Thursday, September 30, 2010

All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of August, 2010

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All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of  August, 2010 remained stationary at 178 (one hundred and seventy eight).


During August, 2010, the index recorded an increase of 5 points in Rangapara Tezpur centre, 4 points each in Mariani Jorhat, Munger Jamalpur, Giridih, Asansol and Chhindwara centres, 3 points in 4 centres, 2 points in 5 centres  and 1 point in 12 centres. The index decreased by 3 points inJharia centre, 2 points in 15 centres and 1 point in 17 centres, while in the remaining 18 centres the index remained stationary.

The maximum increase of 5 points in Rangapara Tezpur centre is mainly on account of increase in the prices of Rice, Mustard Oil, Chillies Green, Clothing items, etc. The increase of 4 points in Mariani Jorhat centre is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Wheat Atta, Mustard Oil, Turmeric Powder, Chillies Green Vegetable & Fruit items, etc. The increase of 4 points in Munger Jamalpur centre is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Onion, Tea (Readymade), Clothing items, etc. In Giridih centre this increase is due to increase in the prices of Rice, Arhar Dal, Milk, Turmeric Powder, Firewood, etc. In Asanol centre this increase is mainly due to Rice, Wheat Atta, Milk, Onion, Firewood, Clothing items, etc. In Chhindwara centre this increase is the outcome of increase in the prices of Wheat, Soyabeen Oil, Garlic, Firewood, etc. However, the decrease of 3 points in Jharia centre is due to decrease in the prices of Wheat, Goat Meat, Fish Fresh, Vegetable & Fruit items, etc.

The indices in respect of the six major centres are as follows :
1. Ahmedabad     173                           4. . Delhi          164

2. Bangalore       182                            5. Kolkata        175

3. Chennai           161                           6. Mumbai       175

Source - PIB

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LATEST LIST OF EMPANELMENT HOSPITALS AND REVISION OF PACKAGE RATES APPLICABLE UNDER CGHS-CHENNAI

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No: S.11011/23/2009-CGHS D.II/Hospital Cell (PartVI)
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Health & Family Welfare
*******************

Maulana Azad Road, Nirman Bhawan
New Delhi 110108 dated the 16th September, 2010

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:    Fresh empanelment of private hospitals and revision of package rates applicable under CGHS, Chennai – Clarifications regarding

    The undersigned is directed to invite reference to the Office Memorandum, of even number dated the 17th August, 2010, on the above subject, vide which inter alia revised package rates applicable under CGHS, Chennai were also notified and to state that 1st September, 2010, was intimated as the date from which new rates would become operational. This was done on the presumption that hospital short listed for empanelment under CGHS Chennai would have signed the Memorandum of Agreement with the CGHS by then. It has, however, been observed that only a few hospitals have submitted the Memorandum of Agreement to CGHS. It, therefore, follows that the new rates will become effective only after the hospitals, short listed to be empanelled including the existing empanelled hospitals on the basis of response to the tender floated by the CGHS, have signed the Memorandum of Agreement with the CGHS, Chennai, and such hospitals are notified.

2.    After the issue of the above referred Office Memorandum of 17th August, 2010, CGHS has received requests for clarification as to whether they will be categorized as “super-specialty hospitals” and that they can charge rates fixed for Super-specialty hospitals. It is clarified that the entitlement of hospitals to super-specialty rates will not be because they perceive themselves to be super-specialty hospitals, but subject to their fulfilling the eligibility conditions in the tender document for being classified as super-specialty hospitals. The qualifications as mentioned in the tender document, to be eligible for qualifying under different categories of hospitals, are stated below.

