Sixth Pay Commission: Armed Forces to withhold pay panel’s report
New Delhi, Sept 26: Clearly unhappy with the Pay Commission, the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) have decided not to implement the recommendations alleging discrepancies in parity and status in comparison to their counterparts in civil services and Central police organisations, media reports said.
To express their unhappiness, personnel of the three services have decided to withhold the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations which were to come into effect from October 01.
“It is quite a serious matter. We can’t just accept something half-hearted like this. In fact, there were too some anomalies in the 5th Pay Commission recommendation for the Armed forces which are yet to be resolved,” said former Army Chief General VP Mallik.
The forces have now sought direct intervention of the Prime Minister to resolve the matter.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry has also asked the Finance Ministry to look into the matter.
The forces reportedly complained that Colonels, Lt Colonels (and their equivalent ranks in other two services) are paid Rs 10,000 less than civilian counterparts. Also, the forces are furious at the fact that Lt Generals, Admirals and Air Marshals have been kept at a lower status and pay scales than DGPs.
Review of a proposal of pay panel that reduced the pensions for jawans are also on the list.
Source: http://www.zeenews.com/
Friday, September 26, 2008
6th Pay Commission recommendations: Revised salary from Nov l Uncertainty over arrears
6th Pay Commission recommendations: Revised salary from Nov l Uncertainty over arrears
PANJIM, SEPT 25 — The Goa Cabinet today took the much-awaited decision to implement the 6th Pay Commission recommendations.
The actual payment through monthly salary under the revised pay scales will commence from November 2008.
Addressing a press conference in the city, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said, “the Government in principle decided to implement the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission from November 2008”.
The revised pay scales will be implemented in respect of all the Government employees and those serving in aided-institutions (teaching and non-teaching staff) with effect from January 1, 2006.
Replying to queries, Kamat couldn’t give a clear picture over payment of arrears.
Sources in the Government, however, told Herald that the arrears for the period 1-1-2006 to 31-8-2008, for employees appointed prior to August 5, 2005, will be credited to their GPF Account in three equal installments with a lock-in period of three years. In the process, this will become a loan to the State Government carrying interest applicable to GPF (presently it is 8% per annum).
There are nearly 7,000 new employees appointed on or after August 5, 2005 who are covered under the New Defined Pension Contribution Scheme and they do not have a separate GPF account, the sources said.
For them, a separate account would be opened under the Public Account to deposit their arrears in three equal installments with a lock-in period of three years.
Kamat announced that the arrears for September and October will be disbursed later after making a budgetary provision in the Supplementary Demand for the current year.
The total financial implication including the two years arrears would be around Rs 700 crore.
The additional expenditure this year itself would be around Rs 150 crore, he claimed adding the additional burden would be approximately Rs 25 crore per month.
Asked how the Government intends to pay the arrears, Kamat said that his officers are working out the modalities.
He also looked non-committal when asked whether the arrears would be credited to GPF.
To a question whether the recommendations would be accepted with effect from January 1, 2008, he said, “Let us see we are still working on it.”
Asked what he means by word “in principle approval” here, Kamat said that the recommendation has various minute things which are being studied by the Government.
“The recommendations were for Central Government employees and the State is examining whether those things can be implemented here,” he said.
When asked whether the State had the finances to pay or would go in for a loan, Kamat replied we have not decided on that as yet but ruled out taking any loans for the purpose.
“We will have to take ‘some saving’ measures by curtailing expenditures”, he maintained.
We have taken some measures in this regard like the fixation of land rates for stamp duty etc and are trying to get in some more revenue, he added.
Meanwhile, sources told Herald that modalities would be worked out for which a meeting will be held next week.
Directorate of Accounts will be asked by the Government to compile arrears for the period from 1-1-2006 to 31-10-2008 by end of the year.
Sources said the 6th Pay Commission will not be made applicable to employees governed by UGC and AICTE scales.
TA: The employees will also be entitled to traveling allowance in place of CCA (City Compensatory allowance).
PARITY: The sources said that there’s a high possibility that pay fixation for those employees who enjoy upgraded pay scales (excluded) will be done corresponding to their pre-upgraded scales. With this, the Government intends to bring parity in pay scales as it has been a long-pending demand of Goa Government Employees Association.
