Aadhaar based biometric attendance system – Employees express displeasure

Aadhaar details should not be used for 

 personal reasons – Supreme Court

Aadhaar based biometric attendance system – Aadhaar details should not be used for personal reasons – Supreme Court

The biometric Aadhaar-linked attendance system has now been introduced among the staff of Income Tax Department in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. This now links the everyday attendance of these Income tax officials with their Aadhaar card. The fingerprint registered in the Aadhaar card database must match with the fingerprint saved in the timecard. Employees who have not yet applied for their Aadhaar card were instructed to get them as soon as possible.

A senior Income Tax official has said, “The Aadhaar information of the employees and officials are gathered at the national information database. Links are provided from this centre to the various Central Government departments. The daily attendance register has now been added to this database. The employee has to register his/her attendance by getting the thumb scanned.

This scanned thumb impression has to match with the one in the Aadhaar card. The new system has already been implemented at the Income Tax office and the postal department of New Delhi. It has now been introduced at the Income Tax office of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Employees without the Aadhaar card have been asked to apply for one immediately.

Central Government employees meanwhile have expressed their objection to linking the daily attendance timecard with Aadhaar. Mr. Duraipandi, the General Secretary of the Employees’ Sammelan, said, “We have no objection to implementing a biometric attendance system. But, linking the Aadhaar card information with the attendance record is unnecessary and in violation of personal rights. Adding my personal information to my office attendance violates my right to privacy.

The honourable Supreme Court, in its judgement, has clearly specified that Aadhaar details should not be used for personal reasons.”

Source: www.7thpaycommissionnews.in

DOPT ORDERS for Voluntary Retirement from Persons suffering with disability

Voluntary Retirement from Persons suffering with disability – Dopt orders on 6.2.2015

G.I., Dep. of Per. & Trg., O.M.F. No. 25012/01/2015-Estt (A.IV), 

dated 6.2.2015

Subject: – Request for Voluntary Retirement from Persons suffering with disability – regarding.

The undersigned is directed to say that many Government servants seek voluntary retirement on medical grounds. Sec 47 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of justifys and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (PWD Act) lays down that no establishment shall dispense with the services of an employee who acquires a disability during the course of service. It is proposed that any Government servant seeking voluntary retirement on medical grounds may be apprised of the above provisions of PWD ACT, in order that he can take a considered decision.

2. A draft of the office memorandum to be issued in this regard is enclosed. Comments/suggestions are invited on the proposal. Comments may kindly be sent to the undersigned by Email at dse@nic.inor by FAX at 011-23093179 by 20-02-2015

Draft of the Office Memorandum

G.I., Dep of Per. & Trg., O.M. F.No.25012/1/2015-Estt (A-IV), 

dated ../../2015

Subject : Request for Voluntary retirement from persons suffering from disability — Supreme Court Order in Bhagwan Dass & Anr Vs Punjab State Electricity Board (2008) 1 SCC, 579.
The undersigned is directed to refer to Rule 48A and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 and Rule 56 of Fundamental Rules and say that a Government servant can seek voluntary retirement after completion of prescribed period of qualifying service under the said Rules.

2. It has been noticed that on many occasions persons suffering from physical/mental disability seek voluntary retirement owing to their inability to attend duty, not being aware of the protection afforded by the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (PWD Act):

3. Section 47 of PWD Act, 1995 is reproduced below for reference:
“Non-discrimination in Government Employment — (1) No establishment shall dispense with, or reduce in rank, an employee who acquires a disability during his service.

Provided that if an employee, after acquiring disability is not suitable for the post he was holding, could be shifted to some other post with the same pay scale and service benefits;

Provided further that if it is not possible to adjust the employee against any post, he may be kept on a supernumerary post until a suitable post is available or he attains the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier.

No promotion shall be denied to a person merely on the ground of his disability;

Provided that the appropriate Government may, having regard to the type of work carried on in any establishment, by notification and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in such notification, exempt any establishment from the provisions of this section”.

4. The issue had come up in Bhagwan Dass & Anr Vs Punjab State Electricity Board (2008) 1 SCC 579, decided by the Hon’ble Supreme Court where the employee who had during his service suffered from blindness had applied for voluntary retirement. The Hon’ble Supreme Court had observed that he was not aware of any protection that the law afforded him and apparently believed that the blindness would cause his to lose his job, the source of livelihood of his family. In those circumstances it was the duty of superior officers to explain to him the correct legal position and to tell him about his legal rights.

5. Keeping in view the provisions of PWD Act and the judicial pronouncement, it has been decided that whenever a Government servant seeks voluntary retirement, on medical grounds, the Appointing Authority shall examine whether his/her case is covered by the provisions of Section 47 of PWD Act. In case, the provisions are applicable, then the Government servant shall be advised that he/she has the option of continuing in service by virtue of the protection afforded by PWD Act.

6. If the Government servant, after being advised as in para 5 above, still wishes to take Voluntary retirement the request may be processed as per normal rules.

7. All the Ministries and Departments are requested to keep the above in view while processing cases of requests for Voluntary retirement in case of disability.

