VI & VII PAY
COMMISSION ANOMALIES,
SCIENTIFIC APPROACH NEEDED ON PROMOTION POLICY
OF GOVERNMENT
(By Venkat Loganathan)
--OO0OO-
The Tamil Nadu Government constituted a Committee,
a decade ago on Administrative Reforms
under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble
Justice Dr. A.K. Rajan recommended among others (vide G.O.Ms.No.24,
P&AR Department, dt. 17-02-2010) in
Sl. No.39 (para 22.01) “Rules shall be modified prescribing
minimum service at all levels for promotions; periodical promotion (like
IAS cadre) may be given to all category” But the Government
have taken a decision then that “Regarding periodical promotion, the
existing system is working well and no modification is considered necessary”.
But in reality it is not so even in Secretariat & in
other Departments as many less qualified, experienced got quicker
promotion(s) than those who put in long service deprived their due
promotions for obvious reasons. On scrutiny, in one case, an individual
appointed in Rural Development Department recruited through Group-1 Service in
Tamil Nadu got Super Time Scale (ST) promotion viz. erstwhile PB 4 in
just 8 years whereas Regular Recruit (RR) IAS Officers have to wait
roughly about 13 to 15 years. The statements below
will speak for themselves the true picture of anomaly after the
implementation of VI Pay Commission from 1-1-2006 & in 7th Pay
Commission from 1-1-2016 (The Tamil Nadu
Govt. in G.O.Ms.No.234, Finance, dt. 1-9-2009 have issued orders
implementing VI Pay Panel Committee’s recommendations from 1-1-2006
& 7th Pay Official Committee Recommendation in G.O.Ms.No.303,
Finance, dt 11th October, 2017 from 1-1-2016 with Monetary Benefit
from 1-10-2017)
Group-1 recruit got ST promotion 7 years earlier
than IAS (RR) Regular Recruits:-
It will be interesting to note that on an RTI reply received, an
Officer in a State Service of Rural Development Department recruited
through Group-1 Service reached
promotion to Super Time Scale viz. in erstwhile PB4 cadre post well within 8
years of Service & got fixed his Pay at Rs.46,200/-(notional
on 1-1-2006) while Regular
Recruits of IAS Officers with the same length of service got only about Rs.30,500/- (Notional) This is unfair & against “Natural
Justice” In most cases, few State Service Officers put in long
service (30 / 35 Years plus) in erstwhile PB 3 category of posts both in
Secretariat & in other departments could not reached PB 4 posts
and retire only in erstwhile PB3 category like Section Officer or Under
Secretary or Deputy Secretary level posts thus depriving heavy financial loss from
1-1-2006 & 1-1-2016 due to revision of pay scales particularly in Tamil
Nadu State may be due to flaw in non-fixing of minimum service etc. in
a scientific manner in the feeder post(s). (GOI issued guidelines for Promotion
in No.AB.14017/27/20 14-Estt.(RR) dt. 201-2015 copy enclosed).
Promotional Hierarchy:-
The promotional hierarchy
varies (generalist category) from department to department as a result of which
several officers are forced to retire with less promotion even after put in 30
/ 35 years plus service in (Group-A/B) without reaching Super-Time Scale in
whole of their career. On the other hand, their counterparts from the common
entry succeed in getting early promotions well within 25 years to reach
Super Time Scale. A Welfare Government should ensure that every section
of officials and employees working in the government sector should have the
satisfaction of getting his or her due in time, both in terms of promotion as
well as in terms of pay benefits, without any real or perceived
discrimination. A rough random analysis reveals that there are
anomalies between erstwhile PB3 & PB4 posts in Tamil Nadu State, (In GOI
the difference is much less as they have prescribed minimum service, higher
educational qualification, Training, Tests etc. in each category to get
promotion) In the case of IAS for Regular Recruit (RR)
are initially appointed to Junior Time Scale (JTS), subsequently Senior
Scale (SS), Junior Administrative Grade (JAG), Selection Grade (SG), Super
Timescale (ST) HAG & Chief Secretary cadre (CS) respectively prescribing
minimum service one has to put in each cadre. If we
look at the Statement-1, in Tamil Nadu Secretariat many individuals reached erstwhile
PB4 category of posts well within a short span of time from PB3 cadre
while those who have rendered 30 or 35 years plus service could
not reach PB4 and retired only as Section Officer, Under Secretary or Dy.
