Monday, November 30, 2015

FAREWELL TO A HERO OF A GOLDEN PERIOD



JOINED AS ASSTT. COMMISSIONER - 08-NOV-1979

RETIRED AS MEMBER(ST), CBEC      - 30-NOV-2015


                Shri V. S. Krishnan at the age of 24 joined the Department as Asst. Commissioner in Bangalore  after completing his post-graduation in Economics from the prestigious Delhi School of Economics, New Delhi. Thereafter he served in various capacities in the Department at various places of the country. He was posted to Mumbai as Addl. Commr. in the year 2000 to 2002 and thereafter as Chief Commissioner from June-2013 to May-2015 and on elevation as Member of the CBEC, he went to New Delhi.

Shri Krishnan is a man of values and a person who puts into practice what he preaches. The passage of time i.e. around 33 years, from AC to Member-CBEC, did not alter his attitude of lack of interest in materialistic things, except maybe collecting and reading books. We the officers of Mumbai are fortunate enough to have senior officers with impeccable record of integrity like Shri P N Malhotra, Late Shri Daya Shankar, Shri Arun Sahu, whose entire career was dedicated to betterment of the Department and of its officers, irrespective of the obstacles placed before them.

Shri Krishnan was just like a missionary. From the very day of assuming the charge of Chief Commissioner of Mumbai Zone-I, he started his mission with the available resources, imparting knowledge, holding several seminars, both for staff and trade. He is the first officer who dared to have interaction on a one-to-one basis through open house meetings for central excise and service tax staff.  Unfortunately, time was too short for him; on holidays he used to visit the staff quarters especially of drivers and sepoys; also visited the dilapidated division/range offices of various commissionerates. Under his command, new premises like Lotus, Air India etc., were acquired and renovations of many office premises were started. To carry out this mission, money was not a constraint at all, because he was so methodical and articulate, that all proposals were processed diligently with justification and requirement, so as to avoid raising of any queries by the Ministry.

He was also a kind-hearted person - he empthasised with the problems of contigent workers and started a fund among the Grp-A officers to contribute towards the purchase of uniforms, shoes, water filters & other essential items for each contingent worker, which was presented to them on the Republic Day/Independence Day celebrations. He continued this practice and introduced the same in North Block after being elevated as Member CBEC. His concern towards the driver and his family members is very rare in the Department. He was so humble & simple that he continued to use the condemned Ambassador car for all purposes till he was holding the charge of Mumbai Zone and never asked for a private hired vehicle, even though all the Commissioners under him were using more modern and luxurious vehicles.

During his stint as Addl. Commissioner in Mumbai, he was the pioneer who introduced the EA-2000 Audit. He was nominated into many committees formed by the Board, for making changes in Scrutiny of Returns in Excise and Service Tax, various changes in CENVAT system etc. He also played a major and key role for designing the ensuing GST. He was member of the Parthasarathy Shome committee which was constituted for Tax Administrative Reforms. He was instrumental for improving and upgrading the skill-sets of the officers in Audit, especially in the aspect of Analysis of Financial Records and meticulous evaluation to plug revenue loss. In the Board he was considered a rising & dependable star because of his in-depth knowledge, vocabulary and articulate manner of speech, and was asked to be present whenever any seminars or any presentations were to be made before senior dignitaries like RS, MoS, FM.

In Transfer postings matters, Mumbai is considered to be very sensitive. Officers tried their best to be retained or to be posted according to their whims and desires. Shri Krishnan always kept the interest of the Department uppermost and dedicated his entire tenure for the Department. This can be easily gauged  - Shri Krishnan neither owns a vehicle or a house of his own or owns any latest electronic gadgets, even after serving the Department for more than 35 years.

CESA, Mumbai, will always cherish his tenure as a golden treasure in our memory and will always fondly remember Shri Krishnan’s contribution to the Department and will consider his tenure as a Golden period for Mumbai Zone. He not only gave a balanced transfer posting policy for Grp-B officers but also plotted a blue-print for improving the infrastructure, acquiring new office spaces and residential quarters for all the staff so that newly joined officers, either new inspectors/ministerial or new IRS probationers were not subject to any inconvenience. He will be remembered for his ability to motivate and impart knowledge & skill to the staff so that they are able to discharge their duties in a professional manner. Nothing seems to be un-attainable when officers like Shri Krishnan are heading the organization – to acquire office space at Air India and several new proposals for office as well as residential quarters and guest-house, renovations of various offices and quick resolution of staff grievances without any discrimination and in a time bound manner.

