Unjustified ceiling of basic pay for entitlement of Night Duty Allowance
NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI- 110 055
Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)
No.I/F(E)
Dated 22/07/2020
The Cabinet Secretary,
Government of India,
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
New Delhi
Sir,
Sub: Unjustified ceiling of basic pay for entitlement of Night Duty Allowance — reg.
Ref: DoP&T’s O.M.No.27016/02/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 13th July, 2020.
Kind attention is invited to para 4 of DoP&T’s O.M.No.27016/02/2017-Estt. (AL) dated 13th July, 2020 which is reproduced below:-
“The ceiling of basic pay for entitlement of Night Duty Allowance (NDA) shall be Rs.43600/- per month”.
NFIR contends that the basic pay ceiling clamped by the Government is highly arbitrary and in this connection, the following facts are highlighted for consideration.
Pursuant to the acceptance of Award of Board of arbitration by the Government of India, the Railway Ministry had issued orders vide letter No.E(P&A)I-70/FIW-2/9 dated 19/02/1971 allowing payment of “Night Duty Allowance” (NDA), to all categories of staff, in modification of earlier instructions vide No.PC-67/JCM/1 dated 13/04/1967 and 06/05/1967.
Pursuant to the award given by the Railway Labour Tribunal 1969 (Miabhoy Tribunal) and accepted by the Parliament, the Ministry of Railways had issued orders vide letter No.PC-72/RLT-69/1 dated 09/03/1973 extending payment of Night Duty Allowance to various categories of employees on Indian Railways.
The DoP&T’s decision dated 13th July, 2020, imposing ceiling of basic pay for entitlement of Night Duty Allowance is a gross violation of Government’s earlier decisions on the awards of Board of arbitration and Railway Labour Tribunal, 1969. It is further brought to your kind notice that the 7th CPC in its report (para 8.17.77) had not recommended ceiling of basic pay for entitlement of NDA. In view of this, the ceiling imposed by DoP&T through O.M. dated 13th July, 2020 is unethical.
The nature of duties of railway employees is very complex, arduous and risky as they perform night duties under inclement weather conditions for ensuring uninterrupted train services. Most of railway employees (mainly belonging to safety as well public image categories) will be deprived of payment of NDA on account of basic pay ceiling of Rs.43600/- p.m. imposed by DoP&T.
NFIR therefore requests to kindly intervene to see thet modified instructions are issued, deleting para 4 of DoP&T’s O.M. dated 13-07-2020 so as to see that the employee in railways and other Central Government Departments performing night duties continue to get NDA without any sort of ceiling.
Yours faithfully
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary
Source: NFIR