Clarification Regarding removal of Pay Anomaly

Clarification Regarding the removal of Pay Anomaly

As we have already discussed in our previous post that how is the pay of Senior General Category employee shall be stepped up at par with Junior Reserve Category employee as per Punjab Government, Department of Personnel letter dated 14-03-2017. 

Many of the departments of Punjab Govt. had fixed the pay of senior general category employees at par with junior reserve category employees. But some of the departments have some queries during pay step up like does benefit of Assured Career Progression is given to Senior General Category employee according to Reserve Category employee; How many months arrear should be given to the employee after pay fixation; From which date instructions dated 14-03-2017 are effective.

Clarification Regarding the removal of Pay Anomaly

To answer all the questions raised by various departments, the Government of Punjab, Department of Finance issued a clarification regarding removal of anomaly by letter no. 6/17/2016-1FP2/1593569/1 dated 10-10-19. This letter is issued in reference to letter no. 8/5/2015-3PP1/42 Dated 14-03-2017.

Let’s discuss the letter dated 10-10-2019 clarification regarding removal of anomaly in detail:-

Point raised: If Junior reserve category employee has received the benefit of Assured Career Progression then at the time of stepping up pay of senior general category employee as per instructions dated 14-03-2017, Whether the benefit of assured career progression given to junior employee will also be given to senior general category employee?

Clarification: The senior general category employee will only be entitled for normal pay fixation at par with reserve category employee because of earlier promotion of reserve category employee than him. It means benefit of Assured Career Progression or any other benefit which was earned on passing departmental examination by reserve category employee has earned, will not be given to senior general category employee.

Point raised: Condition regarding arrear of 38 Months of pay was imposed in pay step up cases of Senior-Junior employee by Department of Finance by letter dated 13-10-2014. In Personnel Department letter dated 14-03-2017 it is mention that the pay and allowance shall be admissible on notional basis to the general category employee with effect from the date of promotion of junior reserve category employee, whereas the actual benefit of stepping up of pay shall be given from his actual date of promotion in that cadre. Does in these cases a condition of 38 months of arrear of pay as per department of finance letter dated 13-10-2014 regarding step up of Senior-Junior pay is applicable?

Clarification:  As per personnel department instructions no. 3/34/99-3PP1/12565 dated: 22-10-1999 according to Catch up principle,  at every stage pay should be fixed equal. But arrear should not be paid at every stage. Benefits of 38 months of arrear will be admissible only once in the entire service career and only at first step up.

Point raised: From which date instructions dated 14-03-2017 effective?

Clarification: Instructions dated 14-03-2017 issued by the department of personnel should be considered effective from this department already issued instructions dated 22-10-1999. The cases in which due date of promotion of concerned employee general category employee is prior from the date of issuance of the instructions dated 22-10-1999, that benefit be given on notional basis from the date of promotion of general category employee. But its actual benefit will be payable from the date of issuance of these instructions dated 22-10-1999, it means the employee retired prior from this date shall not be liable to the benefits payable under these instructions. The employee whose date of promotion is prior from the date of issuance of instructions dated 22-10-1999 or date from which the anomaly has been arisen, which would be later on.

It is also made clear that in those cases in which approval of due admissible financial benefits have already been approved by the competent authority, while taking decisions as  per guidelines of instructions dated 14-03-2017 of the personnel department, that recovery will not be affected/made. But the pay of those employees shall be re-fixed immediately as per these instructions.

Links to download letters:-

Letter no. 6/17/2016-1FP2/1593569/1 dated 10-10-19.

Personnel department instructions no. 3/34/99-3PP1/12565 dated: 22-10-1999