Dated 9th June , 2010
Dear Comrades,
I hope all of you would have seen the Railway board’s order clarifying that Sr.AAs will get Grade pay of Rs.4800/-. This would also pave the way for II ACP beneficiaries under the previous ACP scheme to get their pay fixed in Grade Pay of Rs.4800/- from 05-04-2007 and their III financial upgradation under MACP will be in Rs. 5400/- on completion of 30 years of service. After a relentless fight for the last two years AIRASA has achieved this. All the beneficiaries may be appraised of this and asked to donate liberally to AIRASA for its ongoing fight for various pending demands.
The next CWC Meeting of AIRASA will be held at MALIGAON, GUWAHATI, NF RAILWAY ON 5th JULY 2010 at 10.00 hrs to discuss the further course of action to be taken on the pending demands and to discuss the outcome of the Patna High Court judgement.
I come to know that some divisions are collecting donations from the Accounts Staff on the request from Sri. Sudama Singh, applicant of the PATNA HIGH COURT CASE for grant of Arrears from 1-1-96 to 18-02-2003. I request them to wait till the above CWC Meeting is over. After discussing the issue in the meeting and passing of Resolutions regarding following up the Case further, instructions will be issued in regard to collection Fund to fight the Case further.
I request all the Central Office Bearers, Permanent invitees, Zonal Presidents and Secretaries to attend the meeting without fail.
As the financial position is still very weak , all possible efforts may be taken to collect and personally remit the Membership contribution to the Central office to the Secretary, Finance in the meeting.
Yours Comradely,
(N. SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
*
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
latest Reminders to Board
Dated June 11, 2010
Shri. B.N. MAHAPATRA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTS.
RAIL BHAVAN, NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Sir,
Sub : Introduction of 5% quota for unqualified Sr.AAs in
Supervisory cadre.
Ref : Railway Board’s letter dated 05-04-2007 and this
Assn’s earlier letters dated 2-05-2007 and 14-06-07,
16-06-09,09-09-09,30-09-09,20-09-09,7-12-09, 2-2-10
12-03-2010 & 28-04-2010.
----------------------
The Railway Board’s letter No. PC V/98/I/II/23(pt) dated 05-04-07 reserving 5% of the posts of SO(A)s to be designated as Sr. Accounts Assistants for promotion of Senior most Accounts Assistants intended to provide promotional opportunities to the thousands of Accounts Assistants stagnated in the same grade for more than 20 years, has indeed benefited around 50 Accounts Assistants only for the entire Indian Railways. The benefit did not reach the Accounts Assistants serving in any of the production units since the 5% of Accounts Assistants worked out to less than 0.5. Now that the posts of Section officer and Sr. Section Officer have been merged consequent on the implementation of VI PC, this Association requests Railway Board
1. to issue necessary orders to calculate the 5% of Sr. AAs on the combined strength of Section officers and Sr. Section officers, as has been done by other Audit and Accounts Organisations and to ensure creation of atleast one Sr.AA post in Production units/ Railways wherever 5% of SO(A) posts works out to less than 0.5.
2. to modify the scheme on par with the 10% unqualified quota available in other organized Accounts and Audit where the beneficiaries are designated as Supervisors.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Dated June 11, 2010
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN
NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Madam,
Sub : Grant of Qualification Incentive for qualifying Appendix
II & Appendix IIIA IREM Examinations.
Ref : This Association’s earlier letters dated 07-09-2009, 30-09-
2009 & 20-11-2009, 05-12-2009, 2-02-2010 & 28-04-2010.
-----------
The quantum of the Qualification Allowance has simply been doubled after the implementation of VI Pay Commission. This Association has already submitted that a special dispensation should be given to Accounts department in this regard considering the tough standards of these Examinations and the stringent conditions attached to it linking it as a qualification to continue in service and for promotions at every stage. Hence it will be a real incentive for those who clear the Appendix II and IIIA Examinations if some increments are granted in place of a meager Qualification Allowance without any additive benefits considering the long period of waiting for their next promotion.
This Association requests grant of Two increments for qualifying Appendix II and Four increments for Qualifying Appendix IIIA whichwill be of some incentive for those who aspire for the promotion to JAA and SO(A) Cadre respectively. Further these incentive increments should be doubled if the qualified staff does not get promoted within Five years. Kindly do the needful.
Thanking You,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Dated June 11, 2010
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN
NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Madam,
Sub : Modification in Recruitment Rules for the post of
Assistant Officers in Accounts Department – Para
210 of IREC Vol.1- Request of.
