Saturday, March 30, 2013

S B Order No. 04 / 2013 : Revision in Interest Rates of Small Savings Schemes w.e.f 1st April 2013

Click here to view S B Order No. 04 / 2013 issued vide Directorate's letter No. 113-01/2011-SB, dated 26.03.2013

 

UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE FROM DUTY – CONSOLIDATED INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO ACTION WARRANTED AGAINST GOVERNMENT SERVANTS REMAINING AWAY FROM DUTY WITHOUT – AUTHORISATION / GRANT OF LEAVE


No. 13026/3/2012-Estt (Leave)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
New Delhi, the 28th March, 2013.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Consolidated instructions relating to action warranted against Government servants remaining away from duty without – authorisation/grant of leave — Rule position

The undersigned is directed to say that various references are being received from Ministries/Departments seeking advice/post facto regularisation of unauthorised absence. It has been observed that due seriousness is not being accorded by the administrative authorities to the various rule provisions, inter alia under the CCS(Leave) Rules, 1972, for taking immediate and appropriate action against Government servants staying away from duty without prior sanction of leave or overstaying the periods of sanctioned leave. It is reiterated that such absence is unauthorised and warrants prompt and stringent action as per rules. It has been observed that concerned administrative authorities do not follow the prescribed procedure for dealing with such unauthorised absence.
2. In view of this, attention of all Ministries/Departments is invited to the various provisions of the relevant rules, as indicated in the following paragraphs for strict adherence in situations of unauthorised absence of Government servants. It is also suggested that these provisions may be brought to the notice of all the employees so as to highlight the consequences which may visit if a Government servant is on unauthorised absence. The present OM intends to provide ready reference points in respect of the relevant provisions, hence it is advised that the relevant rules, as are being cited below, are referred to by the competent authorities for appropriate and judicious application. The relevant provisions which may be kept in mind while considering such cases are indicated as follows:
(a) Proviso to FR 17(1)
The said provision stipulates that an officer who is absent from duty without any authority shall not be entitled to any pay and allowances during the period of such absence.
(b) FR 17-A
The said provision inter alia provides that where an individual employee remains absent unauthorisedly or deserts the post, the period of such absence shall be deemed to cause an interruption or break in service of the employee, unless otherwise decided by the competent authority for the purpose of leave travel concession and eligibility for appearing in departmental examinations, for which a minimum period of service is required.
(c) Rule 25 of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972
The said provision addresses the situation where an employee overstays beyond the sanctioned leave of the kind due and admissible, and the competent authority has not approved such extension. The consequences that flow from such refusal of extension of leave include that:
i the Government servant shall not be entitled to any leave salary for such absence;
ii the period shall be debited against his leave account as though it were half pay leave to the extent such leave is due, the period in excess of such leave due being treated as extraordinary leave
iii wilful absence from duty after the expiry of leave renders a Government servant liable to disciplinary action.
With respect to (iii) above, it may be stated that all Ministries/ Departments are requested to ensure that in all cases of unauthorised absence by a Government servant, he should be informed of the consequences of such absence and be directed to rejoin duty immediately/ within a specified period, say within three days, failing which he would be liable for disciplinary action under CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965. It may be stressed that a Government servant who remains absent without any authority should be proceeded against immediately and this should not be put off till the absence exceeds the limit prescribed under the various provisions of CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972 and the disciplinary case should be conducted and concluded as quickly as possible.
(d) Rule 32(6) of the CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972
This provision allows the authority competent to grant leave, to commute retrospectively periods of absence without leave into extraordinary leave under Rule 32(6) of CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972. A similar provision also exists under rule 27(2) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. It may please be ensured that discretion allowed under these provisions is exercised judiciously, keeping in view the circumstances and merits of each individual case. The period of absence so regularised by grant of extra ordinary leave shall normally not count for the purpose of increments and for the said purpose it shall be regulated by provisions of FR 26(b(ii).
3. All Ministries/ Departments should initiate appropriate action against delinquent Government servants as per rules.
4. Hindi version will follow.
Sd/-
(Mukesh Chaturvedi)
Deputy Secretary to the Govt. of Indi

EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL: 2013


FIRST AIC OF THE GDS AND OUR TASK AHEAD
Nobody can deny the fact that Gramin Dak Sevaks are an integral part of NFPE. The Government of India and the Postal bureaucracy tried its best to divide departmental employees and GDS. The leadership of the so-called recognized union utilized this opportunity and took advantage of the situation to create a permanent division between GDS and NFPE by raising cadre sentiments, which NFPE never cultivated. The intention was very clear; nothing but to keep the control of the biggest union of GDS in their hands forever and utilize it for their own vested interests. They thought that the down trodden GDS are all fools and they may not understand the hidden agenda of the leadership. But the GDS proved that they are more intelligent than the leadership and refused to become prey for their nefarious game. GDS loved NFPE like anything. They continued their fight against the anti-NFPE Leadership within the union for upholding the pride and prestige of NFPE. When their voices were suppressed and democratic elections to change the leadership were prevented by undemocratic methods, majority of them walked out and formed a new-union called AIPEU-GDS (NFPE), to decide their own destiny.
The new GDS (NFPE) union was born in the month of April 2012. Within a short period of ten months, it’s growth is tremendous and amazing. The 1st AIC held at Chennai from 2013 March 21stto 22nd was the manifestation of its glittering organisational advancements. The huge participation of more than 1000 delegates and visitors from all the 22 circles has proved beyond any doubt that the vast majority of the GDS are with GDS (NFPE) Union and remaining GDS shall also join the GDS (NFPE) union in the near future itself. Eleven out of the 15 All India office bearers who were in the so-called recognized union before the Amaravathi AIC, have joined the new union. All the circles and including the major circles are also with the new union. As one of the Ex-All India office bearer of Mahadevaiah Group who joined the GDS (NFPE) union alongwith his followers during the 1st AIC has correctly stated in his speech “The leader of the so-called recognized union is a liar and he is deliberately trying to misguide the GDS.”
The deliberations and decisions of the GDS AIC has paved wary for serious programme of action culminating in indefinite strike. The AIC categorically declared that the GDS (NFPE) shall implement all the programmes and decisions of NFPE and Confederation. The main demands of the GDS union and NFPE is Departmentalization of GDS and grant of civil servant status. This alone can ensure the total emancipation of GDS. Secondly the AIC demanded that the GDS should also be included under the purview of Seventh Central Pay Commission and 50% merger of DA should be granted to GDS also. The leadership of Confederation, NFPE and GDS (NFPE) Union unanimously declared in the AIC that if the Government refuse to include GDS under the purview of Seventh CPC, there will be an indefinite strike of all Central Government Employees including Postal employees. The Charter of demands was discussed and approved by the AIC which includes other demands such as pro rata wages, Scraping of“Engagement “ clause, Statutory minimum pension of Rs. 3500/-, raising of bonus ceiling to 3500/-, Reduction of cash handling and stamp sale norms, Full protection of TRCA, Removal of 50 points condition for compassionate appointments, medical reimbursement scheme, six months maternity leave and child care leave, grant of full trade union facilities, grant of facility for request transfer from one post to another, three time bound promotions, grant of advances, stop combination of duties, liberalise conditions for appearing in PA examination and ear-mark 20% PA/SA vacancies to GDS, remove ceiling limit of Rs. 50/- per month for cash allowance, provide norms for all work including MNREGS, payment of BO rent by department, stop redeployment to far-off places, Children, Education Allowance, Leave Travel Concession etc.
During the last thirteen years, since the formation of the so-called recognized union, the Gramin Dak Devaks lost many of their hard-earned benefits. The new GDS (NFPE) union has to conduct struggle under the banner of NFPE for restoration of these benefits including 3500/- Bonus parity and also conduct higher from of trade union action including indefinite strike for conferment of civil servants status and grant of all consequential benefits of departmental employees.
Now that the new GDS (NFPE) Union has become the biggest GDS Union and the real representative of the GDS, those who have hesitated to support the new union, shall come forward to extend fullest support to it. The animosity atmosphere between GDS and departmental employees (GDS & NFPE) has been vanished and a new era of unity and cooperation has born. Let all our Circle/Divisional Secretaries of all NFPE affiliated unions shall come forward to strengthen further the GDS (NFPE) union let us also join all struggles for the cause of Gramin Dak Sevaks.