However, sources say, this will not be an easy task as strong lobbies are working to retain the upgrades scales.
Source: http://oheraldo.in
PANJIM, SEPT 25 — The Goa Cabinet today took the much-awaited decision to implement the 6th Pay Commission recommendations.
The actual payment through monthly salary under the revised pay scales will commence from November 2008.
Addressing a press conference in the city, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said, “the Government in principle decided to implement the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission from November 2008”.
The revised pay scales will be implemented in respect of all the Government employees and those serving in aided-institutions (teaching and non-teaching staff) with effect from January 1, 2006.
Replying to queries, Kamat couldn’t give a clear picture over payment of arrears.
Sources in the Government, however, told Herald that the arrears for the period 1-1-2006 to 31-8-2008, for employees appointed prior to August 5, 2005, will be credited to their GPF Account in three equal installments with a lock-in period of three years. In the process, this will become a loan to the State Government carrying interest applicable to GPF (presently it is 8% per annum).
There are nearly 7,000 new employees appointed on or after August 5, 2005 who are covered under the New Defined Pension Contribution Scheme and they do not have a separate GPF account, the sources said.
For them, a separate account would be opened under the Public Account to deposit their arrears in three equal installments with a lock-in period of three years.
Kamat announced that the arrears for September and October will be disbursed later after making a budgetary provision in the Supplementary Demand for the current year.
The total financial implication including the two years arrears would be around Rs 700 crore.
The additional expenditure this year itself would be around Rs 150 crore, he claimed adding the additional burden would be approximately Rs 25 crore per month.
Asked how the Government intends to pay the arrears, Kamat said that his officers are working out the modalities.
He also looked non-committal when asked whether the arrears would be credited to GPF.
To a question whether the recommendations would be accepted with effect from January 1, 2008, he said, “Let us see we are still working on it.”
Asked what he means by word “in principle approval” here, Kamat said that the recommendation has various minute things which are being studied by the Government.
“The recommendations were for Central Government employees and the State is examining whether those things can be implemented here,” he said.
When asked whether the State had the finances to pay or would go in for a loan, Kamat replied we have not decided on that as yet but ruled out taking any loans for the purpose.
“We will have to take ‘some saving’ measures by curtailing expenditures”, he maintained.
We have taken some measures in this regard like the fixation of land rates for stamp duty etc and are trying to get in some more revenue, he added.
Meanwhile, sources told Herald that modalities would be worked out for which a meeting will be held next week.
Directorate of Accounts will be asked by the Government to compile arrears for the period from 1-1-2006 to 31-10-2008 by end of the year.
Sources said the 6th Pay Commission will not be made applicable to employees governed by UGC and AICTE scales.
TA: The employees will also be entitled to traveling allowance in place of CCA (City Compensatory allowance).
PARITY: The sources said that there’s a high possibility that pay fixation for those employees who enjoy upgraded pay scales (excluded) will be done corresponding to their pre-upgraded scales. With this, the Government intends to bring parity in pay scales as it has been a long-pending demand of Goa Government Employees Association.
However, sources say, this will not be an easy task as strong lobbies are working to retain the upgrades scales.
Source: http://oheraldo.in
Sixth Pay Commission: Antony urges PM to address forces’ pay panel demands
Sixth Pay Commission: Antony urges PM to address forces’ pay panel demands
September 22, 2008
As the armed forces have refused to take their salaries recommended by the pay panel unless their “core issues” are addressed, Defence Minister A.K. Antony has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take their demands into consideration.
Antony's letter comes after the three services' chiefs put their foot down and sought redressal of their demands pertaining to the Sixth Pay Commission.
“Antony last week strongly recommended that the prime minister and the finance minister (P. Chidambaram) consider the four issues raised by the forces,” a defence source said Monday.
The reviewed report of the Sixth Pay Commission has upgraded the civilian and paramilitary counterparts of officers of the rank of lieutenant colonel and equivalent to a higher pay band.
As a result, civilian officers who were in the lower pay bracket and were hitherto drawing lesser pay than lieutenant colonels and officers of equivalent rank would now draw a higher basic salary.
