16 September 2011

Admissibility of commission to SAS Agents

SB ORDER NO. 17/2011 No.116-01/2007-SB
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi-110001, Dated: 09.09.2011

To
All Heads of Circles/Regions
Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.

Subject: - Admissibility of commission to SAS Agents.

Sir / Madam,

The undersigned is directed to say that there are lot of audit paras raised by teams of DG P&T Audit in many circles regarding irregular commission paid to SAS agents where the investment was made exceeding the limit of Rs.50,000/- by cash at a time. One Draft Audit Para relating to Delhi and NE Circles has become CAG Para.
2. As per agency rules, prior to issue of SB Order No.3/2011 dated 11.3.2011, limit for acceptance of cash at a time from SAS agents was Rs.50,000/- which has now been reduced to Rs.10,000/-. In 2004, Regional Director, National Savings Institute, New Delhi vide letter no. Misc/2004 dated 3.11.2001 had intimated the Delhi Circle that agents are not entitled for commission on cash deposits of more than Rs., 50,000/- at a time. CAG Para was also referred to Min. of Finance (DEA) which opined that commission if paid in such cases is irregular and recovery of commission paid cannot be waived.
3. It is therefore requested that where any SAS agent deposited cash more than Rs.50,000/- at a time in any post office and commission was paid to him, the commission paid has to be recovered from the concerned agent if his agency is active and action should be taken against the officials responsible for accepting cash deposits exceeding the prescribed limit. Where the agent is inactive but his agency is not lapsed, his appointing authority may be asked to recover the amount from his security deposit. In case the agency of agent is expired and not further renewed or agent has already expired, such cases may be referred to this office.
4. In future, it may be ensured that no cash more than the prescribed limit of Rs.10,000/- at a time should be accepted from the SAS agents as no commission is payable on such irregular deposits.
5. It is requested that necessary action may be taken immediately to circulate this letter to field units and any violation of these orders by postal staff should be viewed seriously.
6. This issues with the approval of DDG(FS).

Yours faithfully,

(Kawal Jit Singh)
Posted by All India Association of IPs/ASPs at 4:35 PM

Income Tax exemption limit for Children Education Allowance should be revised

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen(NFIR) General Secretary Mr.M.Raghavaiah has expressed his views in a letter on 1st September, 2011 to the Hon’ble Finance Minister regarding the exemption limit for Children Education Allowance under Income Tax Act.

He explained that the present exemption limit for Children Education Allowance (CEA) under section 10 (14) of the Income Tax Act is Rs.I00 per month per child. This limit as fixed more than 2 decades back when the maximum amount of Children Education AIlowance for Central Government Employees was fixed at Rs. 100/- per month per child under the IVth Central Pay Commission. Now the current rate of this allowance is Rs.1000 per child.

He further stated that the Federation feels that this can never be the intention of the Government as education and developing knowledge of youth is top priority matter for the country. The distortion has taken place due to non—revision of the exemption limit for payment of income tax.

Finally, NFIR requests the Hon’ble Finance Minister to kindly consider and grant enhancement of exemption limit as suggested above and make it effective from the financial year 2011—12.

Posted by All India Association of IPs/ASPs at 8:18 PM

Enhancement of Income Tax exemption limit for Transport Allowance

Enhancement of Income Tax exemption limit for Transport Allowance in the case of Central Government Employees.

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen(NFIR) General Secretary Mr.M.Raghavaiah requested the Finance Minster to enhance the Income Tax limit for Transport allowance in the case of salaried Central Government employees. He said in his letter that the Transport allowance was introduced for the first time in the year 1997 and the maximum rate of the same was kept at Rs.800 per month. The exemption limit from income tax for this allowance in the case of salaried Central Government employees was also fixed at Rs.800 per month in the same year through a notification by CBDT.

He also noted that the exemption limit prescribed in 1997 has been continuing at the same level till date. Over this long period of 14 years, the cost of transport has increased manifold and recognizing this fact the Central Government has itself enhanced the allowance upto Rs.3200 to its employees.

He suggested that the exemption limit may be raised to the level of transport allowance admissible to Central Government employees as was done in the year 1997 as a policy.



Posted by All India Association of IPs/ASPs at 8:12 PM

Probation in various Central Civil Services

G.I., Dept.of Pers. & Trg., O.M.No.18011/1/2010-Estt. (C) dated 8.9.2011
Probation in various Central Civil Services.

The undersigned in directed to say that the period of probation to be prescribed for different posts/services in Central Government have been laid down in this Department’s 0M. No. F 44/1/59-Ests(A) dated 15.4 1959 as amended from time to time. With a view to prevent Government servants from becoming possible victims of arbitrary actions or inordinate delay in considering completion of probation/confirmation, the existing instructions on provisions regarding probation in the service recruitment rules relating to Central Civil Services and Posts have been reviewed. It is proposed that in the service / recruitment rules for all Central Civil Services and Posts, in addition to the period of probation, wherever prescribed, corresponding provisions as envisaged in the draft guidelines enclosed herewith, may be incorporated in consultation with this Department.

2.Before the guidelines in the draft O.M. is finalized, all Cadre Controlling Authorities are requested to offer their comments/views in this regard, if any. by 8.10.2011 to the undersigned or by e-mail at dse@nic.in

sd/-
(P.Prabhakaran)
Director

**********************************************************************************************************************************************
G.I., Dept.of Pers. & Trg., O.M.No.18011/1/2010-Estt. (C) dated September, 2011

Probation in various Central Civil Services.