“A. CATEGORIES OF HOSPITALS

CGHS would consider the following categories of hospitals for empanelment :

i. General purpose hospitals having 200 or more beds with the following specialties :

General Medicine, General surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Orthopedics(excluding Joint Replacement), ICU and Critical Care units, ENT and Ophthalmology, (Dental specialties- desirable), and facilities for Radiology and in house diagnostic facilities and Blood Bank.

ii. Specialty hospitals (specialties list given below) Hospitals having less than 200 bed can apply as a specialty hospital –provided they have at least 50 beds earmarked for each specialty applied for with at least 30 additional beds. Thus under this category a single specialty hospital would have at least 80 beds. However, under this category a maximum of three specialties is allowed.

 Cardiology , Cardiovascular and Cardiothoracic surgery
 Urology - including Dialysis and Lithotripsy
 Orthopedic- Surgery – including arthroscopic surgery and Joint Replacement
 Endoscope surgery
 Neurosurgery

iii. Super-specialty Hospitals- with 300 or more beds with treatment facilities in at least three of following Super Specialties in addition to Cardiology& Cardio-thoracic Surgery and Specialized Orthopedic Treatment facilities that include Joint Replacement surgery:

• Nephrology & Urology incl. Renal Transplantation
• Endocrinology
• Neurosurgery
• Gastro-enterology & GI –Surgery incl. Liver Transplantation
• Oncology – (Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiotherapy)

iii. Cancer hospitals having minimum of 100 beds and all treatment facilities for cancer including radio-therapy (approved by BARC / AERB).

iv. Specialty Eye Centres

v. Dental Clinics

vi. Private hospitals already on the panel of CGHS subject to their fulfilling their relevant eligibility criteria.

B. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

i. The Hospitals must fulfill the requirements of one of the categories of hospitals indicated at (A) above

ii. The hospitals that are not already empanelled by CGHS must be accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health Care providers (NABH) or its equivalent such as Joint Commission International(JCI) of USA , ACHS of Australia or by any other accreditation body approved by International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua). Must have obtained entry level pre-accreditation from NABH at the time of submission of bid. Such hospitals would however have to obtain final accreditation from NABH by 31 August 2010 failing which they shall be removed from CGHS panel.

iii. Hospitals already on the panel of CGHS must be NABH accredited or equivalent accreditation such as Joint Commission International(JCI) of USA, ACHS of Australia or by any other accreditation body approved by International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua).

or
should have obtained entry level pre-accreditation from NABH.

or
must have applied for NABH accreditation in pursuance of letter No. Misc. 4006 / 2009/ CGHS/ Comp. Cell dated 12th May 2009.

iv. In house diagnostic laboratory of the hospital must be accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
or
must have applied for NABL accreditation.”

3.        Accordingly, a list of hospitals which have qualified for being short-listed for empanelment under CGHS Delhi under different categories, is annexed.

4.        The hospitals in the list enclosed are requested, if not done earlier, to submit their acceptance of the rates already notified vide Office Memorandum No. S. 11011/23/2009-CGHS D. II /Hospital Cell (Part VI) dated 17th August 2010 and sign the Memorandum of Agreement on or before 25th September, 2010, failing which action will be initiated to take them off the list of hospitals short listed for empanelment.



[R Ravi]
Director

To
MS of all hospitals short listed for empanelment

No: S.11011/23/2009-CGHS D.II/Hospital Cell (Part VI) – ANNEXURE

LIST OF CATEGORY WISE HOSPITALS ELIGIBLE FOR EMPANELMENT UNDER CGHS, CHENNAI

General Purpose 
 1 Milt Hospitals General Purpose incl .Jt replacement
 2Sugam HospitalGeneral Purpose incl .Jt replacement
3  K.J. Hospital Pvt Ltd Geneal Purpose
 4 CSI Kalyani General Hospital General purpose incl, Cardiology &Cardiovascular Surgery and Jt. Replacement
 5 National Hospital  General purpose incl. Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery
 6 Sri devi Hospital General purpose incl. Jt.replacement.
 SPECIALITY (SELECTIVE)
 Soundarapandian Bone And Joint Hospital 
 SUPER SPECIALITY
 1 Apollo Hospitals, Chennai  Super Speciality
 2 Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre Super Speciality
 CANCER HOSPITAL
 EYE CARE Centres
 1 Prems eyeclinic
 2 Vasaneyecarehospitalannagar
3  Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital Ltd
 DENTAL CLINICS
 1 Dr Sethurajan Dental And Maxillofacial Centre
 2 Sriram Dental Clinic
 3  Dr ramyas Cosmetic Dental Clinic
 4 Aridhra Dental Clinic



