Temporary employee to be paid at par with regular worker: SC

HIGHLIGHTS

• SC said contractual employees are entitled to wages at par with permanent employee
• Principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’ must be followed, SC said
• Undoubtedly, the action pf paying lesser wage is oppressive, the bench said

NEW DELHI: In a big relief to lakhs temporary employee who have been hired by government departments and agencies across the country on contractual basis, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held that they are entitled to wages at par with permanent employees and principle of 'equal pay for equal work' must be followed.

A bench of Justices JS Khehar and SA Bobde said the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' constitutes a clear and unambiguous right vested in every employee whether engaged on regular or temporary basis.

"In our considered view, it is fallacious to determine artificial parameters to deny fruits of labour. An employee engaged for the same work, cannot be paid less than another, who performs the same duties and responsibilities. Certainly not, in a welfare state. Such an action besides being demeaning, strikes at the very foundation of human dignity," the bench said.

The bench said the principle had been expounded through a large number of judgments rendered by the apex court and and constitutes law declared by the Supreme Court.

"Any one, who is compelled to work at a lesser wage, does not do so voluntarily. He does so, to provide food and shelter to his family, at the cost of his self respect and dignity, at the cost of his self worth, and at the cost of his integrity. For he knows, that his dependents would suffer immensely, if he does not accept the lesser wage," Justice Khehar, who wrote the judgement, said.

"Any act, of paying less wages, as compared to others similarly situate, constitutes an act of exploitative enslavement, emerging out of a domineering position. Undoubtedly, the action is oppressive, suppressive and coercive, as it compels involuntary subjugation," he said.

The court passed the verdict on a bunch of petition filed by tempoary employee working for state of Punjab seeking wage parity with regular employee. They approached the apex court after Punjab and Haryana High Court held that temporary employees were not entitled to the minimum of the regular pay-scale, merely for reason, that the activities carried on by them and the regular employees were similar.

Setting aside the HC order, the apex court held that the principle of equal pay for equal work must be followed in the country as India was a signatory of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

"There can be no doubt, that the principle of equal pay for equal work would be applicable to all the concerned temporary employees, so as to vest in them the right to claim wages, at par with the minimum of the pay-scale of regularly engaged government employees, holding the same post,"it said.

"India is a signatory to the covenant, having ratified the same on April 10, 1979. There is no escape from the above obligation, in view of different provisions of the Constitution and in view of the law declared by this court under Article 141 of the Constitution of India, the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' constitutes a clear and unambiguous right and is vested in every employee - whether engaged on regular or temporary basis,"it said.

Cabinet approves Cadre Review of Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service Group “A” 

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Cabinet

27-October-2016 15:47 IST

Cabinet approves Cadre Review of Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service Group “A” 

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the first Cadre Review of Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) with the following salient features:

(a) Reduction of the total strength of the cadre from 420 to 376.

(b) Creation of one Apex level post of Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA).

(c) Creation of one additional HAG+ level post taking the grade strength to 2.

(d) Creation of two additional HAG level posts taking the grade strength from 6 to 8.

(e) Creation of 18 additional SAG level posts taking the grade strength from 37 to 55.

(f) Reduction in JAG level posts from 111 to 90.

(g) Reduction in STS level posts from 198 to 86.

(h) Creation of 21 JTS level posts taking the grade strength from 67 to 88.

(i) Creation of 46 Posts to be operated as Reserves

Background:

Indian Posts & Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Service Group ‘A” was constituted in 1972 and caters to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Department of Posts (DoP).

In Department of Telecommunications, the IP&TAFS performs the functions of assessment and collection of license fee/ spectrum usage charges, spectrum auction, USO scheme monitoring and subsidy management, exchequer control, budgeting, accounting, pension disbursement, internal audit and finance advice. In the Department of Posts, the IP&TAFS is entrusted with the functions of finance advice, budgeting, tariff and costing, accounting and internal audit.

There has been a paradigm shift in the role of Department of Telecommunications as well as the Department of Posts in recent years. In the Telecom sector, the role of the Department of Telecommunications has transformed from primarily being a Service provider, Regulator and Policy maker into the present structure whereby the Department is primarily responsible for Policy making, Licensing and Universal Service Obligation. Receipts from Department of Telecommunications, primarily License Fee, Spectrum Usage Charges and Spectrum Auction Value constitute one of the largest source of non-tax revenue for the Government of India.

Similarly, the bundle of services offered by Department of Posts has undergone a quantitative and qualitative change and the Department has ventured into areas of retailing, banking, insurance, digitizing operations etc. Further, the audit mechanism in both the Departments needs to be strengthened.

These facts coupled with the stagnation in various grades of the service necessitated a review of the structure of IP&TAFS.

