7TH PAY COMMISSION VISIT TO KOLKATA/ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS RESCHEDULED:
"Due to unavoidable circumstances, the Commission's visit to Kolkata/ Andaman & Nicobar Islands has been rescheduled. As per the revised schedule, the Commission will visit Kolkata from 11th - 14th January, 2015"
Source: 7th CPC web site
To,

The Chairman,

7^th Central Pay Commission,

P.O. Box No. 4599, Hauz Khas P.O,

New Delhi-110 016

Camp: Kolkata

 Subject:   Upgradation of Pay Scale of LDC & UDC -regarding.

                                   

Respected Sir,

            I would like to draw the kind attention of the 7^th Pay Commission to the issues related LDC & UDCs cadres in Central Government Offices and submit the following for your kind consideration.

In pursuant to the recommendations of the 6^th Central Pay Commission, pay scales of various Group D posts were merged/grouped into a single post named as Multi Tasking Staff. As a result, the erstwhile pay scale of Rs.5,200-20,200/- were merged and all the Multi Tasking Staff were placed in PB-I of Rs.5,200-20,200/- with Grade Pay of Rs.1,800/-.  Similarly, the pay scales of the administrative posts above UDCs viz Rs. 4500-7000, 5000-8000, 5500-9000 & 6500-10500 have been merged and granted Rs. 9300-34800 with Rs. 4200/4600. But he LDC & UDC who are in the erstwhile pay scale 3050-75-3950-80-4590 & 4000-6000 were placed in PB-I of Rs.5,200-20,200/- with G.P. of Rs.1,900 & 2400 respectively. Thus, there is a difference of only Rs.100/- in the Grade pay of Lower Division Clerk and Multi Tasking Staff.

It is worth mentioning here that the duties and responsibilities attached to the LDC & UDC in subordinate offices are not in accordance with the DoPT manual. LDCs in subordinate offices have been allocated major section with work of higher quality worth to do by UDC/Assistants. Sixth Pay Commission has raised the academic and technical qualification for recruitment to the post of LDC from Matriculation to plus two (10+2) with proficiency in computer operation. But the upgradation of grade pay of LDC & UDC in accordance with the increased education and technical qualification has not been done.

The issue has been brought to the notice of PMO and thereafter the case gone through the DoPT, JCA & Department of Expenditure.  DoPT & JCA termed this as anomaly and advised to take up the matter with Department of Expenditure to consider the upgradation of the grade pay of LDC. According to which the case was sent to the Department of Expenditure but no tangible solution has come up so far. Therefore, aggrieved on the negative approach of the Government in the matter, the All India Association of Administrative Staff (Non Gazetted) Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation has filed a case in CAT Jabalpur(Application No.200/00205/2014). Thereafter two more cases have been filed viz. by employees of Boarder Road Organisation in High Court Chandigarh and by Ordinance Factory Clerical Associations at CAT Chennai. All these cases are progressing.

It is further inform that on behalf of our Associations we have submitted individual memorandum to the 7^th Pay Commission in respect of all cadres come under these Associations. Since the issue of LDC & UDC is common to all Central Government Offices we have decided to submit a joint memorandum on the issue separately.

In view of the above, the 7^th CPC is requested to consider and recommend pay to LDC & UDC in accordance with the cardinal principle equal pay for equal work. Detailed memorandum on this matter is enclosed herewith.

We look forward for your sympathetic consideration on the matter.

                                                                                                                                                                              Yours faithfully

ISSUE RELATED TO LDC & UDC TO CONSIDER BY THE 7^TH PAY COMMISSION

Administrative cadres

The Seventh Pay Commission must bring uniformity in the pay scales of Administrative Staff in various Ministries of the Government of India. The pay scale recommended for each cadre in the Administrative branch should be in accordance with the responsibility actually attached with the posts. The duties and responsibilities attached to the LDC & UDC in subordinate offices are much higher quality than the duties of their counterparts in Central Secretariat Offices. In these Offices LDCs are allocated with independent sections worth to do by UDC/Assistants as soon as they join the post. Similarly the Assistant are doing the work of Section Officer/Administrative Officer. In most of the subordinate Offices especially smaller officers Supervisory Posts above UDC/Assistant are not sanctioned. It is to be stated that in Central Government Offices, employees are appointed through common All India competitive examination and posting is made against Department wise vacancies.  In some Departments, there is smooth promotional channel and as such the employees posted there from the common list of the SSC get frequent promotion and thereby get regular increase in their pay as well. Whereas the person posted in other Departments from the common list get no promotion since there is no promotional avenue even after completion of 18- 20 years service. No cadre review has been conducted for the Administrative Staff since the inception of several of the Organisations. And the recommendations for conducting cadre review in every 5 years interval by successive Pay Commissions have been ignored.