www.mohfw.in
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SPECIAL BENEFITS IN CASES OF DEATH AND DISABILITY IN SERVICE -PAYMENT OF DISABILITY PENSION/FAMILY PENSION.

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No.45/3/2008-P&PW (F)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi-110003.
Dated 30th September, 2010 
OFFICE MEMORANDUM 

Subject: Special benefits in cases of death and disability in service – payment of Disability Pension/Family pension – regarding.

     The undersigned is directed to say that the pension of pensioner/family pensioners who were drawing pension/family pension as on 1.1.2006 under the CCS(EOP) Rules is to be revised in accordance with Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare Office memorandum No.38/37/2008-P&P&W(A) dated 1.9.2008.

2.     The question of modified parity between past and present pensioners, covered under the Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules/Liberalized Pensionary Award Scheme, on the lines of benefits sanctioned for ordinary pensioners/family pensioners, has been under the consideration of the Government. It has now been decided that the revision of pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners coming under this category would be done as under:-

(A) The past cases of pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners will be revised under Para 4.1 of this Department’s OM NO. 38/37/2008-P&P&W (A) dated 1.9.2008 as is being done hithertofore and the revised pension on the basis of the provisions of this OM worked out.

(B) The pension/family pension shall also be calculated as on 1.1.2006 by applying the following procedure:

I.      Family Pension for Categories B & C

(a) Where the deceased Government servant was not holding a pensionable post:

          40% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, subject to a minimum of Rs.4550/-

(b) Where the deceased Government servant was holding a pensionable post:

          60% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, subject to a minimum of RS.7,000/-

In case where the widow dies or remarries, the children shall be paid family pension at the rates mentioned at (a) or (b) above, as applicable, and the same rate shall also apply to fatherless/motherless children. In both cases, family pension shall be paid to children for the period during which they would have been eligible for family pension under the CCS (Pension) Rules. Dependent parents/brothers/sisters etc. shall be paid family pension one-half the rate applicable to widows/fatherless or motherless children.

II.           Family Pension under Categories D & E

                    Family pension shall be calculated as the minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee.

(a                     If the Government servant is not survived by his widow but is survived by child/children only, all children together shall be eligible for family pension at the rate of 60% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, subject to a minimum ofRs. 7000/-

(b                     When the Government servant dies as a bachelor or as a widower without children, dependent pension will be admissible to parent without reference to pecuniary circumstances, at the rate of 75% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, if both parents are alive, and at the rate of 60% if only one of them is alive.

III.           Disability Pension for Categories B & C

(a)           Disability pension would comprise of a service element equal to 50% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay or the minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1-1-2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, to be reduced proportionately, if the employee did not have required qualifying service for full pension, plus disability element equal to 30% of the same minimum basic pay, for 100% disability.

(b)           For disability less than 100%, disability element shall be reduced proportionately. In cases of disability pension where permanent disability is not less that 60%, the disability pension (i.e. total of service element plus disability element) shall not be less than 60% of the minimum of pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay or the minimum basic pay in the revised Scale of pay in case of HAG and above, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, subject to a minimum ofRs. 7000/- per month.

IV.           Disability Pension for Category D

(a)          Disability pension would comprise of a service element equal to 50% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee subject to proportionate reduction in case his qualifying service up to the deemed date of retirement falls short of full qualifying service and disability element equal to 30% of the same minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay / minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay, subject to the condition that the aggregate of service and disability element shall not be less than 80% of the minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay, in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, for 100% disability.