The armed forces have been contending that these “core issues” would affect the joint operations of the armed forces and paramilitary forces.
The report of the Sixth Pay Commission, headed by Justice (retd) B.N. Srikrishna, was submitted to Finance Minister Chidambaram March 24.
It led to protests from both civilian and defence personnel, following which the government appointed a committee under Cabinet Secretary K. Chandrashekhar to study the various demands for financial corrections.
Source: http://www.freshnews.in/
September 22, 2008
As the armed forces have refused to take their salaries recommended by the pay panel unless their “core issues” are addressed, Defence Minister A.K. Antony has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take their demands into consideration.
Antony's letter comes after the three services' chiefs put their foot down and sought redressal of their demands pertaining to the Sixth Pay Commission.
“Antony last week strongly recommended that the prime minister and the finance minister (P. Chidambaram) consider the four issues raised by the forces,” a defence source said Monday.
The reviewed report of the Sixth Pay Commission has upgraded the civilian and paramilitary counterparts of officers of the rank of lieutenant colonel and equivalent to a higher pay band.
As a result, civilian officers who were in the lower pay bracket and were hitherto drawing lesser pay than lieutenant colonels and officers of equivalent rank would now draw a higher basic salary.
The armed forces have been contending that these “core issues” would affect the joint operations of the armed forces and paramilitary forces.
The report of the Sixth Pay Commission, headed by Justice (retd) B.N. Srikrishna, was submitted to Finance Minister Chidambaram March 24.
It led to protests from both civilian and defence personnel, following which the government appointed a committee under Cabinet Secretary K. Chandrashekhar to study the various demands for financial corrections.
Source: http://www.freshnews.in/
Sixth Pay Commission: IPS officers allege anomalies in pay-scale, meet CM
Sixth Pay Commission: IPS officers allege anomalies in pay-scale, meet CM
Shimla, September 25 Indian Police Services (IPS) officers in the Himachal cadre are upset with the “serious anomalies” that have allegedly cropped up in their new pay-scales on the basis of the Sixth Pay Commission report.
The IPS Officers’ Association today met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and pointed out that the latest notification, issued by the government, has put the police officers at a loss.
However, as compared to them, they said the IAS officers are understood to have got two increments, resulting in anomalies in the scales.
Said S.R. Mardi, an office-bearer of the IPS Association, “We have explained the issue to the Chief Minister and asked him to take up the matter with the Central government. If the notification issued now is implemented, the IPS officers will suffer injustice.”
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/
Shimla, September 25 Indian Police Services (IPS) officers in the Himachal cadre are upset with the “serious anomalies” that have allegedly cropped up in their new pay-scales on the basis of the Sixth Pay Commission report.
The IPS Officers’ Association today met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and pointed out that the latest notification, issued by the government, has put the police officers at a loss.
However, as compared to them, they said the IAS officers are understood to have got two increments, resulting in anomalies in the scales.
Said S.R. Mardi, an office-bearer of the IPS Association, “We have explained the issue to the Chief Minister and asked him to take up the matter with the Central government. If the notification issued now is implemented, the IPS officers will suffer injustice.”
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/
6th Pay Commission: Pay parity battle: Navy, Army chiefs meet cabinet secy
6th Pay Commission: Pay parity battle: Navy, Army chiefs meet cabinet secy
26 Sep 2008
NEW DELHI: The armed forces continue to wage their battle against the notification of the new pay scales. Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Army chief General Deepak Kapoor met cabinet secretary K M Chandrashekar on Thursday to seek urgent corrective steps to resolve their pending "core issues".
With the armed forces seething with anger at the delay in restoring their parity with their civilian and paramilitary counterparts, defence minister A K Antony was virtually forced to write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to seek his personal intervention in the matter.
This came after the finance ministry rejected the "core issues" raised by the armed forces, including the main one connected with Lt-Colonel rank officers, without giving any reasons. The government has so far only indicated its willingness to restore the earlier 70% "pensionary weightage" given to jawans, overruling the 50% recommended by the 6th Pay Commission.
