Govt8217;s bonanza for babus

Even the Finance Minister8217;s promise of surrendering four posts in his own Ministry has been broken 8212; senior official Devi Dayal has been appointed in a vacant post in banking.

The effective upgradation to Secretary level of officers in the intelligence agencies only 10 days ago could invite the attention of the Election Commission which has laid down stringent rules ontransfers and promotions after the election dates are announced. Three special directors of the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing RAW and Central Bureau of Investigation CBI, who enjoyed the status of Additional Secretary, have been upgraded to the post of Secretary.

All these candidates will be appointed to their new posts in the higher pay-scales with effect from the date notified by the Government. Thus, as the Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Expenditure Implementation Cell, Ministry of Finance, declares, the applicable higher replacement scales of pay 8220;will be extended retrospectively w.e.f January 1, 1996.8221;

The memorandum, which was sent to all ministries and departments on June 30, 1999, says the Pay Commission recommendations relating to the senior posts were carefully considered and only then acted upon.

While the revised pay-scales in respect of certain common categories of staff and certain specified posts in individual ministries, departments and UnionTerritories were promulgated in the Expenditure Department8217;s notification No. GSR 569E dated September 30, 1997, this notification did not include the higher pay-scales recommended by the Commission for the senior grades, says the memo.

But two years later, the BJP-led caretaker Government has shown undue haste in the past couple of months to implement the recommendations of the Pay Commission for the senior posts.

Accordingly, the memo outlines conditions which approval of candidates for the posts will be subject to 8212; if the upgradation of posts involves only placement of the incumbents in higher replacement scales without the assumption of any higher responsibilities or changes in the eligibility criteria, their suitability is not required to be assessed afresh.

Two, since those posts which are to be upgraded and placed in higher scales will necessitate the redistribution of posts now in lower pay-scales to the higher scales, it will involve restructuring of the cadre. And though it is unlikelythat juniors may now be occupying posts that are to be upgraded, in keeping with the prescribed selection process, upgradation involving the redistribution of posts or cadre restructuring will be effective only prospectively.

The posts that have been upgraded in the Organised Group A Services are 8212; Controller General of Accounts who has moved from Rs 24,050 to Rs 26,000; the two Controller of Accounts in the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Civil Supplies have been upgraded as Chief Controller of Accounts and will now go from a pay-scale of Rs 14300-18300 to Rs 18400-22400. In the Customs and Central Excise Services, the four posts of Commissioners in Vadodara, Calcutta, Chennai and Delhi have been upgraded to the pay-scale of Rs 24500 from a minimum Rs 18400.

The upgradations are spread over dozens of departments and ministries 8212; from the Indian Defence Accounts Service to Defence Estate Service, from Economic Service to Information Service, Railways and Postal services to Income Tax and Trade Service;the list is endless. So, in one clean sweep, the Government has presented a bonanza that is sure to keep a section of the civil services happy.