Thought for today 30 th January 2019

An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propogation nor does truth becomes error because nobody sees it.Truth stands, even if there be no public suppport.It is self sustained.

Mahatma Gandhi

Wednesday 30 November 2011

TAX EXEMPTION ON CANTEEN SALES

Ministry of Home Affairs
Tax Exemption on Canteen Sales
The Central Para-Military Forces (CPMF) have sought VAT exemption on canteen sales. Chairman, Welfare And Rehabilitation Board (WARB) has written to the Chief Ministers of all the States and to the Union Territories for seeking exemption of Value Added Tax (VAT) to Central Police Canteen (CPC).
Hon’ble Minister of State for Home Affairs and Home Secretary have also written to all the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations vide letter dated 30/09/2011 and 02/06/2008 for exemption of Value Added Tax (VAT) to Central Police Canteen (CPC). Till date, 12 States/UTs viz. Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Tamilnadu, Orissa, Kerala & Chandigarh have agreed for exemption of VAT on sales of Central Police Canteens.
This was stated by Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply in the Lok Sabha today

Sunday 27 November 2011

Central Government Employees to travel by air to North eastern Region

Special Package for North-Eastern Region

The Ministry of Tourism, as a part of its promotional activities releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country including the North East Region. Besides, North East specific media campaigns are launched to promote the entire North East Region. The Ministry of Tourism provides complimentary space to the North Eastern States in India pavilions set up at major international travel fairs & exhibitions. Further, In relaxation of CCS (LTC) Rules 1988, the Government has decided to permit Government servants to travel by air to North Eastern Region on LTC as follows:-


(i) Group A and Group B Central Government employees will be entitled to travel by Air from their place of posting or nearest airport to a city in the NER or nearest airport.

(ii) Other categories of employees will be entitled to travel by air to a city in the NER from Guwahati or Kolkata.

(iii) All Central Government employees will be allowed conversion of one block of Home Town LTC into LTC for destinations in NER.

(c): Every year 10% of the total plan allocation of the Ministry of Tourism is mandatorily earmarked for releasing funds to the States of the North East Region. This apart, following special dispensations are given to the North Eastern States:

(i) Under the scheme of product/infrastructure development of destinations/circuit, budget accommodation, restaurants, etc. are allowed to the States of North East Region, selected places of J&K and Eco Tourism projects only.

(ii) For organizing fairs & festivals 100% central financial assistance is allowed to the North Eastern States & the State of Jammu & Kashmir only.

This information was given by the Minister of State of Tourism, Shri Sultan Ahmed in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

(courtsey-Central Government News)

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Quick and accurate Disbursement of Pension to Ex-Servicemen

Government of India, Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare & Controller General of Defence Accounts

                          Quick and Accurate Disbursement of Pension to Ex-Servicemen

For information of Defence Pensioners
Government of India has taken a number of decisions to improve the benefits of defence pensioners. The most recent improvements are implementation of the 6th Central Pay Commission Report and further improvements as per Cabinet Secretary Committee’s Report.
2. In order to enable Defence pensioners to know their correct entitlement as a result of various Govt. orders, the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) has developed a software called “Suvigya”. This software requires some minimum inputs to be provided about the pensioner (e.g. date of discharge/ retirement, rank / group, qualifying service, date of birth, initial pension etc.). On the basis of this information, “Suvigya” shows the changes in pension as a result of different revisions and the latest pension entitlements. The software also provides for taking print-out of the result.
3. “Suvigya” software has been installed in the offices of Rajya / Zila Sainik Boards and Defence Pension Disbursement Offices (DPDOs) in a phased manner. Defence pensioners can approach any of these offices (irrespective of where they reside or the agency from which they draw their pension) to know their correct entitlements through “Suvigya”. In case they are not being paid their pension as per entitlement, they may take up the matter with their Pension Disbursing Agencies.

Thursday 10 November 2011

Principal Bench of CAT’s Judgement in favour of Pre-2006 Pensioners

The Principal Bench of CAT New Delhi, has in a remarkable judgement has quashed the clarifications issued in the Office Memorandum dated 3.10.2008 and 14.10.2008 (No: 38/37/08-P&PW(A) .Pt.1) regarding the fixation of revised pension in respect of pre-2006 pensioners. As we all know, pre-2006 Pensioners have been not treated at par with Post 2006 pensioners as far as revised pension fixation is concerned.

The resolution dated 29.08.2008 by which Government accepted the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission report as well as the clause in para 4.2 of the Office Memorandum dated 01.09.2008, define the minimum revised pension as " revised pension, in no case, shall be lower than fifty percent of the minimum of the pay in the pay band plus the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired".

However, it could be seen that in the O.M. No: 38/37/08-P&PW(A) .Pt.1 dated 14.10.2008, Department of Pension and Pension welfare has formulated a fitment table by misinterpreting the Government decision on fixation of pension for pre-2006, Pre-1996 and Pre-1986 Pensioners.
It is apparent that pensioners retired before 2006, are in the loosing side as their minimum pay is pegged at only 50% of minimum of pay band (and 50% of grade pay) corresponding to pre-revised pay scale in which the employee had retired. On plain reading it may look what was done by the Government is correct. But it is gross misinterpretation of 6CPC recommendations and acceptance of 6cpc recommendations in the resolution by way of formulating a wrong fitment table that has caused a huge financial loss to pre-2006 pensioners.

The OM dated 14.10.2008, has advocated that the minimum pension of employees fall under pre-revised scales from S-9 to S-15 will not be less than 50% of Rs.9300 plus 50% of the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale. So an employee who retired prior to 2006 when he was receiving a basic pay of Rs.13225 in the pre-revised pay scale of S-15 (Rs.8000-275-13500) will receive a minimum pension of only Rs.4650 + Rs. 2700 (50% of Rs.9300 and Rs.5400), if the revised pension is less than the minimum pension.
Principal Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has come to the rescue of pre-2006 pensioners in this aspect by pronouncing judgement to the effect that O.M dated 14.10.2008 is quashed and revised pension fixation has to be done to the Pre-2006 pensioners on the basis of as per the resolution dated 29.08.2008.
It is also indicated by CAT that in the garb of clarification, respondents misinterpreted minimum of pay in the pay band as minimum of the pay band and that this interpretation is apparently erroneous.
The order portion is as follows:
"PARA 30: In view of what has been stated above, we are of the view that the clarificatiory OM dated 3.10.2008 and further OM dated 14.10.2008 (which is also based upon clarificatiory OM dated 3.10.2008) and OM dated 11.02.2009, whereby representation was rejected by common order, are required to be quashed and set aside, which we accordingly do. Respondents are directed to re-fix the pension of all pre-2006 retirees w.e.f. 1.1.2006, based on the resolution dated 29.08.2008 and in the light of our observations made above. Let the respondents re-fix the pension and pay the arrears thereof within a period of 3 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. OAs are allowed in the aforesaid terms, with no order as to interest and costs"