The top military brass, in turn, is upset with "bureaucratic attempts" to drive a wedge between their officers and PBOR (personnel below officer rank). The military leadership, in fact, has sent a message down its ranks that the battle is being fought for both officers and PBOR in "a united, cohesive" manner.
While civilian government employees will get their new pay scales and 40% arrears on October 1, the armed forces are holding firm that they will continue with their old pay scales till the matter is resolved. The armed forces are particularly angry that the "extant parity" of Lt-Cols has been lowered by retaining them in Pay Band-3 (Rs 15,600-39,100), while raising similarly placed civilians and paramilitary officers to PB-4 (Rs 37,400-67,000).
The "lowering of status" of Lt-Cols and their equivalent ranks in IAF (Wing Commander) and Navy (Commander) is of major concern since these ranks constitute the bulk of the fighting force among officers. Almost 18,950 of the 54,770 officers in the 13-lakh strong armed forces, after all, are Lt-Col rank officers.
Another core issue is that all directors-general of police and their equivalents have been placed over Lt-Generals by the creation of a new "higher administrative grade-plus". The forces want all Lt-Gens to be placed in this grade.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
26 Sep 2008
NEW DELHI: The armed forces continue to wage their battle against the notification of the new pay scales. Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Army chief General Deepak Kapoor met cabinet secretary K M Chandrashekar on Thursday to seek urgent corrective steps to resolve their pending "core issues".
With the armed forces seething with anger at the delay in restoring their parity with their civilian and paramilitary counterparts, defence minister A K Antony was virtually forced to write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to seek his personal intervention in the matter.
This came after the finance ministry rejected the "core issues" raised by the armed forces, including the main one connected with Lt-Colonel rank officers, without giving any reasons. The government has so far only indicated its willingness to restore the earlier 70% "pensionary weightage" given to jawans, overruling the 50% recommended by the 6th Pay Commission.
The top military brass, in turn, is upset with "bureaucratic attempts" to drive a wedge between their officers and PBOR (personnel below officer rank). The military leadership, in fact, has sent a message down its ranks that the battle is being fought for both officers and PBOR in "a united, cohesive" manner.
While civilian government employees will get their new pay scales and 40% arrears on October 1, the armed forces are holding firm that they will continue with their old pay scales till the matter is resolved. The armed forces are particularly angry that the "extant parity" of Lt-Cols has been lowered by retaining them in Pay Band-3 (Rs 15,600-39,100), while raising similarly placed civilians and paramilitary officers to PB-4 (Rs 37,400-67,000).
The "lowering of status" of Lt-Cols and their equivalent ranks in IAF (Wing Commander) and Navy (Commander) is of major concern since these ranks constitute the bulk of the fighting force among officers. Almost 18,950 of the 54,770 officers in the 13-lakh strong armed forces, after all, are Lt-Col rank officers.
Another core issue is that all directors-general of police and their equivalents have been placed over Lt-Generals by the creation of a new "higher administrative grade-plus". The forces want all Lt-Gens to be placed in this grade.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Sixth Pay Commission: Services to hold pay report till Lt Cols moved to higher band
Sixth Pay Commission: Services to hold pay report till Lt Cols moved to higher band
New Delhi, September 25 Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, in consultation with the Army and Air Force Chiefs is learnt to have decided to withhold the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission report in the armed forces until the Government agrees to the place Lieutenant Colonels and their equivalents in the higher pay band even as the Defence Ministry has again asked the Finance Ministry to reconsider this key demand. The contentious issue has now become a war of nerves between the Armed Forces and the government with only five days left to implement the pay commission report.
Government sources said that Admiral Mehta has decided not to issue “government draft letter” that is required by the Defence Ministry to implement the new pay scales and arrears on October 1. The three service chiefs apparently took this decision as the existing pay band 3, as per the Pay Commission, is unacceptable to Lt Colonels and their equivalents. Backed by their seniors, the Lt Colonels want the next pay band, which is 4, so that they at least get more salary than their counterparts in the Coast Guard. Even though the Defence Ministry has quietly reminded the services for issuing the draft letter, the service chiefs are under tremendous pressure not to yield to the government till the pay disparities are rectified.