Shri Krishnan has held the largest number of DPC and Review DPC in respect of all cadres of this zone. His vision and concern to rectify the Seniority of the officers of this zone at zonal level as well as at the All India Level is unforgettable. In the cadre Restructuring meeting, he raised the issue of implementing the Parmar SC Judgement in Central Excise which compelled the Board to issue instructions accordingly. His contributions towards anomaly in 3rd MACP, stepping up of pay with the Board is laudable. Shri Krishnan was always one step ahead than the Associations for demanding more funds from the Board towards computers and its peripherals.

We hope that the momentum generated by Shri Krishnan will be continued and his legacy will be maintained. We pray that the Govt. of India will tap into his vast knowledge, skill, experience and use him greatly in the future, especially for the implementation of GST tax regime. His integrity, dedication, honesty, humbleness, kindness, simpleness and saintly behaviour will always remain as a model in the years to come.

With best wishes to him and his family, who stood behind him like a rock.  We also wish him a long, healthy, peaceful, & god-willing a dynamic second innings.
 


Thursday, November 26, 2015

NO ZEAL TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM...

    

     WE MAY BE IN THE LIMCA BOOK OF RECORDS FOR LIGHTING CANDLES IN THE WAKE OF TRAGEDIES IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT DO NOT HAVE ANY MECHANISM TO CHECK AND TO DEAL WITH THEM. WE ALWAYS REMAIN SELFISH AND ENGAGE ALWAYS TO PROTECT OUR OWN INTERESTS. 

     CESA-MUMBAI, SALUTES THE MARTYRS OF 26/11 AND SYMPATHY TO ALL THOSE WHO WERE INJURED AND LOST THEIR KITH AND KIN. ALSO WE RAISE OUR VOICE AGAINST OUR OWN ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR CASUAL APPROACH. IN THIS REGARDS, CESA, MUMBAI, REPRESENTATION IS AS UNDER :-




Ref: CESA/66/2015
                                                                                                            Date: 26-Nov-2015.

Shri Sanjeev Bihari,
Chief Commissioner of Customs,
Mumbai Zone-III.

 Sub: - Unfair practices of senior officers in most sensitive
                          Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Mumbai - reg.

Respected Sir,

            Incidents occur and the history reminds us that we have not learnt any lessons from our lapses.

Today is the 26/11, wherein the entire country is observing Martyrs Day. On the same day last year we have represented about the issue of functioning and concern of senior officers in the most sensitive Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Mumbai, vide letter dated 26-Nov-2014, addressed to Ms. Mala Srivastav, the then Member(Cus), CBEC, New Delhi. On the same day, corrective steps to be taken were instructed and the order of the Alibaug Division was issued.

            It is brought to our notice that again the M&P Administration has issued an order assigning additional charge of CIU along-with the Alibaug Division. The said AC/DC is residing at Powai Government Quarters, and hardly ever visits the Alibaug Division. He has made a group in “Whatsapp” of all the officers posted under him in Alibaug. Whenever he desires, he sends a request through “Whatsapp” and the officer posted in Alibaug Division (ranging from Srivardhan to Murud) is forced to travel all the way leaving their station vacant to meet the said AC/DC at Marine Lines, Mumbai. Just for the sake of saving one AC/DC’s HRA, the M&P administration has given additional charge, when n number of ACs are available in HQ. The officers and members of the Trade have to leave their day-to-day work in all the ports as well as Division offices and travel all the way to Marine Lines. For the sake of saving Rs. 20,000/-, the M&P Administration is forcing the officers of Alibaug Division to spend more than this amount from their pocket, travelling to & fro.

            If the AC/DC in-charge of the Alibaug Division is so tech savvy and can have a command on the area and control the staff and ensure the safety and security for which he has been assigned, then the Department should adopt the same mode for all the stations in M&P wing !! What a shame…when we do not have any mechanism to deal with the terrorism and logistic support to safeguard our jurisdiction from anti-social elements / smugglers.

            Today, being a tragic day, to review the security, a regular monthly meeting with the Coastal Security officials alongwith other agencies are scheduled. We appear to have not learnt any lessons from the past mistakes and have not got out of our greediness. In 1993, for a handful of officers, the Department was maligned and the country suffered. We are not doing anything different but repeating the same mistakes.