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ORDERS OF ENHANCED CEILING

OF BONUS @ RS 7000/- FOR GDS

ISSUED BY DEPARTMENT OF POST

• DEPARTMENT OF POSTS ISSUED ORDER GRANT RS. 7000/- BONUS TO GDS ORDER VIDE NO. 26-1/2016 -PAP DATED 27-10-2016

                                                    S.K. SINGH

                                      SECRETARY GENERAL  

CABINET APPROVES RELEASE OF AN INSTALMENT OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND DEARNESS RELIEF TO PENSIONERS DUE FROM 01.07.2016 

            The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to release an instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Pensioners w.e.f. 01.07.2016 representing an increase of 2% of the revised Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise. The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

            The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs. 5622.10 crore per annum and in the Financial Year 2016-17 for the period of 8 months (i.e. from July 2016 to February 2017), it would be Rs.3748.06 crore. About 50.68 lakh Government employees and 54.24 lakh pensioners will be benefitted.

PIB: 27.10.2016

MEETING OF ALLOWANCES COMMITTEE HELD ON 25-10-2016

Meeting of the Allowance Committee to discuss the DOP&T Specific allowances was held on 25.10.2016. Secretary, Department of Personnel Chaired the meeting. Important allowances like Children Education Allowance, Night Duty Allowance, Overtime Allowance, Cash Handling Allowance, Dress Allowance, Nursing Allowance, Patient Care Allowance, Family planning Allowance, Risk Allowance etc. are discussed. The Secretary, Department of Personnel gave a patient hearing and interacted with staff side on certain points. No commitment on any allowance was given.

दिनांक 25-10-2016  को श्री संतोष कुमार सिंह सेक्रेटरी जनरल बी0 पी0ई0एफ0 संचार मंत्री श्री मनोज सिन्हा जी के साथ लखनऊ में ई कामर्स  पार्सल सेंटर के शिलान्यास के दौरान साथ में   

           

East Region - New Region in Bihar at Bhagalpur

East Region - New Region in Bihar at Bhagalpur

GDS Compassionate Appointments - Guidelines about engagement on compassionate grounds against GDS posts - clarification.

Representation from Government Servant on Service matters - Reg

Representation from Government Servant on Service matters - Reg

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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE 7TH CPC-OPTION REGARDING COMMUTATION OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF PENSION (Click the link to view the order)

http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/office_memorandum_24102016.pdf

      ग्रामीण डाक सेवक कर्मचारियों के बोनस भुगतान का मामला 

आज दिनाँक 19 -10-2016  को महासंघ के सेक्रेटरी जनरल संतोष कुमार सिंह इस सम्बन्ध में माननीय सचिव डाक विभाग से मिले l  माननीय सचिव जी ने बताया कि जी0 डी० यस0   कर्मचारियो को बोनस भुगतान करने संबधी  फाइल आज   दिनाँक 19 -10-2016  को सेक्रेटरी एक्सपेंडिचर को प्रस्तुत हो गई है l माननीय संचार मंत्री  श्री  मनोज सिन्हा जी ने ब्यक्तिगत रूप से  माननीय  वित्तमंत्री जी को इस सम्बन्ध में पत्र  भी लिखा है l  आशा की जाती है कि  शुक्रवार  2 1 -10-2016 तक इस   सम्बन्ध में आदेश जारी हो जायेगे l 

 भारतीय डाक कर्मचारी महासंघ / भारतीय ग्रामीण डाक सेवक संघ पूरी गंभीरता से इस मामले को देख रहा है 

     Matter of  payment of bonus arrear to GDS Employees 

The Secretary General BPEF met to Secretary (Posts) today dated 19-10-2016 regarding payment of bonus to GDS employees . Hon'ble Secretary (Posts) told that file is in the chamber of Secretary Expenditure . He also told that Hon'ble Communication Minister Shri Manoj Sinha ji has written a letter to Hon'ble Finance Minister . We can say that orders regarding payment of Bonus to GDS employees will be issued upto Friday 21-10-2016.

Bharatiya Postal Employees Federation/ Bharatiya Extra Departmental Employees Union is seriously watching this matter . 

                                             Sugandhi Kumar Mishra 

                                                  General Secretary

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS HAS CALLED A MEETING WITH ALL THE THREE FEDERATIONS / UNIONS ABOUT ALLOWANCES TO BE RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POSTS  UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF  SECRETARY (POSTS) ON  DATED 19-10-2016  SECRETARY GENERAL BPEF ATTENDED THE MEETING 

CREATION OF A NEW REGION NAMED 'VARANASI REGION' AT VARANASI (UP) BY RE-ORGANIZING EXISTING REGIONS

BHARATIYA RMS&MMS EMPLOYEES UNION CLASS-III & BHARATIYA RMS & MMS EMPLOYEES UNION MAILGUARD & GR. D NOTICE CENTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING DATED 3-4 DECEMBER 2016 AT DELHI 

Postal Department to hike prices in order to overcome revenue deficit

The Postal Department has bucked up to overcome its big annual revenue deficit of Rs 6000 by hiking prices of postcards, stamps etc. The decision comes after Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha held a meeting to discuss the strategies to bring in the additional Rs 1000 cr revenue every year.

However with the new rates in execution, the Minister did not forgot to remind the officials about focusing on the time of delivery of the parcels.

