway Board.

Admissibility of House Rent Allowance in the event of non-acceptance or surrender of railway residential accommodation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No. 05/2018

New Delhi, dated : 15.01.2018

No.E(P&A)II-2017/HRA-3

The General Managers,

All Indian Railways & Production Units etc

Sub : Admissibility of House Rent Allowance in the event of non-acceptance or surrender of railway residential accommodation.

Ref : Board’s letters No. (i) No. E(P&A)II-87/HRA-15, dated 16-5-1988,

(ii) No. E(P&A)11-95/HRA-3, dated 14-2-1996,

(iii) No. E(P&A)11-99/HRA-2, dated 12-7-1999 & 16-3-2000,

(iv) No. E(P&A)II-2002/HRA-4, dated 16-10-2002,

(v) No. E(P&A)11-2002/HRA-4, dated 9-5-2003 and,

(vi) No. E(P&A)II-2010/HRA-2, dated 08-12-2010

Attention is invited to Board’s letters quoted above delegating powers to the General Managers and other Heads of Organisations directly controlling allotment of quarters to Railway Servants for sanction of House Rent Allowance in accordance with the prescribed conditions to the categories of Railway Employees specified therein. This delegation of powers was valid upto 31.03.2017.

2.The question of renewing this delegation of powers beyond 31.03.2017 has been engaging the attention of the Board. On the basis of the reports received from the Zonal Railways and Production Units, the matter has been considered and the Board have decided to renew the sanction contained in para 5 of their letter dated 16.5.1988 ibid and as amended/modified from time to time, w.e.f 01.04.2017 upto 31.03.2024 where after the question of renewing this delegation will be considered by the Board and a fresh sanction, if necessary, issued on the basis of reports received from the General Managers etc., directly controlling allotment of quarters, in regard to the position of availability of Railway accommodation under their control.

3. In case at any point of time it transpires that some accommodation is likely to remain vacant/un-occupied due to lack of demand, it should be made compulsory to submit applications for such types where there is surplus accommodation, and consequently, the employees entitled for such types would not be eligible to draw House Rent Allowance.

4. This delegation is also subject to the over-riding, condition that these orders are liable to be withdrawn/modified at any time during this period, if it is considered necessary by the Board to do so.

5. This has the approval of the President and issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

6. Kindly acknowledge receipt.

sd/-

(Salim Md. Ahmed)

Deputy Director, Estt.(P&A)II,

Railway Board

Source: AIRF

Digitalization of Service Records of employees – Railway Board Orders dt.12.1.2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

New Delhi, dated : 12.01.2018

As you are aware, the Government is encouraging to undertake digitalization of more and more activities. As a step in this direction, it has been decided by the Ministry of Railways that Service Records of all the Railway Employees working in the Zonal Railways and Production Units etc. should be digitized.

It may please be ensured that this process may be completed by the target date of 31.03.2018. Meanwhile, a status report as on December 31, 2017 may be sent to this office by email(ID of Dy. Dir./Estt.(Genl)III/Rly. Board at devasia.joseph@nic.in

sd/-

(Dr. Anand S. Khati)

Exec. Dir. Estt.(Genl.)

Railway Board

Charges against the Ticket Checking Staff – AIRF

D.O.No.AIRF/66

Dated: January 21, 2018

Dear Shri Sharma Ji!

Sub: Charges against the Ticket Checking Staff

Ref.: Your circular dated 19.01.2018

We are very much pained after going through your circular referred to above; alleging the Ticket Checking Staff about taking bribe from the general travelling public for accommodating them in the Sleeper Class.

I believe that, Hon’ble MR has not been properly briefed by the administration about the yeoman’s service rendered by the Ticket Checking Staff. In spite of their shortage, they are meeting every target fixed by the Railway Board as well as many a times they are forced by their local officers for such targets which are never possible to achieve, even then they are serving their valued passengers to a great satisfaction. There are orders from the Railway Board that, any passenger found unauthorizedly travelling should be issued ticket up to the next station and then he should be de-trained at the next station, but all the local CCMs are forcing the Ticket Checking Staff to charge them for farthest end to increase the earnings of the Railways. This is happening in blatant disobedience to Railway Board’s orders and the Ticket Checking Staff are forced to accommodate them in the Sleeper Class.