(b)           For lower percentage of the disability, proportionate reduction would be made in disability element as provided in OM dated 3.2.2000 as amended vide O.M.No.45/3/2008-P&PW (F) dated 18.11.2008

V.           Disability Pension for Cases under Category E

(a)           Disability pension would comprise of a service element equal to 50% of minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay or the minimum Basic pay in the revised Scale of pay in case of HAG and above applicable from 1-1-2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee subject to proportionate reduction in case his qualifying service upto deemed date of retirement falls short of full qualifying service and disability element equal to the same minimum of pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Payor the minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay in case of HAG and above, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, for 100% disability subject to the condition that the aggregate of service and disability elements shall not exceed the minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay, in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, for 100% disability.

                    The condition that the aggregate of service and disability elements shall not exceed the minimum of Pay in the Pay Band plus Grade Pay/minimum Basic Pay in the revised Scale of Pay, in case of HAG and above, applicable from 1.1.2006, corresponding to the scale of pay last held by the employee, for 100% disabilitystands withdrawn w.e.f. 1.7.2009.

(b)           For lower percentage of the disability, proportionate reduction would be made in disability element as provided in OM dated 3.2.2000 as amended vide O.M. No.45/3/2008-P&PW (F) dated 18.11.2008.

3.           After the revised pension/family pension has been calculated in accordance with the methods indicated in (A) & (B) above, the higher of the two shall be granted as revised pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006.

4.           All other terms and conditions in the O.M. dated 3.2.2000, as amended vide O.M. No.45/3/2008-P&PW (F) dated 18.11.2008 shall remain unchanged.

5.           This issues with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure U.O. No.403/EV/2010 dated 28.7.2010.

6.           In so far as persons belonging to the Indian Audit & Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.


www.persmin.gov.in
(Tripti P Ghosh)
Director

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DECLARATION OF HOLIDAY ON 14th OCTOBER-2010(14-10-2010) ON THE OCCASION OF CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE COMMON WEALTH GAMES-2010

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NO. 12/7/2009-JCA-2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances 8s Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 30& September, 20 10.
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Declaration of holiday under Negotiable Instrument Act for Central
Government Of'fices, including Central Public Sector Undertakings,
located in Gurgaon, Faridabad, NOIDA and Ghaziabad on the 14th
October, 2010 on the occasion of Closing Ceremony of the
Commonwealth Games-2010.

In continuation of this Departments 0.M of even No. dated 7/7/2010, it
has further been decided to declare Thursday, the 14th October 2010, as a
Holiday for Central Government Offices, including Central Public Sector
Undertakings, located in Gurgaon, Faridabad, NOIDA and Ghaziabad on the
occasion of Closing Ceremony of the ~ommonwealthG ames - 2010.
2. The above holiday is also being notified in exercise of the powers conferred
by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 188 1 (26 of 188 1).
3. Central Government Offices, including Central Public Sector Undertakings,
located in Gurgaon, Faridabad, NOIDA and Ghaziabad may bring the above
decision to the notice of all concerned.

ORIGINAL COPY
Dinesh Kapila
Director
 2309 2589

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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Bonanza for Rajasthan state Govt., employees DA Hikes to 10%...

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In a bonanza for state government employees, the Rajasthan government today announced a 10 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance for them with effect from July one this year.

   The DA would now be 45 per cent of the basic pay, an official spokesman said adding the decision would cost the state exchequer Rs 1250 crore.
 
   Arrears till September would be deposited in Provident Fund accounts of the employees, he said.

   From October, the hiked DA would be paid in cash, the spokesman said and added nearly seven lakh employees would be benefited by the decision.

The government also announced a 10 per cent DA hike for pensioners, the spokesman said.

Source - PTI
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Rajasthan Govt., raised the minimum wage of labourers...