Ref : This Assn’s earlier letters dated 07-09-09 &
30-09-09, 20-11-09, 2-02-10,12-03-2010 &28-04-2010.
--------------
The Sixth CPC has grouped all the Accounts and Audit organizations of Central Government as Organized Accounts and Audit and has recommended uniform of Pay structure. Already these organizations are having uniform cadre structure also. Thus everything is uniform for the organized Accounts and Audit except the group B classification for Section Officers and Recruitment Rules for Assistant Officers in Accounts department. Copies of the Recruitment Rules for Assistant Officers in C&AG Offices and Controller General of Accounts under Ministry of Finance which provides promotion on seniority basis to the post of Accounts Officers are enclosed. The Recruitment Rules of Assistant Officers in Postal and Defence Accounts organization are also on the same lines.
Hence, kindly modify the Recruitment Rules of the Assistant Officers in Accounts department of Railways also on the same lines and oblige.
Thanking You,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Dated June 11, 2010
Shri. SAMAR JHA
ADDITIONAL MEMBER, FINANCE
RAIL BHAVAN, NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Sir,
Sub :- Avenue of Promotion to App.IIIA passed candidates – TIA &
ISA Group.
Ref :- This Association’s earlier letters dated 06-02- 2006,12-05- 2006
10-10-2006, 19-12-2006, 22-01-2007, 19-03-2007, 02-05-2007
02-09-2007, 06-11-07, 18-12-2007,28-2-2008, 24-06-2008, 15-
10-2008 &15-12-2008, 12-03-2009, 16- 6-2009,09-09-2009, 30-
09-2009 ,5-12-2009,2-02-2010 12-03-2010 & 28-4-2010.
--------------
Railway Board’s orders dated 30-11-2006 restructured the Supervisor and supervised ratio as 1 : 3 for SO(A) cadre alone. This had created an anomalous situation wherein the seniors who qualified TIA and ISA Group more than 16 years ago are still remaining as Accounts Assistants whereas their juniors are promoted as SO(A)s.
In this connection, this Association placed many suggestions vide letters cited above for creation of additional posts of TIAs and ISAs as done during 1981 when a similar situation prevailed. Though Railway board has left the issue of creation of additional posts to Zonal Railways, Zonal Railways have not come forward to create additional posts for want of matching surrender posts.
As the TIA/ISA group qualified staff are suffering the ignominy for more than 16 long years, this Association requests Railway Board to consider upgradation of the posts of AAs who have qualified App. IIIA ( TIA & ISA group ) and waiting for promotion temporarily as TIA/ISA and the same may be down graded as and when vacancies in TIA & ISA cadre arises /additional posts are created in future. The financial implication will be very less and temporary under this scheme.” This practice of giving adhoc promotions is already in vogue in CAG’s Offices for SAS qualified candidates AND RECENTLY C&AG HAS CONVERTED NEARLY 2000 ADHOC SO POSTS AS REGULAR POSTS. (Copy enclosed)
Please consider this proposal and arrange for issue of necessary orders.
Thanking you, Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
Dated 11th June 2010
SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE,
HON’BLE FINANCE MINISTER OF INDIA,
NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110001.
Respected Sir,
Sub : Implementation of Board of Arbitration Award.
Ref : This Association’s earlier letter dated 13-02-2010 & 12-03-
2010.
-------------
The Audit and Accounts personnel belonging to Indian Audit & Accounts Department and other Organised Accounts Departments remember with gratitude your tenure as Finance Minister of India in Smt. Indira Gandhi’s Government in 1983 when you had addressed to the long pending grievance of Audit and Accounts Employees of IA&AD by grant of higher pay scale to the Senior Auditors at par with Assistants of Central Secretariat. In 1983, Shri Ashok Vajpayee, Congress leader of U.P. took initiative to arrange for a meeting of representatives of Staff side of IA&AD with you. As decided by you, the higher pay scale to Senior Auditors was granted w.e.f. 1.3.1984. As a result, the Fourth Central Pay Commission recommended same pay scales to Senior Auditors, Senior Accountants, Accounts Assistants and the Assistants of CSS which were accepted by the Government in 1987 by giving effect of the benefit to others from 1. 1. 1986 and in case of Senior Accountants from 1. 4. 1987. The Accounts Employees of Organised Accounts Departments under Union Government were also granted the same pay scale in accordance with the recommendation of the Fourth CPC and accepted by the Government.
