Views/Comments of Karnataka Circle on 7 CPC report

All India Association of Inspector Posts and Assistant Superintendent Posts, Karnataka Circle
	Naveen. Chander [President] SPO’s Udupi Division Udupi	Manjunatha. Hubballi [Circle Secretary] Assistant Supdt Posts Haver Sub Division, Haveri-581110	Joseph. Rodrigues [Circle Treasurer] Assistant Supdt Posts (HQ) o/o SSPO’s Mangalore Division Mangalore

No:IP/ASP/1-21/2015                        @ Haveri                            the                     5.12.2015

To,

Sri Vilas Ingale

General Secretary

AIAIASP, New Delhi

Presently working at

Sr Postmaster Thane HO

Mumbai.

Subject:  Regarding views/comments about 7 CPC from Karnataka circle -reg

Respected sir

                 This is regarding views/comments from the Karnataka Circle about the 7 CPC report submitted on 19-11-2015.

First and foremost we appreciated the work done by the chairman and his team of 7 cpc. They have studied and elaborately explained the reasons, how they come to conclusion for the pay and allowances of the different cadres/departments/employees. These aspects are really appreciated on behalf of our association.

Following are the some of the issues related our cadre has treated further most important for the welfare of the employees.

1.    The grade pay has been introduced by VI CPC, the grade for Inspector Posts has been placed in 4200 but other inspectors such has CBEC/CBDT, Inspector excise/Income tax placed in the grade pay of Rs 4600/-. This anomaly exists since from 1-1-2006. Now 7 CPC has been rightly identified and upgraded the grade pay of Inspector Posts to 4600/- on par with the other inspectorial cadres who are all appointed through the same notification and analogy. The pay fixation of the inspector Posts has to be fixed w.e.f 1-1-2006 in the grade pay of 4600/- than only the anomaly can be removed. The same aspect has been observed by the VI CPC, VII CPC and two Ernkulam CAT orders.  We hope the department has agreed during meetings. The association has elaborately explained in this regard during meeting. Further the grade pay of the CBDT/CBEC has been upgraded to 4800/- as per the suggestion/recommendation of the VII CPC than the grade pay of Inspector Posts has to be upgraded to same i.e. 4800/- w.e.f 1-1-2016.  

Up gradation of Officers from Level 8 (Grade Pay Rs.4800) to Level 9 (Grade Pay Rs.5400 in PB2) after four years
The 7th CPC has recommended the non functional upgradation of many Cadres in level 8 (i.e Grade Pay 4800) to level 9 (i.e Grade Pay 5400 in PB 2) after four years. This benefit may be extended to all cadres in level 8 (i.e Grade Pay 4800) to have uniformity among the same level officers.
Grade Pay of 4600 to Inspector Posts w.e.f 01.01.2006: 
7th CPC in its recommendation clearly re-iterated the fact that 6th CPC had placed Inspector (Posts) at par with Inspector CBDT/CBEC. However, subsequently, anomaly created by the increase in Grade Pay of Inspector CBDT/CBEC to Rs.4600 w.e.f 01.01.2006. This anomaly has again been set right by enhancing the Grade Pay of Inspector (Posts) to Rs.4600/-. 
In view of the fact that 6th CPC had placed Inspector (Posts) at par with Inspector CBDT/CBEC, as already been corroborated by 7th CPC, justice will be done only if the Grade Pay of Inspector (Posts) fixed as Rs.4600 w.e.f 01.01.2006. In this regard, the judgments issued by CAT Ernakulam Bench in 2011 & 2015 may kindly be referred to (copies attached). Both the judgments have clearly stated that Inspector Posts should be placed equivalent to their counter parts in CBDT/CBEC. Therefore, in order bestow justice to Inspectors Posts, GP of Rs. 4600/- may be granted to Inspectors Posts w.e.f. 01.01.2006. This is one of the main reasons for 33% of the posts kept vacant in the cadre of inspector since from inception of direct recruitment in the department. The person who has attended for the same examination if he has choice for other department he will get higher pay than he has un knowingly choice inspector posts get lower pay than his counterpart.