 
Today, being observed as Martyr Day, CESA, Mumbai, again brings to the notice the lacunae and lapses, and hopes that the necessary corrective steps and action will be taken in the interest of the country.

            The Divisional in-charge of Alibaug Dn. may be suitably ordered to be present in the station, so that his subordinate officers will follow the same footsteps and   remain in their respective stations. Otherwise, the entire jurisdiction will be run only on paper and mobile without any officer being actually present in the station. It is once again urged that for the comforts and financial benefits of an individual officer, no one should be allowed to play with the security of the nation.

 
            Thanking you,
                                                                                                           Yours sincerely,

 

                                                                                                            A.K. SASMAL
                                                                                                                    General Secretary

Copy to: Commissioner of Customs (Prev.), Mumbai Zone-III, for kind information and to take corrective action & discourage such type of arrangements in future. 




LAST YEAR'S REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED IN PERSON AT NEW DELHI AND ON THE SAME DAY ORDER WAS ISSUED.



Ref: CESA/86/2014
Date: 26.11.2014


Ms. MALA SRIVASTAVA,
Hon’ble Member, Customs, CBEC,
Incharge of Mumbai Zone,
New Delhi.

Respected Madam,

Sub: - Functioning and concern of senior officers in most sensitive Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Mumbai – reg.

Today, the country and Mumbai is in the mourning mood to commemorate the 26/11 tragedy in Mumbai, wherein several innocent people were killed and top cops of Mumbai police lost their lives because their weapons were inappropriate and they were in short of equipments. Yesterday the High Court of Bombay severely came out on the weapon policy of the State Government. But we have not learnt any lesson from the tragic incident and have not geared up to tackle similar situation.
2. Madam, CESA Mumbai, vide its letter dated 22.09.2014 requested the Commissioner (Customs) Preventive, not to keep the post of divisional Assistant Commissioner in the field vacant or give any additional charge to those officers and post them in Mumbai. On 31st October 2014, adequate number of Assistant Commissioners was posted in each formation. However, the position of both the divisions’viz., Bassein and Alibaug, remains, as it is. CESA was compelled to take up the issue with the CC Customs vide its letter dated 13.11.2014. But in vain. Therefore CESA is constrained to take up your valuable time to appraise the situation. Both the divisions are known for their notoriety and several landings have been reported and several seizures have taken in the past. But it is unfortunate for the sake of penutary benefits both the divisional ACs were given additional charge and have been kept in Headquarters. In the field JSP, NRP, DRP are carried out regularly and for any petty work officers from the Divisions are coming to Mumbai for Orders. Being a preventive organization such type of arrangement is dangerous to the formation. CESA can say, this is a criminal favour with a malafide intention and defeating the very purpose of the post sanctioned for the division office.

3. Madam, Mumbai people are going to observe 26/11 anniversary but if these things come to the knowledge of the public and that nothing has been learnt from 1993 and 26/11 incidents, the pointing finger will be towards the department and for that ‘who is responsible’, is the question which is to be introspected. With deep regret and anguish we bring it to your kind notice and request to make the formation and authority responsive to such things such lapses will not be ignored by public again and again so not to play with national security for the comfort of some senior officers.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,



   A.K. Sasmal
                                                                                   General Secretary
Encl: As above.