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Rajasthan government today raised the minimum wages of unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled labourers with effecti from January 1, 2011 and devised a new category of highly-skilled labourer.

Unskilled labourer’s minimum wages has been raised from Rs.100 to Rs.135, that of semi-skilled from Rs.107 to 145, skilled from Rs.115 to Rs.155.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here.

Highly skilled labourer’s minimum wage is fixed at Rs.205, an official spokesman said.

The state government would also urge the central government to raise the minimum wages of labourers employed under MGNREGA at Rs.100 per day, the spokesman said.

Source-PTI

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Revised rate of 103% Dearness Allowance applicable, who are all getting pay as per pre-revised scale…

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No. 1(3)/2008-EII(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
************
New Delhi, the 29th September, 2010


OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Rates of Dearness Allowance applicable w.e.f. 1.7.2010 to the employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous Bodies continuing to draw their pay in the pre-revised scale as per 5th CPC.
         The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM. of even No dated 31st march,2010 revising the Deafness Allowance w.e.f. 1.1.2010 in respect of employees of Central Government and Autonomous Bodies who continue to draw their pay and allowances in the pre-revised scales of pay as per 5th Central Pay Commission.
2       The rates of Dearness Allowance admissible to the above categories of employees of Central Government and Central Autonomous bodies shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 87% to 103% w.e.f. 1.7.2010. All other conditions as laid down in the O.M.dated 3rd October, 2008 will continue to apply.
3       The contents of this Office Memorandum may also be brought to the notice of the organizations under the administrative control of the Ministries/Departments which have adopted the Central Government scales of pay.

(Y.P.Sehgal )
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Hindi Version will follow…
 
 
 
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

RTI applications received by a public authority regarding information concerning other public

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N0.F. 10/2/2008-IR
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel. PG and Pensions
Department of Personnel 8, Training
******
North Block, New Delhi
Dated September 24,2010
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- RTI applications received by a public authority regarding information concerning other public authority/authorities.
******
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM of even number dated 12Ih June, 2008 on the above noted subject, clause (iii) of para 3 of which provides that if a person makes an application to the public authority for information, a part of which is available with that public authority and the rest of the information is scattered with more than one other public authorities, the Public information Officer (PIO) of the public authority receiving the application should give information relating to it and advise the applicant to make separate applications to the concerned public authorities for obtaining information from them. It further provides that if no part of the information is available with the public authority receiving the application but scattered with more than one other public authorities, the PI0 should inform the applicant that information is not available with the public authority and that the applicant should make separate application to the concerned public authorities for obtaining information from them.
2. The matter has been examined in consultation with the Chief Information Commissioner, Central information Commission and it has been decided to advise the PlOs that if the details of public authorities who may have this information sought by the applicant are available with the PIO, such details may also be provided to the applicant.
3. Contents of this OM may be brought to the notice of all concerned.
(K.G. Verma]
Director
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Problems in promotion regarding issues. . .

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Government employees facing charges under Rule 17 (b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules can be denied promotion even if they fall within the zone of consideration, the Madras High Court Bench here has ruled.

    Dismissing a couple of writ petitions filed by an employee of a village panchayat in Virudhunagar, Justice K. Chandru said a government servant could not seek a direction to promote him/her to the next higher post either as a matter of right or as per rules and regulations.

  The judge also held that courts could not quash charge memos at a stage when the employees had only been asked to show cause as to why action should not be taken against them. In the present petitions, K. Indurani had sought to quash the charge memo issued to her and consequently promote her. She was accused of failing in her duty to audit the accounts of the village panchayat during 2004-05 when a sum of Rs.19,60,699 were swindled. The departmental proceedings were initiated against her on the basis of the recommendations of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department.

   However, the petitioner claimed that she was not in charge of the accounts during the relevant period and hence could not be subjected to departmental proceedings. Rejecting the contention, the judge said that it could be a best defence for the petitioner during the enquiry and not at the stage of show cause.