However, the Government took an arbitrary decision in 1990 to upgrade the pay scale of Assistants of Central Secretariat with retrospective effect from 1.1.1986. This benefit was not extended to the Senior Auditors and Senior Accountants and created anomaly. Since then we have been insisting the successive governments to rectify the anomaly. Some employees of Audit offices in Assam and Himachal Pradesh knocked the door of Central Administrative Tribunals and won the cases. In Jabalpur, the Defence accounts employees went to CAT and won the case.
In each of these cases the Government appealed to respective High Court Benches and lost the cases. The Union Government filed SLP in Supreme Court and lost the case in case of Defence Accounts Employees of Jabalpur. In the other SLP against decisions of Guwahati and Shimla bench of High Courts, the Apex Court has upheld the SLP not on merit but left the matter to the Government to decide because the Government had mentioned that implementation of Award given by the Central Board of Arbitration is under negotiation with the Staff Side. An anomalous situation has arisen as two different decisions of the two different benches of Apex Court has resulted in extension of parity to Defence Accounts employees and denying the same to Audit employees of Assam and Shimla by two judges Bench. In case of Defence Accounts Employees of Jabalpur, the decision was given by three judges Bench and the other decision was given by two judges’ bench.
Incidentally it may be mentioned that the matter was referred to the JCM (NC) as an agenda in 1992 in which Government de -linked the Senior Auditors from the agenda and only it was pending for the Senior Accountants and Accounts Assistants of the Railway Accounts. It lingered for a long and after recording of disagreement in JCM (N.C.) the matter was referred to the Central Board of Arbitration. The Central Board of Arbitration has given an award with unanimous decision to grant higher pay scale to Senior Auditors and Senior Accountants including the Accounts Assistants of Railway Accounts with notional benefit from 1. 1. 1986 & 1.1.1996 and actual benefit from 12 11. 2001 (being the date for referring the matter to the Board).
Sir, as Hon’ble Finance Minister, Dr. Man Mohan Singh took a decision to grant higher pay scale to Senior Auditors and Senior Accountants when he was Finance minister and accordingly the Guwahati High Court was informed by the then Accountant General Mrs. A.L.Ganapati by filing an affidavit. Dr. Man Mohan Singh could not implement his decision as election code of conduct came in the way. Congress lost in the election and his decision could not be implemented. The next Government reversed his decision and informed the High Court accordingly. As leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, Dr. Man Mohan Singh recommended our case to Shri Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister of NDA Government.
In 2003, the NDA Government took a decision to grant higher pay scale to Senior Auditors, Senior Accountants and Accounts Assistants of Railway Accounts notionally from 1. 1. 1996 and effective from 19. 2. 2003. The decision taken by the NDA Government has caused anomaly as direct pay fixation from pay scale of Rs.1400-2600 to Rs. 5500-9000 was not possible as pre revised scale of Rs.5500-9000 was Rs.1640-2900. There was no nexus between Rs.1400-2600 and Rs.5500-9000.
PRAYER
We therefore request you to kindly look into the grievance of the Audit and Accounts employees and remove the discrimination meted out to the Senior Auditors/Senior Accountants/ Accounts Assistants by implementing the Board of Arbitration Award granting upgraded pay scale of Rs. 1640-2900 from 1.1.1986 and Rs. 5500 from 1. 1. 1996. Regarding payment of arrears we are open for any negotiated settlement which may be beneficial to both the sides so that the anomaly may once again be removed for ever.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(N. SRINIVASAN)
Dated June 11’ 2010
Shri. Basudeb Acharya,
Hon’ble Member of Parliament,
New Delhi.
Respected Sir,
Sub : Anomalies in MACP Scheme for Central Govt.
Employees.
Ref : This Assn’s earlier letter dated 28-04-2010.
-------------
The Modified Assured Carrier Progression (MACP) scheme of 6th Central Pay Commission implementation has the following features.
• Every Employee will get atleast 3 Financial upgradations in their service.
• Financial Up gradation is ensured to be given on completion of 10th , 20th , 30th year.
• Also financial upgradation will be considered if an employee stagnates for more than 10 years in a particular grade.
The above scheme, instead of proving to be beneficiary, has ironically created severe Heart burns amongst the Railway Accounts employees in view of the following:
1. This scheme does not fit in to the Accounts department where promotions are based on passing stringent qualifying Examinations and not on Seniority basis.