Your provident fund savings all set to fetch higher returns from 2013-14


NEW DELHI: You can expect your provident fund savings to earn better returns from 2013-14, though small savings instruments like national savings certificates will deliver lower returns from April 1.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will adopt a new investment pattern from the coming financial year, junking its archaic investment norms that have remained unchanged since 2003 and have been blamed for the falling returns on EPF savings in the last two years.
In 2011-12, over Rs 6 crore EPF members were paid 8.25% on their retirement savings. For 2012-13, a return of 8.5% has been declared though the finance ministry is yet to ratify the payout.
By contrast, PPF savings earned 8.8% this year and will earn 8.7% in 2013-14. The labour ministry has decided to modify EPFO's investment norms to boost returns on its Rs 5,00,000 crore corpus and stave off persistent criticism from stakeholders and the finance ministry over EPF returns being lower than high inflationrates and the comparable returns of 10%-14% offered by the New Pension Scheme run by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.
The EPFO was hurtling into an investment crisis and its income was expected to fall to 8% by 2017-18, if it had maintained status quo. Though its corpus has been increasing, EPFO's investment avenues haven't grown, even as it faces increased competition from foreign institutional investors and domestic financial institutions in the bond market.
Under the new norms, EPFO can invest its corpus in bonds issued by eight new blue chip private sector firms such as Reliance IndustriesBSE -1.24 % and Larsen and ToubroBSE 2.09 %. Eight more firms, which include Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Technologies, WiproBSE 0.31 % and Ambuja CementsBSE 2.85 %, could also qualify for fresh bond investments.
This will significantly expand the universe of private firms that EPFO can invest in, which currently only includes seven firms — HDFCBSE 0.38 % Bank, LIC Housing FinanceBSE 1.63 %, ICICI BankBSE 2.37 %, Infrastructure Leasing and Finance Services LtdBSE 0.00 %, Axis BankBSE 0.53 %, HDFC and IDFCBSE 2.79 %.
To improve its returns from PSUs bonds, the EPFO has changed the tenure limits for such securities so that it can lock into better returns for a longer period. The maximum tenure for AAA-rated PSUs has been raised from 15 years to 25 Years, and from 8 years to 15 Years for AA-rated PSUs. AAA ratings denote the highest level of safety for bond investments.
Rating agency Crisil reckons that changes in norms for private sector firms' bonds would boost EPF earnings by over Rs 3,000 crore in next 10 years. Similarly, allowing longer-term investments in public sector bonds would boost its income by over Rs 7,700 crore over the next decade.
Income from plain vanilla government bonds would also go up, as the PF office will now be able to deploy upto 55% of its fresh inflows into state government bonds that deliver higher returns than central government securities, where 70% of its annual corpus is currently parked. Nearly 90% of EPFO's private bond investments were concentrated in banks, as on December 2012.
Even among public sector bonds, banks accounted for 53% of EPFO investments while other firms accounted for just 35%. With new bond issuances from public sector firms being limited, it has been forced to park money in banks' term deposits.
The RBI's implementation of Basel III capital regulations also creates the problem that new bond issues from banks will have an equity convertibility clause. The EPFO has steadfastly opposed equity investments, though finance ministry has opened the stock market window for PFs since 2005.
Source :http://economictimes.indiatimes.com, 30 March, 2013

Friday, March 29, 2013

Divisional Union writes to SPOs, Keonjhar and requests Circle Union against abolition of Group-‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts of Annual Direct recruitment Plans for the year 2005-2006, 2007 and 2008 under the scheme of Optimization of Direct Recruitment Vacancies.