   He recalled that the Supreme Court in Union of India Vs. Kunisetty Satyanarayana (2006) held that a mere charge sheet or show cause notice does not give rise to any cause of action because it does not amount to an adverse order which affects the rights of any party unless it had been issued by an incompetent person. “It is only when a final order imposing some punishment or otherwise adversely affecting a party is passed, that the said party can be said to have any grievance. Writ jurisdiction is discretionary jurisdiction and hence such discretion should not ordinarily be exercised by quashing a show cause notice or charge sheet,” the apex court had said.

Source - TheHindu

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Shocked at the payment of just Rs. 80 a month as family pension to the wife of a deceased Army Major

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New Delhi: Shocked at the payment of just Rs. 80 a month as family pension to the wife of a deceased Army Major, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Union government seeking its response on a petition filed by her seeking enhancement of the amount on a par with what is being paid to similarly placed persons.
A Bench of Justices Markandey Katju and T.S. Thakur issued notice after hearing counsel for Pushpa Vanti. When counsel Ramesh Haritas submitted that she was now 89 years and getting only Rs. 80 a month, Justice Katju said “today in the present rate of inflation, one can't get even a kg of arahar dhal for Rs. 80.”
The petitioner said her husband, Major Dharam Chand, who joined the Army in 1937, was granted permanent commission in 1948 and at the time of his death in 1967, he was a Major in rank. She was granted a family pension of Rs. 80 since then and she had written several letters and made several representations in vain to the authorities concerned to revise the pension.
The petitioner said her husband had served the Army for 30 years and received five war and peace medals for his distinguished service, yet she was getting a pension of only Rs. 80. She felt humiliated that families of sepoys got more than Rs.150 a month as basic family pension whereas she was receiving only Rs. 80. Going by the present rate, she said she would have to get Rs. 27,000 as family pension.


Source - The Hindu
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4 Railway staffs suspended for collision issue - reg

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The Railways has suspended four of its staff in connection with the collision of a goods train with the Indore-Gwalior Intercity Express at the Badarwas Station in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district on Monday. The accident claimed 23 lives. Assistant Station Master of Badarwas Rajendra Tarare, Pointsman Mahendra Kumar, the goods train's loco pilot, Mukesh Bhardwaj, and assistant loco pilot Mahesh Meena were placed under suspension for their prima facie failure in averting the collision. The goods train driver and his assistant, according to officials, failed to apply the brakes despite the “red” signal, while the fault of the pointsman was that he did not reverse the points of the track and diverted the incoming goods train onto the main line. The pointsman had more than 10 minutes to avert the accident given that the Intercity Express had arrived at 4.35 a.m. at the platform, and the goods train rammed it at 4.55 a.m. The Railways also felt that the pointsman should not have relied mainly on changing the aspect of the signal in the belief that the goods train driver would heed to the caution and apply the brakes, particularly when it was raining heavily, which reduced visibility. The station master was taken to task for his lack of communication with the pointsman and for not giving directions for the deft handling of the situation and averting the collision.

Source - The Hindu

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Date of Filing Income Tax Returns for ay 2010-11 Extended Till 15th October, 2010

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The Central Board of Direct Taxes have extended the due date of filing income tax returns for the assessment year 2010-11 from 30th September 2010 up to 15th October 2010. The due date has been extended in view of disturbance to general life caused by floods. Accordingly, the due date for obtaining tax audit report u/s 44AB also stands extended to 15th October 2010.

The due date of 30th September 2010 is prescribed for corporate taxpayers, taxpayers whose accounts are subject to tax audit u/s 44AB of the Income Tax Act 1961 or audit under any other law, and working partners of firm the accounts of which are liable to tax audit or audit under any other law.