2. Railway Accounts department has more than one way / channel of recruitment in that lateral induction (Junior Accounts Assistant)is also encouraged while promotional avenues for the same post from the lower grade(Accounts Clerk) is available
3. An Accounts Clerk (in the initial recruitment grade) can skip two promotional Grades in hierarchy i.e Junior Accounts Assistant and Accounts Assistant and directly become a Section officer (Accounts) after qualifying the Appendix III (IREM) Examination conducted by Railway Board.
4. A Panel Seniority is being allotted on qualifying the Examination in the order of hierarchy of the post held by the Candidates qualified in the Examination and that Seniority position is reckoned for further promotions.
5. Under the MACP Scheme those Section officers who were directly recruited as Junior Accounts Assistants and those who were directly promoted from Accounts Clerk and Junior Accounts Assistant Grade have got the benefit of 3rd Financial upgradation under MACP and are placed in the next higher Grade Pay of Rs.5400/- despite being Juniors in the Panel Seniority while the Senior most Section Officers who are promoted to the grade as early as 1982 and stagnating in the Grade for 28 long years have not been given the benefit simply on the ground that hey had already earned three promotions.
6. The prohibition of stepping up of the pay of Seniors to that of their Juniors in the MACP is the root cause for their heart burns.
7. Worse of all, a directly recruited Jr. Accounts Asst who works under a Senior Section Officer also has been allotted the Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/- and Rs. 5400/- in the ACP and MACP schemes on completion of 24th and 30th year of service respectively while his Supervisor will languish by stagnating at the Grade Pay of Rs, 4800/- as he has got 3 regular promotions. In spite of their passing tough Departmental Examinations, such Section Officers will either draw the same Grade Pay of their Subordinate or less than the Grade Pay of his / her Subordinate. If a subordinate is placed in a higher Grade than the Supervisor what control can the supervisor exercise over his subordinate and what command he will have over him?.
A comparative analysis of the discriminatory nature of MACP scheme is enclosed from which the grave injustice heaped on the Sr. Supervisors can be seen.
Such an aggrieved position is not obtaining in any other department of Railways / other Central Government Departments in view of the continuous professional examinations (Training Exams, Appendix II, Appendix III) taken for their promotions instead of getting the elevation purely on seniority basis by other Railway Departments / Government Departments.
To set right this anomalous situation, this Association has already requested the Hon’ble Minister of Railways and Hon’ble Minister for DOPT to consider grant Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- to all the Sr. Section Officers once they complete 4 years of service in the Section Officer grade. This scheme is available to the staff of many other Departments.
Your kind self is requested to urge the Railway Minister to favorably consider the above proposal and help the Seniormost employees to get their genuine grievance redressed.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary
Dated June 11, 2010
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN,NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Madam,
Sub: Anomaly in MACP - in cases of own/mutual
transfer on lower Grade to another division/unit
of same railway.
Ref: 1. Rly Bd. Lr no: PC-V/2009/ACP/2 dt 10/06/09. (RBE101/2009).
2. This Association’s earlier letter dated 28-04-2010.
---------------
The employees who are transferred on mutual/own request basis on lower grade from one division/unit to another division/unit of the different seniority unit within the same Railway on lower/initial grade and subsequently they are again promoted have not been given the benefit of MACP in terms of para 24 of Annex of letter no. PC V/2009/ACP/II DT. 11.6.09. For example an employee appointed as JAA and after getting his AA promotion, he has been transferred on own request to another division/unit of the different seniority unit within the same Railway as JAA. In the new division/unit he again gets promoted as AA and S.O(A/Cs). In these cases Railways are counting his promotion of AA twice ( i.e. one of parent office & second of new office.)and are rejecting 3rd ACP.
In this regard it is stated that it is incorrect to count the promotion as AA twice. Further it is also pointed out that in some of the Zonal Railways there is Zonal seniority and in others division-wise seniority. In such cases if one employee joined as JAA in Central Railway and on completion of three years he was promoted as AA and transferred to other division, he doesn’t loses his 3rd ACP, whereas in case of another employee who joined in Western Railway as JAA and after getting AA’s promotion he seeks own request transfer to other division he is reverted on lower grade as JAA and takes his promotion based on the new seniority. In both the above cases being recruited through same RRB but posted in different Railways one gets 3rd MACPS benefit and another not. This Association requests your kindself to look into this anomaly and take suitable action to modify the rule under Para 24 of MACP Circular so that they are treated atleast on par with their juniors in the new Unit/Organisation.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary
Dated June 11, 2010
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN,NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Madam,
Sub : Restructuring of Accounts cadres.