       S.C.Patra                                                                                  A.K.Mishra                                      PRESIDENT                                                                                                   SECRETARY

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   To
The Superintendent of Post Offices
Keonjhar Division
Keonjhargarh – 758001

 No. UN/AIPEU/Gr.-C/KJR/Staff                          Dated at Keonjhargarh the 26th March, 2013

 Sub:-  Abolition of Group-‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts of Annual Direct recruitment Plans for the year 2005-2006, 2007 and 2008 under the scheme of Optimization of Direct Recruitment Vacancies.

Sir,

This has a kind reference to C O letter No. EST/14 – 33 / 05 – 08, dated 28 / 30.01.2013 which has been issued in accordance with the Directorate’s letter No. 25 – 12 / 2008 – PE.I, dated 19.11.2012 directing abolition of the following numbers of posts from the establishment of Keonjhar Division with immediate effect. As known, SPOs, Keonjhar Division has already been directed in the above letter to identify the posts to be abolished.

Name of the Division / Unit
No. of Posts to be abolished
 
2005
2006 – 2007
2008
 
PA
PM
 
SA
DR
 
PA
PM
Gr.D
SA
MM
SG
PA
PM
Gr.D
SA
MM
SG
Keonjhar
02
01
 
 
 
 
02
01
05
 
 
 
01
01
01
 
 
 
Total
PA = 05, Postman = 3 and Group- D = 6
 
        As we have experienced, the periodical establishment review is not being done in real and complete sense in Keonjhar Division to ascertain the justification of abolition or creation of posts. Under such circumstances, identifying posts for abolition without any calculation of work hour/staff hour justifications of the parent establishments will certainly be whimsical and hypothetical. In addition, such abolition of 17093 posts from all over India has already been seriously protested by the Central JCA comprising NFPE and FNPO. Thus, without any calculation of work hour/staff hour justifications of the parent establishments, such order for abolition is quite arbitrary.

Under the circumstances, this union opines to consider the statistical justification of a particular post before identifying to be abolished.

Further, we would like to request the SPOs for taking this union into confidence and allow us for a discussion before taking a final decision on abolition.

A line of reply is highly solicited.

With regards.                              
                                                                                 Yours faithfully
 
                                                                                                                   ( A.K.Mishra)
                                                                                                                       Secretary
Copy to :
1. Shri Ramesh Chandra Mishra, Circle Secretary, AIPEU, Gr-C, Odisha Circle & Vice-President (CHQ), Bhubaneswar GPO-751001. He is requested to appraise the situation to Circle administration and Directorate through CHQ to stay away from taking such an arbitrary step of abolition in a hurry.
              2. The General Secretary, AIPEU, Group-C, CHQ, New Delhi – 110 008.
              3. The Secretary General, NFPE, New Delhi – 110 001

                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                    ( A.K.Mishra)
                                                                                                                      Secretary

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

HAPPY HOLI TO ALL


Revision of Tatkal Charges for Train Journeys to be Effective From 1stApril 2013 Onwards

As per announcement made in the Railway Budget 2013-14, it has been decided by the Ministry of Railways to revise Tatkal charges. These charges will be applicable for journey starting from 01.04.2013 onwards. Now, the Tatkal charges will be realized @ 10% of basic far for reserved Second (2S) class and 30% of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum as given below:-
Class to Travel
Minimum Tatkal Charges (in Rs.)
Maximum Tatkal
Charges (in Rs.)
Reserved Second Sitting (2S)
10
15
Sleeper
90
175
AC Chair Car
100
200
AC-3 tier
250
350
AC-2 tier
300
400
Executive
300
400

Source : PIB Release, 26 March, 2013