The Postal Department has bucked up to overcome its big annual revenue deficit of Rs 6000 by hiking prices of postcards, stamps etc. The decision comes after Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha held a meeting to discuss the strategies to bring in the additional Rs 1000 cr revenue every year.

During the meeting when Sinha was apprised with the fact that the pricing comes from Finance Ministry, the Communications Minister directed a committee of ministers to be formed to decide on the hike and the new prices.

According to Indian Express, the new prices of the 25 paise and 50 paise postcards will be 2 rupees, and the price of the Rs 6- printed postcard to Rs 9 per printed postcard. Similarly, the price of an inland letter of Rs 2.50 denomination has been proposed to be increased to Rs 9. The price of India Post’s parcels have also been surged up from Rs 19 per 500 gms to Rs 30 now.

However with the new rates in execution, the Minister did not forgot to remind the officials about focusing on the time of delivery of the parcels.

Going by a report of 2015, the Department found out that its expenses had risen by 262 per cent despite the revision last made in 2001-02 and the prices remaining unchanged.

Also discussed in the meeting was the India Post’s market share in the parcel market which is a minor Rs 1.5-2.0 lakh crore compared to other courier majors. India Post is already cashing in on the boom in e-commerce deliveries, especially the surging cash-on-delivery consignments of the country’s top online sellers —Amazon, Snapdeal, Flipkart and Myntra. Sinha asked the officials to come up with a strategy to beat the over priced courier companies in market in order to shoot up India Post’s shares. All of the further plans will be discussed in a second meet planned for the next month.

 

Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon'ble Min. for Communications message on the occassion of World Post Day & National Postal Week

Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon'ble Min. for Communications message on the occassion of World Post Day & National Postal Week

BHARATIYA EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES UNION 

(Affiliated to BPEF/BMS)

T-21, Atul Grove Road, New Delhi-110 001

Grant of advances – Seventh Pay Commission recommendations- Amendment to Rules 21(5) of Compendium of Rules on Advances to Government Servants.

Grant of advances – Seventh Pay Commission recommendations- Amendment to Rules 21(5) of Compendium of Rules on Advances to Government Servants.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Grant of advances - Seventh Pay Commission recommendations - Amendment to Rules of Compendium of Rules on Advances to Government Servants.

Grant of advances - Seventh Pay Commission recommendations - Amendment to Rules of Compendium of Rules on Advances to Government Servants.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Implementation of the recommendations, of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) – Checking of pay fixation statements-regarding

Implementation of the recommendations, of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) – Checking of pay fixation statements-regarding

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

60 DAYS PLB BONUS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS ORDER ISSUED 

               G.D.S. BROTHERS ALERT 

BHARATIYA EXTRA DEPARTMETNAL EMPLOYEES UNION

                                               (Affiliated to BPEF /BMS)

                        T-21, Atul Grove Road New Delhi- 110 001

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Dear friends ,

        You are all aware of it that presently there are rumors throughout the country. The rumors and gossips are rising high after receiving the payment order of arrear bonus to the regular employees. Friends, We have to be beware of all of this ill conspiracy.

       Friends, you all aware of it that on 29.08.2016 joint Dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi with the joint action of BPEF , GENC , BEDEU on the demand of raising bonus ceiling to Rs 7000/- took place with great excitement and on the same day i.e. on 29.08.2016 the Government issued the order of raising bonus ceiling to Rs 7000/-

      In case of getting arrear bonus to the GDS employees , I ensure that the Gramin Dak Sevak employees will get the arrear bonus with raising ceiling. The matter has been taken up with the Finance Ministry and the Finance Ministry forward the file to the GDS Committee. On receiving approval from the GDS Committee the case is now lying again with the Finance Ministry. We may certainly expect that the order of raising bonus ceiling to the GDS employees  will be issued by the Government within this week.

     There are so many gossips and rumors and anti- government, anti-employee sentiments. A group of unions are making so many declarations for proposal of strike, deputation etc for the fulfillment  of demands for bonus arrear etc. But in practical , they are playing with the sentiment of the innocent employees. When the Government , the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Communication assure us that our demand for raising bonus ceiling also the the GDS employees will be considered. Then there is no meaning of arising tensed situation. This group of unions are doing such only to make business with the innocent employees. They are doing nothing but will collect donations from the hard earning  bonus amount from the innocent employees. But all should beware of the fact that such type of cheating and humiliation to the innocent employees will not continue days after days.

     I assure all the GDS employees that our union BEDEU as well as BPEF will only fight for the right and will fulfill our demands with every effort. So friends in this situation where the sovereignty of our country is in a stake I appeal all to keep close watch and wait for right moment.

                                                                                                                                 

( SUGANDHI KUMAR MISHRA)

GENERAL SECRETARY ,BEDEU .

Abolition of Group B,C.&D YEAR 2005 to 2008

Abolition of Group B,C.&D YEAR 2005 to 2008

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) for the Central Government Civilian Employees- Implementation of seventh CPC recommendation.

Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) for the Central Government Civilian Employees- Implementation of seventh CPC recommendation.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS