Record
of discussions held by Additional Secretary, DAE with the NFAEE Representatives
on 31st May 2013 at 4th floor Conference Room, DAE,
Mumbai under the forum of ‘Bilateral Discussions’
The
following were present.
|
Dr. C.B.S. Venkataramana
Additional Secretary, DAE & Additional
Secretary (I&M), DAE
|
Chairman
|
|
Official
Side
|
Staff Side
|
|
Smt. Swati Pandey,
Director (IR&W), DAE
|
Shri G. Maniachari,
Working
President, NFAEE
HWP, Tuticorin
|
|
Shri R. P. Raju,
Secretary, TC/TSC, BARC
|
Shri K.V. Jayaraj,
Secretary
General, NFAEE
BARC, Mumbai
|
|
Shri S. B. Bose,
Chief Administrative Officer
|
Shri P. M. Worlikar
Org.
Secretary, NFAEE
BARC, Mumbai
|
|
Shri V. Govindankutty
Chief Administrative Officer (P)
|
Shri Sunil Pawar
Secretary,
NFAEE
DCS&EM, Mumbai
|
|
Shri A. Sukumaran
Under Secretary (SUS), DAE
|
Shri V. K. Patil
Secretary,
NFAEE
BARC, Mumbai
|
|
Shri N. G. Krishnan,
DEO, TC&TSC
|
Shri J. H. Raul
Vice
President, NFAEE
BARC, Tarapur
|
|
Shri N. V. S. V. Prasad
Under Secretary (IR&W), DAE
|
Shri A. Sreedharan
General
Secretary, AEWS Union
BARC, Mumbai
|
At the outset of the meeting Chairman welcomed
all the participants. Director, IR&W
apologized for delay in holding this meeting with NFAEE after a gap of nearly
two years. NFAEE representatives expressed their gratitude for holding this
meeting.
2.
While
initiating the dialogues, Chairman categorically informed that NFAEE and DC are
mutually exclusive. The meeting with
NFAEE members is not an alternative for Departmental Council Meetings and,
therefore, issues concerning to Group ‘C’ and ‘D’, which are to be taken up in
Departmental Council or have already been taken up, should not be raised in Federation
meetings. Further, he suggested that Staff
side may take the privilege to select/prioritize their agenda items for discussions
in every meeting, for which time allotted would be 3 hours. Staff side agreed to his suggestions. Then, agenda was discussed point-wise.
Agenda No. 1 : Fulfill the commitment given by the Department
in the affidavit filed in the court to maintain the status of Pay &
Allowances of Scientific Assistants on par with that of Scientific Officers
NFAEE members explained that it is an artificial distinction
between the Scientific Officers Grade C & D and the Scientific Assistants
Grade E & F in terms of granting of additional increments and Professional
Update Allowance.
Scientific Officers and Scientific Assistants are employed
in common duties, with interchangeability of duties in the round the clock
duties, sharing the same responsibility and in the equivalent pay scales and
grade pays.
When the nature of duties are such that both the categories
of employees are performing the same duty and same work and with same responsibilities,
the additional increments (2+6 to SO/TO-D), update allowance of `12,500/-
and other incentives are not same for Scientific Assistants and Scientific
Officers.
On earlier occasions, including the affidavit submitted
before the Court, Department has committed that “There is no loss of status or
position or for that matter any financial loss even at distant future as the
circular dated 2.4.1983 does not seek to demote any one”, i.e. Department will
maintain parity in pay and allowances between the similarly placed Scientific
Officers and Scientific Assistants.
Chairman
informed that two different cadres cannot be considered as equal when
opportunities of getting promotions from one cadre to another are different. It is binding on the Department/respondent to
comply only with the directions and final orders given by the Honorable Court. Any statement made or affidavit filed by the
Department before any court of law cannot be considered as an assurance by the
Department. However, a clarification on the binding nature of responsibility of
a Department vis-à-vis, of whatever pleaded in any affidavit will be
ascertained with the Ministry of Law.
Action
: US, SCS
Agenda
No. 2 : Proper Office facility should be given to NFAEE
NFAEE representatives informed that NFAEE has been provided by
an office in a temporary shed opposite to AERB Building. This office premises is having an area of
about 18o Sq. ft. (15 X 12) in which proper ventilation or other facilities has
not been provided. Similarly being a
temporary shed, during rainy season water enters the room and thus books and
papers spoilt. Above all ants and
creatures are entering the office room and damaging office record. Therefore, NFAEE requested that action may be
initiated to provide a proper office along with all services.
Chairman
advised CAO, DCS&EM to explore possibility of providing a larger
accommodation and to renovate the premises so as to make the premises leak-proof,
properly ventilated and to have the premises treated for pest control on need
basis.
Action
: CAO, DCS&EM
Agenda No. 3 : Facilities such
as telephone, Internet, Fax should be provided to the President & Secretary
General of Federation and permission may be granted to them for using mobile
phones where permission is needed for usage of mobile phones
NFAEE members informed that President & Secretary
General of the Federation are not in a position to be present at the Federation
office whole time since they are active in their office work also. Therefore, NFAEE representatives requested
that to communicate with their affiliate Staff associations working across the
India, facilities such as telephone with the STD facility to call in emergency,
Internet to avail access to respond to emails and Fax facilities for quick
communications may be provided to President & Secretary General of the
Federation at work place and permission may also be given to use Mobile Phones
inside the office premises, wherever, restriction of using mobile phones exist.
Chairman informed that due to absence of DoPT guidelines on
this subject, non recurring equipments such as telephones, fax machines,
computers can be provided by the Department on onetime basis; however,
expenditure on their connections and monthly bills may be borne by the
Federation itself. As regards, providing
mobile phone facility at work place where use of mobile phones are restricted
inside office premises, Chairman informed that Department will examine this
issue in relation to the security point of view.
Action
: US(IR&W) and DCSO, DAE
Agenda No. 4 : Proper response
on issues brought to the notice of the Department through correspondence
NFAEE members informed that they are not getting proper and
timely response from DAE offices to their communications.
Chairman informed that Department will try to give interim
reply to communications made by NFAEE or any recognized Staff associations/Union
within 30 days of receipt and final reply as soon as a decision is taken on the
issue.
Action
: US, IR&W
Agenda No. 5 : Improve the functioning of DAE Departmental
Council as per the guidelines of the JCM Scheme
NFAEE members informed that while introducing the Joint
Consultative Machinery, Government of India notified guidelines for its
function such as the meeting should be convened in every four months, The
official side should come with the probable decision on issues and in the
meeting decision has to be taken, items disagreed should be proceeded for
arbitration in time and It is a fact that none of such guide lines are being
followed by the Department or DAE Units.
Chairman suggested that since this issue pertains to Departmental
Council meeting, it may be raised in the next Departmental Council meeting
only.
Agenda No. 6 : Departmental
Canteen facilities should be strengthened
NFAEE members requested to strengthen Canteen facilities by
filling the vacancies of Canteen staff taking into account not only the regular
employees but also the contractual labourers working at various sites who too avail
the Canteen facilities. Secondly they requested to take a uniform decision of
scrapping of all the outsourced canteens as such canteens will be harmful as
regards Department’s security scenario.
Chairman informed that as soon as Department finalizes
Recruitment Rules and notifies the same for Canteen employees, existing
vacancies can be filled. However, as regards matter of having Departmental
Canteen or outsourced Canteen, Chairman advised to leave this decision to
Department as to whether any particular DAE Unit will have a Government run
canteen or an outsourced canteen. Government is the only competent authority to
decide over this issue taking into account probable security threats to its
installations and it is not necessary to have a uniform policy regarding
Departmental canteens at all DAE installations. However, irrespective of the type of canteen, care
will be taken by the Department to maintain the quality and standards in all
respects.
Further,
CAO(P), BARC explained that Department is strictly following the guidelines
given by the Directorate of Canteen while approving the 2A and 2B categorized
canteens and appointing the staff in the canteen according to no. of regular
employees.
Action
: US, SCS
Agenda No. 7 : Fixation of pay on promotion to a post
carrying higher duties and responsibilities but carrying the same grade pay
NFAEE representatives explained that in para 2 of the DAE’s
OM. No.19/1/2013m – SCS/4828 dated 10th April 2013, it was clarified
that the OM No. 10/02/2011 – E.III/A dated 7th January 2013 issued
by Department of Expenditure is not applicable to the technical posts in the
Department, in view of the revised norms issued by Trombay Council vide Note. No.
TC/1(52)/89/2011/56035 dated 27.06.2011, however since the said TC norms were
made applicable prospectively from July 2011 and not retrospectively from 1st
January 2006, the technical staff who got promotion from 1st January
2006 to 2008 should get the benefit of fixation on promotion. Secondly the
issue of counting of training period for increment is also pending with the
Department.
Chairman
informed that the matter will be examined by TC&TSC in all respect.
Action
: Secretary, TC&TSC
Agenda No. 8 : Ensure Track change from Scientific Assistant
to Scientific Officer/Technical Officer without linking additional
qualifications
NFAEE representatives clarified that upto 31.12.2008, as per
TC&TSC norms available for SA/D and SA/E, there were opportunities to
become SO/C and SO/D respectively, provided if they were found fit, and have
outstanding abilities in the theoretical fields and aptitude.
Accordingly, all employees holding posts of SA/D and SA/E were
considered concurrently for promotion to SA/E, SA/F and SO/C, SO/D respectively.
However, after
introduction of revised norms from 1.1.2009, the hitherto practice of promoting
Scientific Assistants to Scientific Officers is discontinued and now it is possible
only on acquisition of higher qualification followed by passing in the Departmental
Qualifying Examination and interview by the Standing Selection Committees.
NFAEE members further explained that as per earlier norms,
at least after SA/F they could anticipate that they will get a chance to be
promoted as Scientific Officer-E, whereas after creation of SA/G, they have
lost this opportunity too.
NFAEE members further informed that similarly placed
departments like Department of Space have not so far introduced neither SA/G
post nor any DQE procedure for track change.
Chairman informed that it is obvious that higher
responsibility demand higher qualification.
He further stated that comparison with other Department for parity in
service conditions is not a healthy principle.
The decision is taken in the Department keeping in view the kind of man-power
required to accomplish the future scientific activity of the Department. However, Staff side can present this case to
TC&TSC for further examination.
Agenda No. 9 : Ensure Grade Pay `4600 to existing SA/B and
cascading effect should be made to the Next higher grades
NFAEE representatives informed that as per the 6th
CPC `5000-`8000,
`5500-`9000,
`6500-`10500
merged together, with GP `4200.
Later, Ministry of Finance issued revised orders granting common GP of `4200
for pay scale of `5000-`8000
and `5500-`9000;
and GP `4600 for `6500-`10500.
NFAEE representatives further explained that Department of
Space through anomaly committee has de-merged these merged scales and granted
next higher GP to every grade with change of their nomenclatures. However, DAE
through Norms Committee took a decision that henceforth, only Cat-I trainees
with 2 yrs training will be absorbed as Scientific Assistant with GP `4600,
but this will not be applicable to the existing employees; whereas in DOS, existing GP `4200
has been upgraded to `4600 and consequently, GP `4600
has been upgraded to `4800. Therefore, NFAEE requested that DAE may also
implement enhancement of pay as done by DOS since both are coming under same
Ministry, having common Member for Finance.
Chairman informed that granting of Pay scales
is in the domain of Central Pay Commission and framing of the promotion norms
in DAE in respect of Scientific and Technical personnel is in the domain of TC&TSC. Accordingly, the revised norms issued by
TC&TSC has taken care of all such issues which are fully conforming with
hitherto issued guidelines of Ministry of Finance. However, Department can refer this matter to forthcoming
Pay Commission and thereafter to Norms Committee.
Action
: US(SCS)
Agenda No. 10 : Restore the advance increment given to the CAT
II trainees
NFAEE representatives explained that the advance increments granted
to category II trainees while absorbing in regular services from 01.01.2006 to
November 2008 were reduced/wiped out while fixing their pay in the revised
pay. Hence, NFAEE requested to restore
the advance increments granted at the time of initial appointment.
Chairman informed that TC&TSC has already considered all
the facts and accordingly decided the number of additional increments and the
grades to be given to the absorbees. A conscious effort has been made by the TC
to ensure that the CAT I and CAT II absorbees prior to 2006 are not put to any
disadvantageous position than those absorbees after 2006. Therefore, the
request is not reasonable. However, if details are provided, Department will
examine the matter.
Agenda No. 11 : Revise the
eligibility criteria for Departmental accommodation
in the DAE Allotment Rules
NFAEE members explained that after the Sixth CPC
recommendations, the criteria for allotment has been changed form the Basic Pay
to the Grade Pay. Thus the senior most employees who were getting a chance to
change their accommodation into higher category on service seniority prior to VI
CPC implementation has been taken away.
Chairman informed that NFAEE can raise this issue in the
National Council and /or send a new formula for deciding the eligibility for
allotment for submitting to Ministry of Urban Development.
3.
Before
concluding the meeting Chairman informed that we may have two such meetings in a
year.
4.
The
meeting ended with vote of thanks to the Chair.
******
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