Monday, November 23, 2015

PAY COMMISSION - EXPECTING WATER... BUT ONLY GOT VAPOUR


 
This Pay Commission unlike the earlier Pay Commissions, have not delayed its report, & has submitted its report to the Govt. before the scheduled date. They were determined and decided early on what is to be proposed and what is to be discarded. On receiving the Pay Commission’s report, the Govt. may be happy that it has received a report as was expected by them.
Since submission, the media has created a illusion that the Central Govt. Employees are going to receive a bonanza ; and that the Govt. will incur a huge expenditure to the tune of Rs. One Lakh Crore !!
In our country, during the Diwali celebrations, normally the master hands over a token sum to his employees as a gift or bonus. The employee expects that the amount received as bonus will commensurate with the status/success of the employer and also the market conditions. But as compared with the same practice, we have been deceived by the Pay Commission and the lower staff has been given a raw deal in all aspects and has been treated more shabbily than a master treats his servant.
The gap between the 6th & the 7th Pay Commission is around 10 years and percentage increase in the price index between the two implementation years is more than the increase granted by the Pay Commission. If this simple fact is not taken into consideration at the time of finalization of pay packages, then there was no need to constitute a pay commission. All the Govt. needs to do is keep merging the DA to the Basic pay of the govt. employees, as and when the same crosses 100%. Further, due care has been taken for those who have already retired and have taken up posts in regulatory bodies.
In the Report, the Commission has recommended a consolidated pay package of Rs 4,50,000 and Rs 4,00,000 per month for Chairpersons and Members respectively of select Regulatory bodies, like TRAI, IRDA, SEBI etc. In case of retired government servants, their pension will not be deducted from their consolidated pay, which will reach around Rs. 6 lakhs per month. Similarly, the increase in take home salary of Grp-A & above, due care has been taken (average increase is approx. Rs. 50,000/- per month) whereas at the Insp./Supdt. Level, they have been totally neglected (average increase is hardly Rs. 19,000/- per month).  After introduction of the new Health Insurance scheme and deduction of Income Tax at the increased rate of 30%, the average increase will hardly be less than Rs.15,000/- and in some cases may even be negative !!
The time is not to look-back on what our All India Body has presented before the Pay Commission or similarly what other Central Govt. All India body has done . The Pay Commission has in a systematic manner increased the Pay Package of Grp-A officers and neglected the lower cadres of the Central Govt. We all have to gear up and unitedly raise our voice against this gross injustice. The other details will be posted shortly. 
The Convenor of the National Joint Council of Action of Central Govt. employees has issued a press release on 20-Nov-2015 (copy attached) about the disappointment with the adverse recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission while giving a bonanza to the higher level officers and completely ignored the low paid employees.
 
The Convenor has appealed to observe black day by holding massive demonstrations, wearing black badges all over the country on 27-Nov-2015 to protest against the retrograde recommendation of the 7th Pay CPC.
 The Secretary General of AIACEGEO has also appealed to participate in the program of wearing the black badges to extend solidarity with the Central Govt. Employees Union on the 27-Nov-2015.  All the members are requested to wear black badges on 27-Nov-2015 during office hours.

 

Thursday, November 19, 2015

SILENT FEATURES OF PAY COMMISSION CANDY

Pay Commission recommends salary range of Rs 18K to Rs 2.5 lakh per month; to cost Rs 1.02 lakh crore to Exchequer 
NEW DELHI, NOV 19, 2015: THE much-awaited 7th Pay Commission Report running into 900-page was finally submitted by Justice A K Mathur to the Union Finance Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley.
And the key highlights are:
•  Minimum Pay: Based on the Aykroyd formula, the minimum pay in government is recommended to be set at Rs 18,000 per month.
•  Maximum Pay : Rs 2,25,000 per month for Apex Scale and Rs 2,50,000 per month for Cabinet Secretary and others presently at the same pay level.
•  Financial Implications:
•  The total financial impact in the FY 2016-17 is likely to be Rs 1,02,100 crore, over the expenditure as per the ‘Business As Usual' scenario. Of this, the increase in pay would be Rs 39,100 crore, increase in allowances would be Rs 29,300 crore and increase in pension would be Rs 33,700 crore.
•  Out of the total financial impact of Rs 1,02,100 crore, Rs 73,650 crore will be borne by the General Budget and Rs 28,450 crore by the Railway Budget.
•  In percentage terms the overall increase in pay & allowances and pensions over the ‘Business As Usual' scenario will be 23.55 percent. Within this, the increase in pay will be 16 percent, increase in allowances will be 63 percent, and increase in pension would be 24 percent.
•  The total impact of the Commission's recommendations are expected to entail an increase of 0.65 percentage points in the ratio of expenditure on (Pay+Allowances+ Pension) to GDP compared to 0.77 percent in case of VI CPC.
•  New Pay Structure: Considering the issues raised regarding the Grade Pay structure and with a view to bring in greater transparency, the present system of pay bands and grade pay has been dispensed with and a new pay matrix has been designed. Grade Pay has been subsumed in the pay matrix. The status of the employee, hitherto determined by grade pay, will now be determined by the level in the pay matrix.
•  Fitment: A fitment factor of 2.57 is being proposed to be applied uniformly for all employees.
•  Annual Increment : The rate of annual increment is being retained at 3 percent.
•  Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP):
•  Performance benchmarks for MACP have been made more stringent from “Good” to “Very Good”.
•  The Commission has also proposed that annual increments not be granted in the case of those employees who are not able to meet the benchmark either for MACP or for a regular promotion in the first 20 years of their service.
•  No other changes in MACP recommended.