There might be some black sheep in the organization, and AIRF has always supported the administration to deal with these black sheep. They may be staff or officers, but issuing such instructions, demoralizing the Ticket Checking Staff, who are the bread earner of the Indian Railways, is very unfortunate.

It is very earnestly requested that, the above cited circular, issued by your goodself, should immediately be withdrawn, and any such activity, defaming the Ticket Checking Staff as a whole, will definitely not only demoralize them, but also result in industrial unrest. You are, therefore, requested to take action against the cuprites, but dealing every Ticket Checking Staff with the same stick will not only humiliate the Ticket Checking Staff, but also lead to serious agitations all over the Indian Railways.

Hope, you will take this matter seriously and give a healing touch to the Ticket Checking Staff who are much aggrieved and agitating all over the Indian Railways on this letter of yours.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Shiv Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

Source: AIRF

GDS Committee report latest – FNPO

Nodal ministry approved without any objection and sent to PM office for the inclusion of cabinet meeting.

The item is not taken into consideration since there are many other items for discussion.

According to the source, next cabinet meeting ie; 31.1.218 may be considered our item.

P.U.Muraleedharan.

General Secretary.

NUGDS.

Demands of Technical Supervisors is under consideration said Member Staff – IRTSA

Upgarding Pay level of Technical Supervisors & change in eligibility criteria for MACPS is under consideration said Member Staff – Meeting with Member Staff on 24th January, 2018

MEETING WITH MEMBER STAFF

Upgarding Pay level of Technical Supervisors & change in eligibility criteria for MACPS is under consideration said Member Staff.

January 24, 2018: IRTSA office bearers met Shri. D.K. Gayen, Member (Staff) Railway Board at Chennai during his visit to ICF. E.Ramesh Sr.Org Secy felicitated MS on behalf of IRTSA and K.Gobinath Zonal Secretary ICF handed over memorandum on main demands of IRTSA. K.V.Ramesh Sr.JGS IRTSA explained the demands of Technical Supervisors on Pay level & MACPS.

K.V.Ramesh explained that change of eligibility criteria for financial upgradation under MACPS from ‘Good’ to ‘very Good’ has hampered the chances of financial upgardation of senior supervisors and demanded for immediate withdrawal of eligibility criteria ‘very good’.

Inclusion of training period for the purpose of MACPS is also need to be addressed by Railway Board, it was explained to Member Staff that DoPT is the nodal agency for implementation of MACPS rules for all central Government departments including Railways. Ministry of Communication & IT is accounting the period of pre-appointment training for the purpose of MACPS and same is needed to be extended in Railways.

He further briefed on the demand of implementation date of MACPS w.e.f. 1.1.2006. As per Gazette notification & Resolution issued by Finance Ministry, 6th CPC recommendations on pay were implemented w.e.f. 1.1.2006 & allowances w.e.f. 1.9.2008. In its recent judgment, Hon’ble Supreme Court held that financial upgardation under MACPS should be implemented from 1.1.2006, since recommendations of 6th CPC on MACPS is related to Pay, and it cannot be treated as allowance to be implemented from 1.9.2008. MS was urged to take favouable decision on this issue also.

While explaining the demand of Higher Pay level for Technical Supervisors, K.V.Ramesh demanded for implementation of decisions already made by Railway Board in this regard. He briefed that in 2010, Railway Board have send a proposal to Finance Ministry for upgrading the GP of JE from Rs.4200 to Rs.4600 & SSE from Rs.4600 to Rs.4800. Railway Board also send another proposal to Empowered Committee of Secretaries formed after 7th CPC to upgrade 50% of cadre strength of Technical Supervisors to GP Rs.4800. MS was urged for persuasion of Railway Board’s proposal further with Ministry of Finance to get atleast minimum justice for this vital category.

In his reply Member Staff said that, he agrees on the demand of change in eligibility criteria for MACPS and said that this issue is being persuaded by Board with DoPT. On the demand of higher Pay Level for Technical Supervisors, MS said that it under the consideration of Ministry of Railways.