Secretary thus depriving huge financial loss for no fault of theirs. A thorough
in-depth study needed between Dy. Secretary, Joint Secretary & Additional
Secretary Posts (Non-IAS) notionally from 1-1-2006, and Entry pay from
1-1-2016.
Promotion based on qualification to relieve heart-burning among
Senior Officers:-
If the system of promotion is considered
scientifically based on educational qualification, Special Tests/Departmental
Tests, training prescribed, duties & responsibilities attached to the
post, requisite experience like All India Service like Indian Administrative
Service (IAS) with due spirit of
Recommendations made by Expert Committee headed by Dr. Rajan this
injustice could have been averted thus giving fair chance to all equally.
On a random review, in the State vacant posts of Group-B & Group-A posts
are filled up against sanctioned
strength, viz. for instance if a Deputy Secretary or Joint Secretary or Addl. Secretary to Govt.
(Non-IAS) post is filled up, if one is lucky enough and if the posts are vacant they can be promoted to
Dy. Secretary or Joint Secretary or Addl. Secretary (Non-IAS) even with one day
service rendered in each feeder category (within 3 days) as there is no minimum service required to be
performed like IAS cadre. It looks like
windfall for many to get higher promotion, higher pay etc. more
specifically in State Service erstwhile PB4 category of
posts which caused heart-burning
among many Senior Officers who put in 30 / 35 years plus long Service in erstwhile
PB3 category posts after the implementation of VI Pay Panel Report
from 1-1-2006. This gap should be streamlined, narrowed down between erstwhile PB3 &
PB4 category of State Service posts from 1-1-2006 & Entry Pay should be
modified suitably from 1-1-2016 to give fair & equitable chance to all.
.
As per Pay
Matrix approved in the 7th Pay Commission by Tamil Nadu Government issued in
G.O.Ms.No.303, Finance Deptt., dt.11th October, 2017 the gap between erstwhile PB3 & PB4 Pay
Bands, the following statement will speak for itself the wide gap between Entry
Level Pay from 1-1-2016:
Pay Band 15600-39100: – (PB3)
i) G.P. 5400/- Entry Pay .. Rs. 56,100
ii) G.P.6600/- . ... .. Rs. 59,300
iii) G.P.7600 /- … .. Rs. 61,900
Pay Band 37,400-67,000 – (PB4)
i) G.P.8700/- Entry Pay .. ..Rs.1,23,100
ii) G.P.8800/- .. .. . .. .. .Rs.1,23,400
iii) G.P.8900/- .. .. .. .Rs.1,23,600
If we look at the entry pay of
erstwhile PB3 (Dy. Secretary to Govt) under (iii) category Entry Pay is fixed
at 59,300/-- and the Entry pay of PB 4 under (i) is at Rs.1,23,100/- which
means an increase of Rs.61,200/- basic
Pay alone which is about 200% increase between Dy. Secretary & Joint
Secretary (Non-IAS) If a person in
erstwhile PB3 under (iii) & PB4 under (i), the difference in Entry Pay will
be above Rs.61,000/- plus allowances. This anomaly should be rectified
notionally from 1-1-2006 by applying
Matrix formula and the Entry Pay of erstwhile Pay Band 3 should be proportionately and further revised
from 1-1-2016. The picture of fair salary would be incomplete without
taking length of service in a category/post contribution of his similarly
placed fellow colleagues (generalists in Administration other than Scientists)
at next level of hierarchy into account and their fitment table should also be increased
proportionately to a fair level. After
all it’s a team management/work disparity, skills, individual and collective
performance and adequate internal communication and collective bargaining on
salary issues. When many are paid very lesser pay & perks, they have a
tendency to work with heart-burning. The Govt. while examining anomaly in 7th
Pay Panel have to consider this issue & rectify the anomaly of 6th Pay
Panel notionally and revise the gap proportionately / uniformly to all
categories of posts more specifically it’s so alarming between PB3 & PB4 posts. Viz. Dy. Secretary & Joint Secretary / District Revenue Officer etc. Pay
Bands from 1-1-2006 by applying Matrix formula notionally and revised Entry Pay
to these categories of posts should be revised from 1-1-2016 proportionately.