•  Military Service Pay ( MSP): The Military Service Pay, which is a compensation for the various aspects of military service, will be admissible to the Defence forces personnel only . As before, Military Service Pay will be payable to all ranks up to and inclusive of Brigadiers and their equivalents. The current MSP per month and the revised rates recommended are as follows:

Present in Rs
Proposed in Rs
i.
Service Officers
6,000
15,500
ii.
Nursing Officers
4,200
10,800
iii.
JCO/ORs
2,000
5,200
iv.
Non Combatants (Enrolled) in the Air Force
1,000
3,600

•  Short Service Commissioned Officers: Short Service Commissioned Officers will be allowed to exit the Armed Forces at any point in time between 7 and 10 years of service, with a terminal gratuity equivalent of 10.5 months of reckonable emoluments. They will further be entitled to a fully funded one year Executive Programme or a M.Tech. programme at a premier Institute
.
•  Lateral Entry/Settlement: The Commission is recommending a revised formulation for lateral entry/resettlement of defence forces personnel which keeps in view the specific requirements of organization to which such personnel will be absorbed. For lateral entry into CAPFs an attractive severance package has been recommended.

•  Headquarters/Field Parity : Parity between field and headquarters staff recommended for similar functionaries e.g Assistants and Stenos.
•  Cadre Review : Systemic change in the process of Cadre Review for Group A officers recommended.

•  Allowances : The Commission has recommended abolishing 52 allowances altogether. Another 36 allowances have been abolished as separate identities, but subsumed either in an existing allowance or in newly proposed allowances. Allowances relating to Risk and Hardship will be governed by the proposed Risk and Hardship Matrix .

•  Risk and Hardship Allowance: Allowances relating to Risk and Hardship will be governed by the newly proposed nine-cell Risk and Hardship Matrix, with one extra cell at the top, viz., RH-Max to include Siachen Allowance.

The current Siachen Allowance per month and the revised rates recommended are as follows:



Present
Proposed
i.
Service Officers
Rs 21,000
Rs 31,500
iii.
JCO/ORs
Rs 14,000
Rs 21,000

This would be the ceiling for risk/hardship allowances and there would be no individual RHA with an amount higher than this allowance .

•  House Rent AllowanceSince the Basic Pay has been revised upwards, the Commission recommends that HRA be paid at the rate of 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 8 per cent of the new Basic Pay for Class X, Y and Z cities respectively. The Commission also recommends that the rate of HRA will be revised to 27 percent, 18 percent and 9 percent respectively when DA crosses 50 percent, and further revised to 30 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent when DA crosses 100 percent.

•  In the case of PBORs of Defence, CAPFs and Indian Coast Guard compensation for housing is presently limited to the authorised married establishment hence many users are being deprived. The HRA coverage has now been expanded to cover all.

•  Any allowance not mentioned in the report shall cease to exist.

•  Emphasis has been placed on simplifying the process of claiming allowances.
•  Advances:
•  All non-interest bearing Advances have been abolished.
•  Regarding interest-bearing Advances, only Personal Computer Advance and House Building Advance (HBA) have been retained. HBA ceiling has been increased to Rs 25 lakhs from the present Rs 7.5 lakhs.

•  Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme (CGEGIS) : The Rates of contribution as also the insurance coverage under the CGEGIS have remained unchanged for long. They have now been enhanced suitably. The following rates of CGEGIS are recommended:


Present
Proposed
Level of Employee
Monthly Deduction
(Rs)
Insurance Amount
(Rs)
Monthly Deduction
(Rs)
Insurance Amount
(Rs)
10 and above
120
1,20,000
5000
50,00,000
6 to 9
60
60,000
2500
25,00,000
1 to 5
30
30,000
1500
15,00,000

•  Medical Facilities:
•  Introduction of a Health Insurance Scheme for Central Government employees and pensioners has been recommended.