Authority: www.7thpaycommissionnews.in

UFBU decides to revive the strike programmes - 4 days strike from 25th to 28th Feb 2015

UFBU decides to revive the strike programmes – 4 days strike from 25th to 28th Feb 2015

IBA backtracks from its assurance

Offers a paltry 0.5% increase

UFBU decides to revive the strike programmes

Calls for four days Strike from 25th to 28th February, 2015

Indefinite Strike from 16th March, 2015

In our earlier Circular No.UFBU/2015/44 dated 19-1-2015, we had informed that in the background of the assurance given by IBA towards expeditious wage settlement and considering the positive developments since last conciliation meeting held on 5th January 2015, UFBU had put on hold its call for 4 days’ strike from 21st January 2015.

In this background another round of negotiations between IBA and UFBU was held in Mumbai yesterday (i.e., 3rd February 2015). Subsequent to a general reporting of the discussions held in the meetings of the three Sub-Committees on (i) Employees’ service conditions, (ii) Officers’ service conditions and (iii) revised medical reimbursement scheme, the important issue of further improvement in the wage increase offer came up for discussion. IBA sought the view of UFBU about revising its demand from 19.5% in order to arrive at a final deal. UFBU informed IBA that the wage increase offer needs to be substantially improved by IBA as assured and accordingly UFBU would negotiate further to reach a final accord. Quoting, once again, the strenuous financial performance of various Banks, IBA informed that the banks are not in a position to accept the demand of the UFBU. After prolonged discussions, IBA finally proposed to improve their offer from 12.5% to 13% and expected UFBU to scale down its demand.

Since the increase in offer of 0.5% by IBA was paltry, inadequate and not satisfactory, UFBU met thereafter and decided to revive the strike programmes as under:

9th February 2015 Centralised Demonstrations at all centres
13th February 2015 Centralised Demonstrations at all centres
20th February 2015 Badge Wearing & Demonstrations
23rd February 2015 Press Meet in all State capitals
24th February 2015 Centralised Demonstrations at all centres
25th to 28th February 2015 FOUR DAYS’ ALL INDIA BANK STRIKE
2nd to 14th March 2015 Further preparatory programmes
16th March onwards INDEFINITE STRIKE

Comrades, the sincere and persuasive efforts of UFBU to negotiate a reasonable and mutually acceptable wage increase are being misunderstood by the IBA and the Government as its weakness. With utmost patience, for the past two years, UFBU has been making its best efforts to settle the demands amicably. At every point of time, we have shown our flexibility. But unfortunately, it is not being reciprocated by the IBA.

When the entire workforce in the banking industry is making every effort to implement the various programmes of the Government including the recent Jan Dhan Yojana, when employees and officers are working under lot of stress and maximum difficulty due to manpower shortage and increased volume of work, it is regrettable that the Government is remaining a passive spectator without initiating any steps to find an amicable solution to the genuine expectations of bank employees for a better and reasonable wage revision.

UFBU has been once again pushed to the path of struggle. We call upon all our units and the entire membership to rise as one and plunge into action to implement the programmes successfully.

State-level UFBU meetings should be held immediately to plan out the steps to be initiated for making all the programmes a total success.

Comrades – March ahead with solidarity and unity – Let us exhibit clearly that our united movement brings Success and success alone…..

“WE SHALL FIGHT – WE SHALL FIGHT – TILL WE SUCCEED – WE SHALL FIGHT”

Source: www.7thpaycommissionnews.in

Recruitment to Multi Tasking Staff @ Grade Pay of Rs.1800.

Recruitment to Multi Tasking Staff in Pay Band-1 with Grade Pay of Rs.1800

G.I., Dep. of Per. & Trg., O.M.No.AB-14017/6/2009-Estt (RR), dated 5.2.2015

Subject: Recruitment to Multi Tasking Staff in Pay Band-1, with Grade Pay of Rs.1800/- : Sending of requisition to Staff Selection Commission.

This Department vide OM of even number dated 12.5.2010 and reiterated vide OM dated 21st October, 2013 had issued instructions to all the Ministries/Departments that they have to intimate their requirements for Multi Tasking Staff (Non-Technical) in PB-1 Grade Pay Rs.1800/- to the Staff Selection Commission. The Ministries/Departments were also advised to take action simultaneously for framing Recruitment Rules for these posts in accordance with the Model RRs already circulated vide OM dated 30.4.2010.

2. It is once again reiterated that the posts of MTS are required to be filled up only through SSC as per the instructions of this Department. All Ministries/Departments may send their requirements as well as the requirements of their attached/subordinate offices also, for MTS ( PB-1 Grade Pay Rs.1800/-) to the Staff Selection Commission so that the Commission could initiate action for recruitment. The Staff Selection Commission is likely to issue advertisement on 1.8.2015.

3. Action pending, if any, may simultaneously be taken for framing of Recruitment Rules for these posts in accordance with the Model Recruitment Rules already circulated.

Authority: www.7thpaycommissionnews.in