The undersigned in directed to say that the period of probation to be prescribed for different posts/services in Central Government have been laid down in this Department’s O M No.F 44/1/59-Ests(A) dated 15.4 1959 as amended from time to time. Although instructions exist to the effect that save for exceptional reasons probation should not be extended for more than a year and no employee should be kept on probation for more than double the normal period apart from instructions for timely action on completion of probation/confirmation, these are not invariably followed.

2. With a view to prevent Government servants from becoming possible victims of arbitrary actions or inordinate delay in considering completion of probation/confirmation, the existing instructions on provisions regarding probation in the service/recruitment rules relating to Central Civil Services and Posts have been reviewed, lt has now been decided that:

(i) 1f during the period of probation, a probationer has not undergone the requisite training course or passed the requisite departmental examinations.if any prescribed, or has not been on duty/training for at least 75% of the probation period the period of probation may be extended by such period or periods as may be necessary subject to the condition that the total period of probation does not exceed double the prescribed period of probation except in the cases mentioned in (ii) below:

(ii) the period of probation may be extended for such period as the Central Government may think fit in the circumstances of the case in respect of a probationer who is:

(a) under suspension
(b) against whom disciplinary proceedings are pending: or
(c) against whom prosecution for criminal charge is pending

(iii) Where a probationer who has completed the period of probation to the satisfaction of the Central Government is required to be confirmed, he shall be confirmed in the Services/Post at the end of his period of probation, having been completed satisfactorily. In such cases, where no order extending the probation period has been issued and no order of confirmation is issued within one year of completion of the prescribed period of probation, the probationer would be deemed to be confirmed in the service/post.

3. In the Service/Recruitment Rules for all Central Civil Services and Posts, in addition to the period of probation. wherever prescribed, corresponding provisions, as in para 2 above, may be incorporated in consultation with this Department in the light of the above instructions.

The Hindi Version of this O.M. will follow

sd/-
(P. Prabhakaran)
Director

Source: www.persmin.nic.in

Posted by All India Association of IPs/ASPs at 8:02 PM

Constitution of Committee to look into promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPOs

Postal Directorate has issued Office Order on the above subject vide No. 01/01/2011-SR dated 09.09.2011 which is reproduced below:-

Sub:- Secretary (P)'s meeting with All India Association &Asstt. Superintendent Posts on 11.08.2011- Para (ii)- Constitution of Committee to look into promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPOs-reg.

2. This has reference to minutes of Secretary (P)'s meeting dated 11.08.2011 circulated vide communication of even number dated 25.08.2011 on the above subject.

3. As per decision taken in regard to Para (ii) dealing with promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPOs, a Committee comprising the following is constituted to examine the issue and submit its report.

OFFICIAL SIDE STAFF SIDE
Member (Personnel)- Chairperson President, AIAIPASP
DDG (Personnel) General Secretary, AIAIPASP
DDG (Establishment)
Director (T&C)

-Sd-
(Subhash Chander)
Director (SR&Legal)
Posted by All India Association of IPs/ASPs at 7:48 PM

Govt officials may be allowed to use Facebook Ahmedabad, September 9

The government is planning to put in place a framework for officials that would allow them to leverage the power of the social media, a top official of the Department of Information and Technology (DIT) said here today.

“We are creating a framework that would help Central departments and officials to use social media like Facebook, Twitter effectively,” said Additional Secretary DIT, Shankar Aggarwal.

“We expect to give a final shape to it (framework) over the next two or three months and notify it,” he said.

“The idea is that they can enter into a dialogue with the public more freely, take suggestions, feedbacks and provide updates. It shall be more of a two-way rather than a one-way communication,” Aggarwal stated.

“Social media is being used extensively by civil society, but unfortunately, we do not have any framework for the Central government and state government,” he said.

“The government officials are scared of using the social media because they are not sure whether they are allowed to use it or not,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to introduce the Right to Public Services Act soon that would make it mandatory for the government entities to deliver public services in an electronic form too.

“We have already created a framework and for this (Act) and the framework is to be converted into a law. We think we will be able to introduce it in the next session of the Parliament and this will become a law,” he said.

“Under this, we shall be trying to ask the government entities to deliver all the public services in an electronic form also. It has to be achieved over the next five years,” he informed.

Aggarwal said they had been planning to develop a payment gateway for the entire country so that the people could pay electronically for various services. — PTI

Source: Tribune India



Posted by All India Association of IPs/ASPs at 8:20 PM

AMENDMENT IN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACT, 1988

The property of corrupt public servant is confiscated under the provisions of Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 1944 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. However, to make the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 self contained and comprehensive the Government is considering incorporating the provisions for confiscation/forfeiture of property of corrupt public servants in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

On 8th June, 2011, the media had reported that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has sought amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. These observations were reportedly made by the Supreme Court while dismissing an appeal filed by an Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise, against his conviction. However, the formal order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 8.6.2011 in the case, i.e. Criminal Appeal No. 945 of 2006 (Sat Paul vs. State of West Bengal & Anr.) does not contain any such observations.

A Committee headed by the Chairman, CBDT has been constituted to examine ways to strengthen laws to curb generation of black money in India, its illegal transfer abroad and its recovery. The Committee shall examine the existing legal and administrative framework to deal with the menace of generation of black money through illegal means including inter-alia (i) declaring wealth generated illegally as national asset; (ii) enacting/amending laws to confiscate and recover such assets; and (iii) providing for exemplary punishment against its perpetrators. The Committee is required to consult all stakeholders and submit its report within a period of six months.

As per information provided by the CBI, it has not unearthed any case wherein benami properties of more than Rs.100 Crore have been unearthed against any officer in any case.

This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and the Prime Minister's Office, Shri V. Naraynasamy in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Source : PIB Release, September 7, 2011