•  Meanwhile, for the benefit of pensioners residing outside the CGHS areas, CGHS should empanel those hospitals which are already empanelled under CS (MA)/ECHS for catering to the medical requirement of these pensioners on a cashless basis.

•  All postal pensioners should be covered under CGHS. All postal dispensaries should be merged with CGHS.

•  Pension: The Commission recommends a revised pension formulation for civil employees including CAPF personnel as well as for Defence personnel, who have retired before 01.01.2016. This formulation will bring about parity between past pensioners and current retirees for the same length of service in the pay scale at the time of retirement.
The past pensioners shall first be fixed in the Pay Matrix being recommended by the Commission on the basis of Pay Band and Grade Pay at which they retired, at the minimum of the corresponding level in the pay matrix.

This amount shall be raised to arrive at the notional pay of retirees, by adding number of increments he/she had earned in that level while in service at the rate of 3 percent.
In the case of defence forces personnel this amount will include Military Service Pay as admissible.

Fifty percent of the total amount so arrived at shall be the new pension.
An alternative calculation will be carried out, which will be a multiple of 2.57 times of the current basic pension.

The pensioner will get the higher of the two.
•  Gratuity : Enhancement in the ceiling of gratuity from the existing Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. The ceiling on gratuity may be raised by 25 per cent whenever DA rises by 50 per cent.

•  Disability Pension for Armed Forces: The Commission is recommending reverting to a slab based system for disability element, instead of existing percentile based disability pension regime.

•  Ex-gratia Lump sum Compensation to Next of Kin: The Commission is recommending the revision of rates of lump sum compensation for next of kin (NOK) in case of death arising in various circumstances relating to performance of duties, to be applied uniformly for the defence forces personnel and civilians including CAPF personnel
.
•  Martyr Status for CAPF Personnel : The Commission is of the view that in case of death in the line of duty, the force personnel of CAPFs should be accorded martyr status, at par with the defence forces personnel.

•  New Pension System : The Commission received many grievances relating to NPS. It has recommended a number of steps to improve the functioning of NPS. It has also recommended establishment of a strong grievance redressal mechanism.

•  Regulatory Bodies : The Commission has recommended a consolidated pay package of Rs 4,50,000 and Rs 4,00,000 per month for Chairpersons and Members respectively of select Regulatory bodies. In case of retired government servants, their pension will not be deducted from their consolidated pay. The consolidated pay package will be raised by 25 percent as and when Dearness Allowance goes up by 50 percent. For Members of the remaining Regulatory bodies normal replacement pay has been recommended.

•  Performance Related Pay : The Commission has recommended introduction of the Performance Related Pay (PRP) for all categories of Central Government employees, based on quality Results Framework Documents, reformed Annual Performance Appraisal Reports and some other broad Guidelines. The Commission has also recommended that the PRP should subsume the existing Bonus schemes.
•  There are few recommendations of the Commission where there was no unanimity of view and these are as follows:

• i. The Edge: An edge is presently accordeded to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) at three promotion stages from Senior Time Scale (STS), to the Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) and the NFSG. is recommended by the Chairman, to be extended to the Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).
Shri Vivek Rae, Member is of the view that financial edge is justified only for the IAS and IFS. Dr. Rathin Roy, Member is of the view that the financial edge accorded to the IAS and IFS should be removed.

• ii. Empanelment: The Chairman and Dr. Rathin Roy, Member, recommend that All India Service officers and Central Services Group A officers who have completed 17 years of service should be eligible for empanelment under the Central Staffing Scheme and there should not be “two year edge”, vis-à-vis the IAS. Shri Vivek Rae, Member, has not agreed with this view and has recommended review of the Central Staffing Scheme guidelines.

• iii. Non Functional Upgradation for Organised Group ‘A' Services : The Chairman is of the view that NFU availed by all the organised Group `A' Services should be allowed to continue and be extended to all officers in the CAPFs, Indian Coast Guard and the Defence forces. NFU should henceforth be based on the respective residency periods in the preceding substantive grade. Shri Vivek Rae, Member and Dr. Rathin Roy, Member, have favoured abolition of NFU at SAG and HAG level.

• iv. SuperannuationChairman and Dr. Rathin Roy, Member, recommend the age of superannuation for all CAPF personnel should be 60 years uniformly. Shri Vivek Rae, Member, has not agreed with this recommendation and has endorsed the stand of the Ministry of Home Affairs.