Source: IRTSA

Republic Day Celebrations With ASEAN Nations 2018

Ministry of Defence

Curtain Raiser-Republic Day – 2018

Republic Day 2018 is very special when the country will be celebrating its 69th Republic Day tomorrow with 10 Heads of State/Government will grace the Republic Day Parade on the historic Rajpath, the principal promenade of New Delhi. We have had a history of hosting a chief guest from a foreign nation at our Republic Day Parade in the Capital. However, having 10 Heads of State/Government in our midst to witness the most spectacular show of our nation, makes this Republic Day Parade so special.

Our honoured Chief Guests are Heads of State/Government from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It clearly signifies our strengthening relations with the ASEAN and ASEAN nations. Keeping in sync with our ‘Act East Policy’.

Rajpath will come alive tomorrow morning where the nation showcases her military might and traditions coupled with the latest initiatives and achievements along with her rich diverse social and cultural heritage. Another feather in tomorrow’s pageant will be two tableaux showcasing our historical, civilizational, educational, religious and cultural linkages with the ASEAN nations.

The parade ceremony will commence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath. An eternal flame burns at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of our Armed Forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle standing on its barrel and crested by a soldier’s helmet.

Women’s Motor Cycle team ‘Seema Bhawani’ of Border Security Force will be the main attraction of the spectacle, which was raised at Central School of Motor Transport (CSMT), BSF Academy Tekanpur on 20th October 2016. The BSF motorcycle team ‘Seema Bhawani’ is led by Sub Inspector Stanzin Noryang. The splendid driving skills of ‘Seema Bhawani’ will display stunts like Salute to President, Fish Riding, Side Riding, Faulaad, Prachand Baalay Shaktiman, Four Harmony, Mobile PT, Bull Fighting, Peacock, Sapt Rishi, Brahma Yog Guldasta, Wind Mill Formation, Seema Prahari, Bharat Ke Mustaid Prahari, Sarhad Ke Nigheban and Flag March Pyramid.

As per tradition, after unfurling the National Flag, the national anthem will be played with a 21 gun salute. The parade will then commence and the President will take the salute. To further strengthening the robust relationship, Government of India invited leaders of ASEAN as chief guests in Republic Day Parade – 2018. They are Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith; Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc; the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK); Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha; Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’, Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak; Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong; Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen; President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte; President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo and Prime Minister of Brunei, Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah.

The parade will be commanded by Lt. General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area. Major General Rajpal Punia, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Delhi Area will be the parade Second-in-Command.

Param Vir Chakra winners Subedar Major & Honorary Captain Bana Singh (Retd), Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers and Naib Subedar Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK Rifles and Ashok Chakra winners Major General Cyrus A Pithawalla (Retd), Lt Col Jas Ram Singh (Retd), Lt Colonel D Sreeram Kumar, Naib Subedar (Honorary) Chhering Mutup (Retd) and Shri Govind Singh of district Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh & Shri Bhure Lal of district Guna also from Madhya Pradesh will follow the Deputy Parade Commander on Jeeps.

The marching contingents start with flag bearer contingent bearing the ASEAN and 10 ASEAN countries’ flags followed by the Indian Army Band drawn from 39 Gorkha Training Centre and 1 EME Centre.

The Indian Army’s T-90 tank (Bhishma), Ballway Machine Pikate (II/IIK), Brahmos Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar (Swathi), Bridge Laying Tank T-72, Mobile Base Transceiver Station and Akash Weapon System will be the main draw in the mechanised columns.

The marching contingent of the Army will include horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Punjab Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, the Dogra Regiment, Ladakh Scouts, the Regiment of Artillery and 123 Infantry Battalion – Territorial Army (Grenadiers) followed by the tableau of Ex-Servicemen.

The marching contingent of the Navy comprising 144 young sailors will be led by Lieutenant Tushar Gautam, while the Indian Air Force contingent comprising 144 men will be led by Squadran Leader Attal Singh Shekhon. The Paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces will include the Border Security Force marching as well as Camel Contingents, Indian Coast Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.