The due date for the state of Jammu and Kashmir shall, however, remain 30th November 2010 as extended earlier.
source;pib
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Monday, September 27, 2010

PFRDA blames low-cost model for NPS lukewarm response

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Blaming the "government mentality" of keeping costs low for the lukewarm response of New Pension System (NPS), interim regulator PFRDA Monday said there is need to give incentives to fund managers for popularising the scheme.

    
"...typically, the government mentality is to have lowest cost...It is so low cost that nothing is happening, nobody is selling, nobody is buying...why should we mandate a management fee on the pension fund managers," PFRDA chairman Yogesh Agarwal said on the sidelines of a CII event.
    
He further said the regulator would explore the feasibility whether there is a need to free the management fee of fund managers and cap it at certain levels after taking views of the Bajpai-headed committee.
    
"...whether there is a need to free it and put a cap...we wait for the committee report to come and if they agree with our view then we would probably go ahead," he added.
    
Agarwal said that the current management fee of 0.009 percent given to fund managers does not cover even the operational cost.
    
"...Unless you make it economically viable for a person to go out and sell its product, it does not work...it is a loss making venture for the people," it added.
    
Last month, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) set up a committee headed by former SEBI chairman G N Bajpai to overhaul the structure of pension scheme thrown open to all citizens as it failed to pick up.
    
The commitee is expected to submit the report in next one to two months.
    
Initially, the government launched the New Pension System for central government employees joining service from January 1, 2004, but it was extended to all citizens from May 1, 2009.
  
However, the citizen pension scheme received a lukewarm response and only around 11,000 subscribers joined the scheme in 16 months.

PTI
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Govt panel to look into MTNL’s pension issue

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The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has entrusted a committee of secretaries with the task of working out a solution that will allow the Centre to partly pick the tab for pension of MTNL employees after the company said it may find it difficult to meet this obligation due to mounting losses, an official aware of the development told ET.

The PMO intervened after this issue snowballed into a huge controversy, possibly impacting other public sector companies in sectors where there are wage differentials. With several departments expressing differences of opinion over a bailout for MTNL, with regard to pension, the PMO said the committee of secretaries (CoS) must resolve the issue and place possible solutions before the Union Cabinet, the official quoted above said.

MTNL, which offers communication services in Delhi and Mumbai, pays its employees at a higher grade when compared to sister concern BSNL. Under this deal, MTNL was to take care of pensions by itself.

The central government picks up BSNL’s employee pension bill.

Some government departments fear that if the Centre were to partly pay MTNL’s pension bill, this would lead to demands from BSNL’s 3,00,000 employees for parity in the compensation structure. The department of pension and pensioner’s welfare has said that even if parity in compensation structures were established between BSNL and MTNL, there could be wider ramifications as it could result similar demands from PSUs in the same sector, which have wage differentials. But, the department of expenditure has said it does not agree with these observations.

ET also reviewed internal department of telecom notes which detailing the position of different ministries as well as that of the PMO asking that the CoS resolve the issue.

MTNL declared a loss of `2,514 crore for the year ended March 2010, and said this was largely due to a one-time expense of providing retirement benefits. Again, for the three months ended June 2010, the company registered a loss of `451.4 crore, 10 times more than the corresponding period last year, citing rising staff costs and setting aside provisions for retirement benefits as reasons for the decline.

The telco, which is 56% owned by the government, had also sought the latter’s permission to reduce its staff strength by two-thirds, as one the possible steps to arrest a massive decline in revenues and profits. The telco also added that going forward, the pension component would increase further and it would be impossible for the company to bear this cost in a competitive market crowded with aggressive rivals.

The telecom department has blamed MTNL for the current impasse: “Had MTNL agreed to the creation of a pension fund, as repeatedly demanded by DoT in the past, government would have made significant one-time payment to the fund, thereby giving relief to MTNL in meeting this expenditure. However, DoT is taking all steps to get the matter cleared by the Committee of Secretaries and the cabinet,” an internal note of the communications ministry dated September 20 said
courtesy ;The Economic Times
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