The greatness of Model Employer i.e. Government
lies only in its courage and ability to correct the flaw(s) in Service
Rules (now replaced by Act) conditions scientifically to all
Departments including Secretariat keeping the recommendation made by Expert
Committee and regulate the disparities, relieve heart-burning
among Senior Officers put in long service who missed their
due promotion etc. in the interest of “Natural
Justice”. The Government should therefore review this serious
burning issue in the light of past
experience and also in line with guidelines issued by Govt. of India
(copy enclosed) prescribing minimum service, educational qualifications
& experience, tests to be passed & training to undergo etc. for
promotion. In the larger interests
of affected senior Officers in State Service(s) posts working in various Govt.
Departments including Secretariat to reduce/adjust the gap between PB3
& PB4 category posts from 1-1-2006 scientifically as followed by
Govt. Of India. It’s hoped that Anomaly
Committee constituted by Government under Secretary to Government (Expenditure)
will look into this issue, will
render justice to reduce the gap between PB3 & PB4 category of posts
at-least notionally with effect from 1-1-2006 which will definitely
relieve the heart-burning among Senior Officers put in long Service in PB3
category of posts deprived PB4 post(s) like other colleagues who got earlier
promotion(s)
EFFECTIVE /CRITICAL JOB
CHART NEEDED:-
The Government recruiting
Officers & staff through UPSC/TNPSC, Staff Selection Commission & other
Recruiting Agencies etc. by conducting competitive exam.etc. Though highly talented officials are
recruited in Govt Service, their performance, output & delivery system is
not upto the expected lines of citizen when compared to Corporate sectors. This is mainly due to lack of periodical
review, performance appraisal etc, by the higher authorities as reviewed by
Corporate Sectors. The Govt have already
initiated several measures to tone up Public Administration, it’s suggested
that a daily “Job Chart” to all Govt.
may be developed in consultation with Experts in the field so as to enable
higher-ups to review their daily
performance periodically through e-governance as in Corporate sector and
Govt. officials should be made accountable for the salary they receive from
Tax-payers’ money to serve citizen better.
.
To conclude, there are fundamental differences between public
service delivery laws and a comprehensive grievance redress architecture. While
the former attempts to streamline existing processes within a department, a
grievance redress law goes into the very DNA of our Public Administration.
Envisioned and executed properly, it could bring about greater accountability
in our systems, which are severely citizen unfriendly. Building on the lessons
of the RTI, which brought in a culture of transparency in the government, a
grievance redress law seeks to do much more than just public service delivery,
but bring in greater accountability overall. Transforming service delivery isn’t easy, but there is a
clear and proven road map to success. By taking a employee-centric approach,
Govt. can better understand the needs of their employees & citizens and
translate those needs into targeted, effective service-delivery improvements.
In doing so, they can increase employee/citizen satisfaction and also reduce
costs.
Statement-1 showing the rough details of Officials of Finance Secretariat,
date
of initial appointment, subsequent appointment/promotion, length of Service
etc. to reach PB 4
(Xerox
copies received under RTI Act enclosed)
Sl. No.
( in Estt. List as on
1-4-2002 shown in brackets
against S.O.Post)
|
Name of the Officer/Date of Birth
(Tvl)
|
Date of first appt.
To Govt. Service
|
Date of appt. as Section Officer
|
Date of promotion as Under
Secretary &
Pay fixed (pre-revised notional)
|
Date of promotion as Dy. Secretary
& Pay fixed
|
Date of promotion as Jt./Addl.
Secy.