This year the Indian Navy’s Tableau will have the theme “Indian Navy – Combat Ready Force for National Security”. The tableau showcases proudly illustrates the combat potential of the multi-dimensional Indian Navy of the 21st Century.

An Indian Air Force Tableau will roll down the Rajpath with the theme “Indian Air Force Encouraging Indigenisation”. Models displayed in the tableau are Tejas Multirole Fighter Aircraft, Rudra Helicopter, Arudhra Radar and Akash missile system.

Tableaux from 14 States and UT, Nine Central Ministries, Departments and Central Paramilitary Force will present the varied historical, art and cultural heritage of the country. They will also showcase country’s progress in different fields, particularly floats from Karnataka, Gujarat, Tripura, Maharashtra, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur and Kerala with their varied themes, which will be of special attraction. The floats of All India Radio, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Income Tax Department will showcase the rapid development of some of the flagship programmes of the Government.

Eighteen children, including seven girls selected for the National Bravery Award–2017 will also participate in the parade. Three children have got the award posthumously. In the children’s pageant section, over 800 boys and girls drawn from three schools in Delhi and a group of school children from South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur and North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur will perform colourful dances on varied themes.

The grand finale of the parade will be a spectacular flypast by the IAF. The flypast will commence with the ‘Rudra’ formation comprising three ALH Mk IV WSI helicopters in ‘Vic’ formation, followed by the ‘Hercules’ formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in ‘Vic’ formation. Trailing them will be the ‘Netra’ which is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System Aircraft also known as “Eye in the Sky”. It will be followed by the ‘Globe formation’ comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30 MKIs.

Next in line will be the fighters, where three LCA aircraft Tejas will fly in ‘Vic’ formation followed by five Jaguars in Arrowhead formation. Another five MiG-29 Upgrade Air Superiority Fighters will fly in Fulcrum style. Then the breath-taking ‘Trishul’ formation comprising three Su-30 MKIs would fly over the Rajpath, and once in front of the saluting dais, the Su-30 MKI aircraft will split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky. The flypast will conclude with another Su-30 MKI carrying out a ‘Vertical Charlie’ manoeuvre over the saluting dais.

The ceremony will culminate with the national anthem and release of balloons.

Source: PIB

Grant of MACP to the SOMs/Sr. PWSs of the Civil Engineering Department – AIRF

No.AIRF/MACPS

Dated: January 16, 2018

The EDPC-I,

Railway Board,

Metro Station Building,

Pragati Maidan,

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Grant of MACP to the SOMs/Sr. PWSs of the Civil Engineering Department

Ref.: 

(i)AIRF’s PNM Item No.06/2012

(ii)Railway Board’s letter No.PC-III/2003/CRC/6 dated 09.10.2003(RBE No.177/2003)

(iii)Railway Board’s letter No.PC-III/2004/CRC/1(Pt.1)dt.22.03.07(RBE No.45/2007)

(iv)Railway Board’s letter No.PC-III/2004/CRC/1(Pt.1) dated 17.04.2007 addressed to AIRF

(v) Railway Board’s letter No.PC-V/2009/ACP/2 dated 10.06.2009(RBE No.101/2009)

(vi)Railway Board’s letter No.PC-III/2012/FE-II/2 dated 03.07.2013(RBE No.64/2013)

On demand of AIRF, on the basis of functional, operational and administrative requirements, restructuring of the Group `C’ & `D’ Cadres w.e.f. 01.09.2003 was notified by the Railway Board, covering detailed instructions vide its orders dated 09.10.2003. These instructions also covered multi-skilling of various grades/cadres of various departments of the Railways, viz. Transportation, Personnel, S&T, Stores, Ministries of all the Engineering Departments. Under Para 13(a) of the aforesaid letter of the Railway Board, all the posts of the Supervisors(erstwhile Ministries) in Grade Rs.4500/7000+Rs.100 as Special Allowance (excluding P. Way Supervisors) should en-block be upgraded to the post of Jr. Engineer Grade II in the pay scale Rs.5000-8000 and merged with the respective cadres of Technical Supervisors with its spread effects in the higher grades, i.e. Rs.5500-9000, 6500-10500 and 7450-11500 as per revised percentage, distribution of posts prescribed for Supervisors in these orders.

In case of Supervisors, the posts being held by the erstwhile PWMs was allowed this benefit up to a maximum of 17.26% of the sanctioned cadre of PWMs and was to be upgraded and merged with the posts of Jr. Engineer Grade-II(P. Way) in pay scale Rs.5000-8000 with its spread effects as extended to the other Mistries described in the foregoing para. These instructions of the Railway Board were implemented by all the Zonal Railways for the purpose of grant of restructuring benefits applicable w.e.f. 01.09.2003. Further, Railway Board vide its later orders dated 22.03.2007 abolished the category of PWMs by merging such Track Supervisors (erstwhile PWMs) working in scale Rs.4500-7000+Rs.100 as Special Allowance applicable to all those appointed prior to 01.11.2003 and introduced the category of Sr. PWS in scale Rs.5000-8000 with the terms and conditions mentioned in the Board’s letter referred under caption (iii) above. Accordingly, all Mistries of all departments, including SOMs and PWSs of the Civil Engineering Department, appointed prior to 01.11.2003, stood upgraded and merged with the Technical Supervisors, namely JE-II in pay scale Rs.5000-8000 with its spread effects in the higher grades. Ironically, no complaint was received, wherein aforementioned Cadre Restructuring orders with regard to the Ministries of all the department was allowed treating them merged with JE(II) GP Rs. 5000-8000 (RSRP). However, one case of the Ministries of S&T Department was referred by Northern Railway to the Railway Board for filing SLP against the orders passed by the Hon’ble CAT/NDLS and upheld by Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in WP(C) No.4601/2015 – Titled UoI & Ors. Versus Satyendra Kumar case of restructuring orders. Railway Board’s SLP in question, which was dismissed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide its orders dated 01.07.2016.

Now, it is a matter of great concern that various Zonal Railways, having allowed the benefits of MACP in compliance of Para 5 of Board’s orders dated 09.10.2003, are being challenged by the Associated Finance of the respective Zones/Divisions in cases of grant of MACP benefits to such Ministries, treating their grade of Rs.4500-7000 + Rs.100 as Special Allowance, upgraded to Rs.5000-8000 as merged grade for the purpose of MACP benefits. It has invited litigation in various Divisions and Zones on Indian Railways and Railway Administrations are allowing the benefit of MACP, so extended in compliance of Para 5 of Board’s letter dated 09.10.2003 to avoid contemptuous action, but those who are unable to pay huge legal expenses are suffering and lakhs of rupees are being recovered at the time of retirement of such SOMs/PWSs of the Civil Engineering Department. Railway Board vide their letter No.PC-III/2004/CRC/1(Pt.1) dated 17.04.2007, referred to above, had also clarified that Track Supervisors(erstwhile P. Way Ministries) in scale Rs.4500-7000 + (Rs.100 as Special Allowance), appointed prior and after 01.11.2003, are eligible for placement in the scale Rs.5000-8000, subject to the conditions mentioned in the Board’s letter dated 22.03.2007. Thus, there was no scope left for treating such Track Supervisors, merged/upgraded with JE-II pay scale Rs.5000-8000, after required financial implications were met out by the respective Divisions/Zones.

Moreover, it shall also be pertinent to mention that, there cannot be discriminatory view of the Railway Administration with regard to benefit of upgradation and merger of Ministries of various departments, including SOMs and PWSs, appointed before 01.11.2003, merged and upgraded with the JE-II pay scale Rs.5000-8000 well before issue of MACP orders dated 10.06.2009.

In view of the discussions in the foregoing paragraphs, it is demanded that a clarification immediately be issued to all the Zonal Railways that instructions contained under Para 5 of the Railway Board’s order issued under RBE No.101/2009 dated 10.06.2009, be implemented for SOMs and PWMs/Sr. PWSs to avoid hardships being faced to the affected Railwaymen and also to save time and money being spent in various courts on this ground.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Shiv Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

Source: AIRF