----------------
We understand that Cadre Restructuring Committee has been formed by Railway Board to restructure the percentage of various cadres in all the departments of Railways. As regards Accounts department we would like to present the following for your favourable consideration.
The Accounts Clerks are stagnated in the Cadre for more than 10 years for want of vacancies in JAA cadre. Hence it is requested for a change in the 80 : 20 pattern of Direct Recruitment Vs Promotions as 20 : 80 since virtually there are no direct recruitments.
Similarly the ratio of ASVs : Sr. ASVs may be modified from the present 65 : 35 to 20 : 80 as large number of posts are in work charged posts under Sales Organisation which varies from year to year. At present virtually only 10 % are in ASV cadre.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Shri. B.N. MAHAPATRA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTS.
RAIL BHAVAN, NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Sir,
Sub : Introduction of 5% quota for unqualified Sr.AAs in
Supervisory cadre.
Ref : Railway Board’s letter dated 05-04-2007 and this
Assn’s earlier letters dated 2-05-2007 and 14-06-07,
16-06-09,09-09-09,30-09-09,20-09-09,7-12-09, 2-2-10
12-03-2010 & 28-04-2010.
----------------------
The Railway Board’s letter No. PC V/98/I/II/23(pt) dated 05-04-07 reserving 5% of the posts of SO(A)s to be designated as Sr. Accounts Assistants for promotion of Senior most Accounts Assistants intended to provide promotional opportunities to the thousands of Accounts Assistants stagnated in the same grade for more than 20 years, has indeed benefited around 50 Accounts Assistants only for the entire Indian Railways. The benefit did not reach the Accounts Assistants serving in any of the production units since the 5% of Accounts Assistants worked out to less than 0.5. Now that the posts of Section officer and Sr. Section Officer have been merged consequent on the implementation of VI PC, this Association requests Railway Board
1. to issue necessary orders to calculate the 5% of Sr. AAs on the combined strength of Section officers and Sr. Section officers, as has been done by other Audit and Accounts Organisations and to ensure creation of atleast one Sr.AA post in Production units/ Railways wherever 5% of SO(A) posts works out to less than 0.5.
2. to modify the scheme on par with the 10% unqualified quota available in other organized Accounts and Audit where the beneficiaries are designated as Supervisors.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Dated June 11, 2010
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN
NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Madam,
Sub : Grant of Qualification Incentive for qualifying Appendix
II & Appendix IIIA IREM Examinations.
Ref : This Association’s earlier letters dated 07-09-2009, 30-09-
2009 & 20-11-2009, 05-12-2009, 2-02-2010 & 28-04-2010.
-----------
The quantum of the Qualification Allowance has simply been doubled after the implementation of VI Pay Commission. This Association has already submitted that a special dispensation should be given to Accounts department in this regard considering the tough standards of these Examinations and the stringent conditions attached to it linking it as a qualification to continue in service and for promotions at every stage. Hence it will be a real incentive for those who clear the Appendix II and IIIA Examinations if some increments are granted in place of a meager Qualification Allowance without any additive benefits considering the long period of waiting for their next promotion.
This Association requests grant of Two increments for qualifying Appendix II and Four increments for Qualifying Appendix IIIA whichwill be of some incentive for those who aspire for the promotion to JAA and SO(A) Cadre respectively. Further these incentive increments should be doubled if the qualified staff does not get promoted within Five years. Kindly do the needful.
Thanking You,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Dated June 11, 2010
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN
NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Madam,
Sub : Modification in Recruitment Rules for the post of
Assistant Officers in Accounts Department – Para
210 of IREC Vol.1- Request of.
Ref : This Assn’s earlier letters dated 07-09-09 &
30-09-09, 20-11-09, 2-02-10,12-03-2010 &28-04-2010.
--------------
The Sixth CPC has grouped all the Accounts and Audit organizations of Central Government as Organized Accounts and Audit and has recommended uniform of Pay structure. Already these organizations are having uniform cadre structure also. Thus everything is uniform for the organized Accounts and Audit except the group B classification for Section Officers and Recruitment Rules for Assistant Officers in Accounts department. Copies of the Recruitment Rules for Assistant Officers in C&AG Offices and Controller General of Accounts under Ministry of Finance which provides promotion on seniority basis to the post of Accounts Officers are enclosed. The Recruitment Rules of Assistant Officers in Postal and Defence Accounts organization are also on the same lines.
