Efforts to resolve the “anomalies” in the new pay scales for armed forces gained momentum with External Affairs Minister Mr.Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday discussing the matter with Finance Minister Mr.P. Chidambaram.

Mukherjee, who is heading a three-member ministerial committee looking into the issue, held discussions with Chidambaram after holding consultations with Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh.

Mr.Mukherjee and Mr.Chidambaram were together for about an hour during which they are understood to have explored ways to address the issue to the satisfaction of the forces.

The Defence Services, led by their Chiefs, are up in arms over the 6th Pay Commission recommendations, alleging that it compromised their status and honour.

Emerging from the meeting at the External Affairs Minister’s South Block office, Mr.Chidambaram refused to comment on the deliberations, saying it was his first meeting with Mr.Mukherjee on the issue.

Mr.Mukherjee yesterday said he had discussed the matter with the Prime Minister and that he hoped the issue would be settled shortly.

The committee, which also includes Mr.Antony and Mr.Chidambaram, was set up by the Prime Minister on September 25 in the wake of deep resentment in the armed forces, who complained that there were “anomalies” in the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and that it had lowered the status of their officers.

Source: The Hindu (14-10-08)

The model code of conduct for elections may affect education minister Mr.Arjun Singh’s plans to announce a raise for university and college teachers by Diwali.

Top officials in the ministry went into a huddle today to discuss the likely delay amid fears that it could hurt the UPA in the elections.

Sources said, on October 8, Mr.Singh had asked his department to finalise the pay hikes proposed for over five lakh college and university teachers in time for Diwali.

But any announcement of a raise now may be described as a measure against the model code of conduct which is in force, officials said.

The model code came into effect when elections to five states — Delhi, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — were announced. It will remain in force till December 4, the last day of polling.

Mr.Singh was hauled up by the Election Commission in 2006 for promising OBC quotas in central higher education institutions just ahead of state polls that year. He is unlikely to risk a repeat, sources said.

A University Grants Commission pay panel headed by G.K. Chadha had earlier this month recommended pay hikes ranging from 75 per cent to over 100 per cent for teachers. The recommendations have been accepted by the UGC and the ministry is finalising them, the sources said.

“But now, even if we finalise the salary hikes, we will in all probability be unable to implement the raise till December 4,” a senior official said.

These concerns were debated at a late afternoon meeting of ministry officials under higher education secretary Mr.R.P. Agrawal, the sources said.

The promised raise will be valid not just for central university teachers but also for state-run colleges or universities recognised by the UGC.

Source : The Telegraph (15-10-2008)

There have been some news items on television as well as in the newspapers that most of the pay arrears will go towards payment of income tax once the employees receive the arrears. However, the government recently, has clarified its stand on the taxation of the pay arrears for the current financial year.Income tax on Pay arrears Sixth Commission
Government representative said that they would tax only 40 per cent of salary arrears to be paid to central government employees in the current fiscal on implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.The Khabrein info. writes-

Usually, the income earned in a year is taxed in that particular year, hence whatever the employees receive in this financial year woul be taxed this year. A lot of media sources reported that the entire amount of arrears would attract tax this fiscal.

As per the notification issued by the government last month, central government employees will get 40 per cent of arrears during the current financial year and the remaining amount in the next financial year.

Government instructions issued on August 30, 2008, regarding fixation of pay and payment arrears consequent to implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations clearly states that in authorising the arrears income tax as due may also be deducted and credited to the government

Orders issued by Governement for revision of pay scale and allowances, Pension Benefits, LTC, and other financial benefits granted to Central Government Officers consequent upon implementation of Sixth Pay Commission report can be downloaded from here

New Pay and Bonus

Revised Pay Rules - Notification (html format) Revised Pay Rules - Notification (PDF format)



New Pay and Arrears - Resolution (html format) New Pay and Arrears - Resolution (pdf format)


New Pay- Office Memorandum

Railways Revised Pay Rule - Notification

Clarification

CSIR 6CPC Report

Revised PLB and Adhoc-bonus

Allowances

Revised DA,HRA,TA

Deputation Allowance

Travelling Allowance

Family Planning Allowance

Leave

Maternity Leave

LTC

Revised LTC