The Defence Ministry has again requested the Finance Ministry to reconsider the armed forces demand of placing the Lt Colonels in pay band 4. But this time they have not referred to the other key demand that Lt Generals be placed in the Higher Administrative Grade plus scale so that their parity with the Director Generals of Police is maintained. Defence Minister A K Antony has already written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Lt Colonel issue after Finance Ministry rejected the South Block request on grounds that it did not want to reopen a Pandora’s box by revisiting the Pay Commission report.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/
New Delhi, September 25 Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, in consultation with the Army and Air Force Chiefs is learnt to have decided to withhold the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission report in the armed forces until the Government agrees to the place Lieutenant Colonels and their equivalents in the higher pay band even as the Defence Ministry has again asked the Finance Ministry to reconsider this key demand. The contentious issue has now become a war of nerves between the Armed Forces and the government with only five days left to implement the pay commission report.
Government sources said that Admiral Mehta has decided not to issue “government draft letter” that is required by the Defence Ministry to implement the new pay scales and arrears on October 1. The three service chiefs apparently took this decision as the existing pay band 3, as per the Pay Commission, is unacceptable to Lt Colonels and their equivalents. Backed by their seniors, the Lt Colonels want the next pay band, which is 4, so that they at least get more salary than their counterparts in the Coast Guard. Even though the Defence Ministry has quietly reminded the services for issuing the draft letter, the service chiefs are under tremendous pressure not to yield to the government till the pay disparities are rectified.
The Defence Ministry has again requested the Finance Ministry to reconsider the armed forces demand of placing the Lt Colonels in pay band 4. But this time they have not referred to the other key demand that Lt Generals be placed in the Higher Administrative Grade plus scale so that their parity with the Director Generals of Police is maintained. Defence Minister A K Antony has already written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Lt Colonel issue after Finance Ministry rejected the South Block request on grounds that it did not want to reopen a Pandora’s box by revisiting the Pay Commission report.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sixth Pay Commission: Government gives 'in principle' nod to pay demand for jawans
Sixth Pay Commission: Government gives 'in principle' nod to pay demand for jawans
25 Sep, 2008
NEW DELHI: The government has agreed to restore 70 per cent "pensionary weightage" to jawans, even as Defence chiefs on Thursday intensified efforts to get "anomalies" in the 6th Pay Commission notification removed.
"The government has given in principle approval to reverting to the 70 per cent pensionary weightage, as demanded by the Services, overruling the 50 per cent recommended by the Central Pay Commission (CPC), providing much-needed relief just before this Diwali," top Defence Ministry sources told reporters here.
Espousing their cause, the Services chiefs today apprised Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar and officials in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the issues.
Earlier, jawans used to get 70 per cent of their last drawn pay as pension calculated on the basis of their 10-month average salary before retirement.
Under the CPC notification, the jawans, who form the backbone of the Armed Forces but retire at a relatively young age, are to be provided with the option of lateral entry in to the Central police forces and paramilitary and in return, they would get reduced "pensionary weightage" of 50 per cent.
In order to resolve this issue, Defence Minister A K Antony had written a strong letter to both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, particularly batting for the jawan's pensionary benefits, reduced by the CPC.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
25 Sep, 2008
NEW DELHI: The government has agreed to restore 70 per cent "pensionary weightage" to jawans, even as Defence chiefs on Thursday intensified efforts to get "anomalies" in the 6th Pay Commission notification removed.
"The government has given in principle approval to reverting to the 70 per cent pensionary weightage, as demanded by the Services, overruling the 50 per cent recommended by the Central Pay Commission (CPC), providing much-needed relief just before this Diwali," top Defence Ministry sources told reporters here.
Espousing their cause, the Services chiefs today apprised Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar and officials in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the issues.
Earlier, jawans used to get 70 per cent of their last drawn pay as pension calculated on the basis of their 10-month average salary before retirement.
Under the CPC notification, the jawans, who form the backbone of the Armed Forces but retire at a relatively young age, are to be provided with the option of lateral entry in to the Central police forces and paramilitary and in return, they would get reduced "pensionary weightage" of 50 per cent.
In order to resolve this issue, Defence Minister A K Antony had written a strong letter to both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, particularly batting for the jawan's pensionary benefits, reduced by the CPC.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
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