Hence, kindly modify the Recruitment Rules of the Assistant Officers in Accounts department of Railways also on the same lines and oblige.
Thanking You,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Dated June 11, 2010
Shri. SAMAR JHA
ADDITIONAL MEMBER, FINANCE
RAIL BHAVAN, NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Sir,
Sub :- Avenue of Promotion to App.IIIA passed candidates – TIA &
ISA Group.
Ref :- This Association’s earlier letters dated 06-02- 2006,12-05- 2006
10-10-2006, 19-12-2006, 22-01-2007, 19-03-2007, 02-05-2007
02-09-2007, 06-11-07, 18-12-2007,28-2-2008, 24-06-2008, 15-
10-2008 &15-12-2008, 12-03-2009, 16- 6-2009,09-09-2009, 30-
09-2009 ,5-12-2009,2-02-2010 12-03-2010 & 28-4-2010.
--------------
Railway Board’s orders dated 30-11-2006 restructured the Supervisor and supervised ratio as 1 : 3 for SO(A) cadre alone. This had created an anomalous situation wherein the seniors who qualified TIA and ISA Group more than 16 years ago are still remaining as Accounts Assistants whereas their juniors are promoted as SO(A)s.
In this connection, this Association placed many suggestions vide letters cited above for creation of additional posts of TIAs and ISAs as done during 1981 when a similar situation prevailed. Though Railway board has left the issue of creation of additional posts to Zonal Railways, Zonal Railways have not come forward to create additional posts for want of matching surrender posts.
As the TIA/ISA group qualified staff are suffering the ignominy for more than 16 long years, this Association requests Railway Board to consider upgradation of the posts of AAs who have qualified App. IIIA ( TIA & ISA group ) and waiting for promotion temporarily as TIA/ISA and the same may be down graded as and when vacancies in TIA & ISA cadre arises /additional posts are created in future. The financial implication will be very less and temporary under this scheme.” This practice of giving adhoc promotions is already in vogue in CAG’s Offices for SAS qualified candidates AND RECENTLY C&AG HAS CONVERTED NEARLY 2000 ADHOC SO POSTS AS REGULAR POSTS. (Copy enclosed)
Please consider this proposal and arrange for issue of necessary orders.
Thanking you, Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
Dated 11th June 2010
SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE,
HON’BLE FINANCE MINISTER OF INDIA,
NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110001.
Respected Sir,
Sub : Implementation of Board of Arbitration Award.
Ref : This Association’s earlier letter dated 13-02-2010 & 12-03-
2010.
-------------
The Audit and Accounts personnel belonging to Indian Audit & Accounts Department and other Organised Accounts Departments remember with gratitude your tenure as Finance Minister of India in Smt. Indira Gandhi’s Government in 1983 when you had addressed to the long pending grievance of Audit and Accounts Employees of IA&AD by grant of higher pay scale to the Senior Auditors at par with Assistants of Central Secretariat. In 1983, Shri Ashok Vajpayee, Congress leader of U.P. took initiative to arrange for a meeting of representatives of Staff side of IA&AD with you. As decided by you, the higher pay scale to Senior Auditors was granted w.e.f. 1.3.1984. As a result, the Fourth Central Pay Commission recommended same pay scales to Senior Auditors, Senior Accountants, Accounts Assistants and the Assistants of CSS which were accepted by the Government in 1987 by giving effect of the benefit to others from 1. 1. 1986 and in case of Senior Accountants from 1. 4. 1987. The Accounts Employees of Organised Accounts Departments under Union Government were also granted the same pay scale in accordance with the recommendation of the Fourth CPC and accepted by the Government.
However, the Government took an arbitrary decision in 1990 to upgrade the pay scale of Assistants of Central Secretariat with retrospective effect from 1.1.1986. This benefit was not extended to the Senior Auditors and Senior Accountants and created anomaly. Since then we have been insisting the successive governments to rectify the anomaly. Some employees of Audit offices in Assam and Himachal Pradesh knocked the door of Central Administrative Tribunals and won the cases. In Jabalpur, the Defence accounts employees went to CAT and won the case.
In each of these cases the Government appealed to respective High Court Benches and lost the cases. The Union Government filed SLP in Supreme Court and lost the case in case of Defence Accounts Employees of Jabalpur. In the other SLP against decisions of Guwahati and Shimla bench of High Courts, the Apex Court has upheld the SLP not on merit but left the matter to the Government to decide because the Government had mentioned that implementation of Award given by the Central Board of Arbitration is under negotiation with the Staff Side. An anomalous situation has arisen as two different decisions of the two different benches of Apex Court has resulted in extension of parity to Defence Accounts employees and denying the same to Audit employees of Assam and Shimla by two judges Bench. In case of Defence Accounts Employees of Jabalpur, the decision was given by three judges Bench and the other decision was given by two judges’ bench.
Incidentally it may be mentioned that the matter was referred to the JCM (NC) as an agenda in 1992 in which Government de -linked the Senior Auditors from the agenda and only it was pending for the Senior Accountants and Accounts Assistants of the Railway Accounts. It lingered for a long and after recording of disagreement in JCM (N.C.) the matter was referred to the Central Board of Arbitration. The Central Board of Arbitration has given an award with unanimous decision to grant higher pay scale to Senior Auditors and Senior Accountants including the Accounts Assistants of Railway Accounts with notional benefit from 1. 1. 1986 & 1.1.1996 and actual benefit from 12 11. 2001 (being the date for referring the matter to the Board).
Sir, as Hon’ble Finance Minister, Dr. Man Mohan Singh took a decision to grant higher pay scale to Senior Auditors and Senior Accountants when he was Finance minister and accordingly the Guwahati High Court was informed by the then Accountant General Mrs. A.L.Ganapati by filing an affidavit. Dr. Man Mohan Singh could not implement his decision as election code of conduct came in the way. Congress lost in the election and his decision could not be implemented. The next Government reversed his decision and informed the High Court accordingly. As leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, Dr. Man Mohan Singh recommended our case to Shri Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister of NDA Government.
In 2003, the NDA Government took a decision to grant higher pay scale to Senior Auditors, Senior Accountants and Accounts Assistants of Railway Accounts notionally from 1. 1. 1996 and effective from 19. 2. 2003. The decision taken by the NDA Government has caused anomaly as direct pay fixation from pay scale of Rs.1400-2600 to Rs. 5500-9000 was not possible as pre revised scale of Rs.5500-9000 was Rs.1640-2900. There was no nexus between Rs.1400-2600 and Rs.5500-9000.
PRAYER
We therefore request you to kindly look into the grievance of the Audit and Accounts employees and remove the discrimination meted out to the Senior Auditors/Senior Accountants/ Accounts Assistants by implementing the Board of Arbitration Award granting upgraded pay scale of Rs. 1640-2900 from 1.1.1986 and Rs. 5500 from 1. 1. 1996. Regarding payment of arrears we are open for any negotiated settlement which may be beneficial to both the sides so that the anomaly may once again be removed for ever.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(N. SRINIVASAN)
Dated June 11’ 2010
Shri. Basudeb Acharya,
Hon’ble Member of Parliament,
New Delhi.
Respected Sir,
Sub : Anomalies in MACP Scheme for Central Govt.
Employees.
Ref : This Assn’s earlier letter dated 28-04-2010.
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The Modified Assured Carrier Progression (MACP) scheme of 6th Central Pay Commission implementation has the following features.
• Every Employee will get atleast 3 Financial upgradations in their service.
• Financial Up gradation is ensured to be given on completion of 10th , 20th , 30th year.
• Also financial upgradation will be considered if an employee stagnates for more than 10 years in a particular grade.
The above scheme, instead of proving to be beneficiary, has ironically created severe Heart burns amongst the Railway Accounts employees in view of the following:
1. This scheme does not fit in to the Accounts department where promotions are based on passing stringent qualifying Examinations and not on Seniority basis.
2. Railway Accounts department has more than one way / channel of recruitment in that lateral induction (Junior Accounts Assistant)is also encouraged while promotional avenues for the same post from the lower grade(Accounts Clerk) is available
3. An Accounts Clerk (in the initial recruitment grade) can skip two promotional Grades in hierarchy i.e Junior Accounts Assistant and Accounts Assistant and directly become a Section officer (Accounts) after qualifying the Appendix III (IREM) Examination conducted by Railway Board.
4. A Panel Seniority is being allotted on qualifying the Examination in the order of hierarchy of the post held by the Candidates qualified in the Examination and that Seniority position is reckoned for further promotions.
5. Under the MACP Scheme those Section officers who were directly recruited as Junior Accounts Assistants and those who were directly promoted from Accounts Clerk and Junior Accounts Assistant Grade have got the benefit of 3rd Financial upgradation under MACP and are placed in the next higher Grade Pay of Rs.5400/- despite being Juniors in the Panel Seniority while the Senior most Section Officers who are promoted to the grade as early as 1982 and stagnating in the Grade for 28 long years have not been given the benefit simply on the ground that hey had already earned three promotions.
6. The prohibition of stepping up of the pay of Seniors to that of their Juniors in the MACP is the root cause for their heart burns.
7. Worse of all, a directly recruited Jr. Accounts Asst who works under a Senior Section Officer also has been allotted the Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/- and Rs. 5400/- in the ACP and MACP schemes on completion of 24th and 30th year of service respectively while his Supervisor will languish by stagnating at the Grade Pay of Rs, 4800/- as he has got 3 regular promotions. In spite of their passing tough Departmental Examinations, such Section Officers will either draw the same Grade Pay of their Subordinate or less than the Grade Pay of his / her Subordinate. If a subordinate is placed in a higher Grade than the Supervisor what control can the supervisor exercise over his subordinate and what command he will have over him?.
A comparative analysis of the discriminatory nature of MACP scheme is enclosed from which the grave injustice heaped on the Sr. Supervisors can be seen.
Such an aggrieved position is not obtaining in any other department of Railways / other Central Government Departments in view of the continuous professional examinations (Training Exams, Appendix II, Appendix III) taken for their promotions instead of getting the elevation purely on seniority basis by other Railway Departments / Government Departments.
To set right this anomalous situation, this Association has already requested the Hon’ble Minister of Railways and Hon’ble Minister for DOPT to consider grant Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- to all the Sr. Section Officers once they complete 4 years of service in the Section Officer grade. This scheme is available to the staff of many other Departments.
Your kind self is requested to urge the Railway Minister to favorably consider the above proposal and help the Seniormost employees to get their genuine grievance redressed.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary
Dated June 11, 2010
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN,NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Madam,
Sub: Anomaly in MACP - in cases of own/mutual
transfer on lower Grade to another division/unit
of same railway.
Ref: 1. Rly Bd. Lr no: PC-V/2009/ACP/2 dt 10/06/09. (RBE101/2009).
2. This Association’s earlier letter dated 28-04-2010.
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The employees who are transferred on mutual/own request basis on lower grade from one division/unit to another division/unit of the different seniority unit within the same Railway on lower/initial grade and subsequently they are again promoted have not been given the benefit of MACP in terms of para 24 of Annex of letter no. PC V/2009/ACP/II DT. 11.6.09. For example an employee appointed as JAA and after getting his AA promotion, he has been transferred on own request to another division/unit of the different seniority unit within the same Railway as JAA. In the new division/unit he again gets promoted as AA and S.O(A/Cs). In these cases Railways are counting his promotion of AA twice ( i.e. one of parent office & second of new office.)and are rejecting 3rd ACP.
In this regard it is stated that it is incorrect to count the promotion as AA twice. Further it is also pointed out that in some of the Zonal Railways there is Zonal seniority and in others division-wise seniority. In such cases if one employee joined as JAA in Central Railway and on completion of three years he was promoted as AA and transferred to other division, he doesn’t loses his 3rd ACP, whereas in case of another employee who joined in Western Railway as JAA and after getting AA’s promotion he seeks own request transfer to other division he is reverted on lower grade as JAA and takes his promotion based on the new seniority. In both the above cases being recruited through same RRB but posted in different Railways one gets 3rd MACPS benefit and another not. This Association requests your kindself to look into this anomaly and take suitable action to modify the rule under Para 24 of MACP Circular so that they are treated atleast on par with their juniors in the new Unit/Organisation.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
General Secretary
Dated June 11, 2010
SMT. SOWMYA RAGHAVAN
FINANCIAL COMMISSIONER, RAILWAYS
RAIL BHAVAN,NEW DELHI – 110001
Respected Madam,
Sub : Restructuring of Accounts cadres.
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We understand that Cadre Restructuring Committee has been formed by Railway Board to restructure the percentage of various cadres in all the departments of Railways. As regards Accounts department we would like to present the following for your favourable consideration.
The Accounts Clerks are stagnated in the Cadre for more than 10 years for want of vacancies in JAA cadre. Hence it is requested for a change in the 80 : 20 pattern of Direct Recruitment Vs Promotions as 20 : 80 since virtually there are no direct recruitments.
Similarly the ratio of ASVs : Sr. ASVs may be modified from the present 65 : 35 to 20 : 80 as large number of posts are in work charged posts under Sales Organisation which varies from year to year. At present virtually only 10 % are in ASV cadre.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(N.SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
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