All Updates on NAC Meeting And Minimum Pay Hike

The central government employees and pensioners have been waiting for a hike in minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission or 7th CPC since July 2016. While the government has given hints about raising minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission, there is little clarity on release of higher minimum pay. The National Anomaly Committee (NAC), which was formed to resolve all matters related to the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission‘s recommendations, is yet to submit its report on higher minimum pay. 

The NAS was supposed to hold a meeting in October on a hike in minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission. However, the got postponed after the Election Commission announced dates for Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. The committee is likely to submit its report on a hike in minimum pay by December 15, said a Sen Times report. The report will be further examined by the Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and the Department of Expenditure.

The government has reportedly asked the NAC to go ahead for a hike in basic pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission with fitment factor 3.00 times. The NAC may suggest hiking minimum pay to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000, which was recommended by the 7th Pay Commission and approved by the Cabinet. The central government employees, however, have been asking to raise minimum pay to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times.While the NAC meeting might be held in December, the higher minimum pay would be released from April 2018. Several reports earlier suggested that the government would raise minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission from January. However, the sources in the Finance Ministry said the higher minimum pay will come into effect by April next year at the latest. The NAC report on minimum pay hike would be available by that day (January) and its implementation would be done afterwards in due process, they said.

The government had approved a hike in salary and allowances as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission in June 2016 and July 2017 respectively. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a 14.27 percent hike in basic pay — the lowest in 70 years and raised minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 month.

Journey to Headquarters on LTC in respect of dependent family members of the Government servant

No. 31011/5/2015-Estt.A-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-IV Desk
***

North Block New Delhi.
Dated October 31, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Journey to Headquarters on LTC in respect of dependent family members of the Government servant – Clarification reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. 31011/14/86-Estt.(A-1V) dated 08.05.1987, which inter alia provides that the Govt. servant and the members of the family may claim LTC independently, however, reimbursement in such cases will be restricted to the actual distance travelled by the family or the distance between the headquarters/place of posting of the Government servant and the place visited/hometown, whichever is less.

2. Restriction of reimbursement to the distance from the Headquarter/place of posting creates an anomalous situation where the Government servant seeks to avail of LTC in respect of members of the family to the Headquarters/place of posting either from the Home town of the Government servant or from anywhere else. For illustration, a dependent child of a Govt. servant (posted in Delhi) staying and pursuing studies in Mumbai may visit a Government servant at his Headquarters/place of posting (i.e. Delhi) on LTC, however, reimbursement in such case shall be admissible for distance between the Headquarters and place of visit (which in this case is Headquarters itself), which shall be NIL in this case.

3. To resolve the issue, the matter has been considered by this Department in consultation with Joint Consultative Machinery – Staff side and Department of Expenditure. It is clarified that full reimbursement as per the entitlement of the Government servant shall be allowed for journey(s) performed on LTC by the family members from any place in India to Headquarters/place of posting of the Government servant and back. When such journey is performed from the Home Town, the LTC shall be counted against ‘Home Town’ LTC and in case the journey is from any other place in India, then it shall be counted against ‘Any place in India’ LTC.

4. The provisions of this OM (para 3) will have prospective effect.

5. Hindi version will follow.

(Surya Narayan Jha)
Under Secretary to the Government of India