2.    The seventh pay commission has very rightly pointed out that Indian Railways should reconsider its position regarding air travel to its employees, in light of the possible savings in terms of cost and man-hours, particularly after the pay revision as recommended by the Commission. The same is applicable for other officials also who are working in different Departments of Government of India. With the rise in pay it has become all the more important to rationalize the travel entitlement specifically for the employees working in Level 6 to Level 8 since their per day cost to Government of India should now be considered for arriving at their travel entitlement. If the cost of working hours lost in travel is greater than the cost of travel itself, in such cases, it is prudent that their travel entitlement be rationalized to save unnecessary waste of time and money of Government of India. Accordingly it is proposed that Air Travel by economy class for the employees working in Level 6 to Level 8 may be considered where the travel distance is more than 1000 Kms.

3.    The seventh pay commission has recommended that the cadre review must be done on a periodical basis, however, the period has not been laid down. This lapse helps various Ministries and Departments in delaying the cadre review for some particular cadre. Accordingly it is proposed that the period may be clearly defined so that it is stipulating for the ministries and departments to undertake cadre reviews for all cadres under their purview. The report of the seventh pay commission has also stated that there are ten cadres for which reviews are pending more than 10 years (in some cases more than 20 years). Accordingly it is requested that clear orders regarding periodicity of cadre review and also clear orders for undertaking cadres reviews for all cadres for which cadre review has not been done for more than 10 years may be done immediately.  

4.    The seventh pay commission has recommended Rs. 750/- as ceiling for reimbursement of staying accommodation charges in Level 6 to Level 8. It is practically impossible to find suitable accommodation under the ceiling of Rs. 750/- as suggested in the report.  Level 6 to Level 8 officers are basically Assistants, Teachers, Inspectors level officers and as such they are not expected to stay in shady places like dormitories etc. which are the ones that can be afforded under Rs. 750/-. For X Class cities the pay commission has proposed the ceiling as Rs. 1000/- which is also not adequate. Hence it is proposed that the ceiling for reimbursement of staying accommodation charges for Level 6 to Level 8 officers be kept as Rs. 2250 and accordingly the ceiling for reimbursement for officers above Level 8 may also be enhanced.

5.    As per Hindu Minorities and Guardianship Act, 1956, father is the natural guardian for child after five years of age. In other laws also, father is either treated as preferential guardian after the child attained a particular age or has equal rights with mother for being natural guardian. This entails that the father is not only responsible for proper upbringing of the child but has also a greater role to play in child care. Since CCL is provided for taking care of child for various reasons including examinations, illness etc upto the age of 18 years, therefore, there is no valid reason for denying CCL to male employees. The benefit of CCL should be extended to male employees also who has a child under the age of 18 years.

6.    There is no point in granting Children Education Allowance only up to 12th Standard. Any one with 12th Std. qualification can at the most go for a helper job or MTS in government offices. Certainly no welfare government will have such a narrow concept of making the wards of government employees limit their education up to 12th Std. with a view of providing them menial jobs. Therefore government should encourage high level education and pay Children Education Allowance up to Post Graduation level.

7.    Percentage of House Rent Allowance (HRA) should be maintained at 10%, 20% & 30% respectively. While adequate amount is provided out of the minimum basic pay of Rs.18, 000/-for monthly food items for 3 persons of a family unit which is quite sufficient even for 6 members in a family, but adequate provision is not made towards house rent and educational aspects. The House Rent admissible in X Cities at 24% for Rs.18000/- comes to only Rs.4320/- No family can get a good accommodation for this rate even in Z category cities. There should be a minimum of at least Rs.8000/- as House Rent Allowance in X category cities and a maximum ceiling of Rs.25000/- should be imposed, since persons in higher basic pay stand to get hefty amount as House Rent Allowance which is not advisable.
Headquarter Allowance should be continued with proportionate increase.
Family Planning Allowance should be continued with proportionate increase.

8.    It is seen that only the number of years served by a government servant in the particular level of pay at the time of retirement should be taken into consideration as per VII CPC recommendation for exercising the second option.
Therefore in order to arrive at a correct picture to ensure equal pension for civilians for equal number of years, the number of years of service at various level should be taken into account in all the levels from the date of joining the government service till retirement.

9.    CGEGIS may be raise proportionately to the existing, not as recommended by the 7 CPC. It is too higher side.

10.   It has to be ensured by the authorities no posts are vacant for more than 90 days. The alternative arrangement officiating/adhoc has to be made by the concerned authorities otherwise they are held responsible for anything goes wrong instead of the person holding the additional charge.

Thanking you sir,

                                                                                                                      Yours sincerely,

            (Manjunatha G Hubballi)

                Circle Secretary

        AIAIP&ASP                                                      Karnataka Circle