& Pay fixed
|
Approximate service put in PB3
to reach PB4
|
1 (12)
|
E. Arumugam
03-09-1949
|
7-10-75
|
18-4-91
|
29-5-98
Rs.10,325
|
18.5.2006
26,820 + GP 7600/-
|
Retd. on
30-09-2007 without
getting PB 4 scale
|
Not reached PB 4 (excluding PB2 service)
|
2 (30)
|
K. Ramasamy
3-10.1950
|
14-9-79
|
24-9-91
|
20-1-2005
11,300/-
|
8-6-2006
|
37,400 + 8,800
20-10-2008 (Retd. On
31-10-2008)
|
3 years (excluding PB2
service)
|
3 (40)
|
A.P.Annadurai
26-8-1952
|
21-11-79
|
4-11-92
|
28-7-2005
10,630/-
|
29-12-2006
12,000/-
|
9-1-2009
41,150 + GP 8,800/-
|
3 ½ years (excluding PB2 service)
|
4 (131)
|
K. Annadurai
17-3-1959
|
5-10-84
|
1-11-99
|
25-3-2008
20,500 + GP 6,600/-
|
11-2-2009
22,210 + GP 7,600/-
|
3-6-2010
37400 + GP
8.800/-(21 yrs.
Service) again promoted as Addl. Secy with Rs. 43,210 + 9500 GP
on 3-7-2013 (24 years service)
|
2 ½ years (excluding PB2 service)
|
5 (144)
|
P. Chelliah
13-4-1957
|
21-1-85
|
5-5-99
|
23-6-2008
20,550 + GP 6,600/-
|
8-6-2009
22,210 + GP 7,600/-
|
1-12-2010
37,400 + GP 8,800/-
|
2 ½ years (excluding PB2 service)
|
Statement-2 showing the rough details of Officials
of Directorate of Rural Development,
Date
of initial appointment, subsequent appointment/promotion, length of Service
etc.
(Xerox
copies received under RTI Act enclosed)
S.
No.
|
Name
of the Officer
(Tvl)
|
Date
of appointment as Asst. Director – PB3 (Pre-revised notional)
|
Date
of appointment as Jt. Director – PB3 (pre-revised notional)
|
Date
of appointment as Addl. Director – PB4 (pre-revised notional)
Rs.37,400
+ GP 8,800
|
Notional
Pay in
PB
4
Rs.
|
Approxinate
length of service to reach PB4
|
1
|
K. Ramamurthy
|
18-12-1989
|
04-05-1996
|
29-12-1997
|
46,200
GP
|
8
years
|
2
|
K. Rajamani
|
10-08-1994
|
30-03-1998
|
10-12-2007
|
-do-
|
13
years
|
3
|
P. Ponniah
|
12-08-1994
|
27-03-1998
|
02-01-2009
|
-do-
|
15
years
|
Statement-3 showing the rough details of Officials of
directly recruited (RR) IAS Officers,
date
of initial appointment, subsequent appointment/promotion, length of Service
etc. to reach PB 4
(extract
of civil IAS Civil List 2016 )
Sl.
No. In IAS Civil List 2016 (TN)
|
Name
of the Officer (Year of appointment)
(Tvl)
|
Date
of apptt. to IAS cadre
Rs.15,600
+ GP Rs.5,400 (pre-revised notional)
|
Pay
plus GP as on
08-08-2015
Rs.
|
Approximate
Length of Service to reach PB 4
|
114
|
Brajendra Navnit (1999)
|
20-09-1999
|
47,990
+GP
|
16
years
|
119
|
G. Prakash (2000)
|
04-09-200
|
44,720
+ GP
|
13
years
|
RANDOM ROUGH ABSTRACT
Length
of Service put in by Officers of
different
Department
to
reach PB4 (as per VI Pay Commission in Tamil Nadu)
Department
|
Name
of the Officer (Tvl)
|
Approximate
Length of service put in PB3 to reach PB4 (ST)
|
Regular
Recruit of IAS
|
Brajendra Navnit (1999)
|
15/16 years
|
Rural
Development
(Non-IAS)
|
K. Ramamurthy
|
8 years (7 years earlier than ( RR) - IAS)
(Refer Stt.2)
|
-do-
|
K. Rajamani
|
13 Years
|
-do-
|
P. Ponniah
|
15 Years
|
Secretariat
|
K. Annadurai
|
2 ½ years (excluding PB 2
service)
|
-do-
|
E. Arumugam
|
Not reached PB4
|
-do-
|
K. Ramasami
|
3 years (excluding PB 2
service)
|
-do-
|
P. Chelliah
|
2 ½ years (excluding PB 2
service)
|
(Venkat Loganathan)
Former Group-A Officer of Tamil Nadu
No comments:
Post a Comment