1.        Lower Division Clerk

1.1          Having the strength of Administrative staff in the subordinate offices especially in smaller offices, the LDCs posted there are engaged to do the skilled and quality work. They have been allocated with major administrative sections worth to do by the UDC/Assistants because sanctioned strength of UDC/Assistants are very less. Since proficiency in computer is an essential terms for the selection, all LDCs are highly capable  in the operation of computer and doing the work of their respective section as well as the typing work of seniors in addition to their allocated work.  Major duties and responsibilities assigned to the LDCs are as given below:

a)            Maintenance and up keeping of service books, grant of annual increment, leave cases and other work viz. noting, drafting, correspondence related to the service matters of the staff.

b)            Scrutiny of TA Bills, Medical Bill, LTC, Tuition fees, overtime bill etc.

c)            Preparation and maintenance of GPF accounts Registers.

d)            Preparation of bills (Pay, Medical, TA, LTC, GPF, Tuition fee, GPF etc...) & contingent expenditure,

e)            Maintenance of store including purchase and disposal of the articles etc. Maintain the 

            Receipt, proper storage, distribution, safe custody, accounting of stores, procurement of

            Stationery items etc.

f)             Maintenance of registers and files in all subjects.

g)            Dealing the work of Income Tax

h)            Preparation of seniority lists.

i)             Typing (on computer) of work given to them by the seniors on technical and administrative matters from time to time.

j)             Processing of records/documents including technical data, noting drafting, typing etc.

k)            Dealing the cases of monthly/quarterly/half yearly/yearly returns.

l)             Assisting the senior officers/technical officers in correspondence, table work, report writing, data entry etc.

m)          Despatch and dairying of the letters and all other document related to the entire office, including

   technical section.

n)            RTI Matters

o)            Discharging the duties and responsibilities of Cashier; and several other duties.

               

1.2          LDC & DEO The pay scale of Data Entry Operator (DEO) during 5^th CPC was 4000-100-6000 and that of LDC was 3050-4950. The difference in pay scale between DEO & LDC was due to the reason that the educational qualification required for data entry operator prior to 6^th CPC was 12^th standard & Computer proficiency and the educational qualification for LDC was Matriculation with manual typing. But Sixth Pay Commission has increased the educational qualification for the post of LDC equal to Data Entry Operators. And the technical qualification/skill for the candidates appear for the post of LDC requires typing speed 10500 key depressions per hour (KDPH)/9000 KDPH English and Hindi respectively on computer whereas the candidate appearing the DEO requires 8000 KDPH (Since the issue has been raised by various Associations for the last two years and filed cases in the Chennai/Jabalpur CATs & High Court Chandigarh, now the DoPT thorough a notification has changed the 8000 KDPH to 15000 KDPH).  Please see table 1 below:

Name of post/Educational Qualification	3rd CPC	4th CPC	5th CPC	6th CPC
DEO (10+2) & Typing 8000 KDPH in computer (now 15000 KDPH).	NA	1200-30-1560-40-2040 (EDQ: 10+2)	4000-100-6000/ (EDQ: 10+2)	5200-20200(GP 2400) (EDQ: 10+2)
LDC(up to 6th CPC Matriculation & 35 words per minute in manual type writers and 6th CPC onwards 10+2 and Typing 10500 & 9000 KDPH English & Hindi respectively in computer.	260-6-326-8-390-10-400 (EDQ: Matriculation)	950-20-1150-25-1400 (EDQ: Matriculation)	3050-75-3950-80-4590 (EDQ: Matriculation)	5200-20200 (GP 1900) (EDQ: 10+2)

EDQ=Educational qualification.

1.3          As regards the work assignment, the DEO has only to entry the data given to them whereas the LDC has multiple tasks and discharges a very responsible & decisive role in subordinate offices in addition to computer work.

1.5          LDC & Postman: The postman in postal Department with matriculation has been granted Rs. 2000/ Grade pay by the 6^th Pay Commission. During the 3^rd & 4th CPC Postman was a Group D post with pay scale Rs. 210-4-270 & Rs.825-15-900-20-1200 respectively and educational qualification required for the post was 8^th Standard. The Fifth Pay Commission has leveled the pay scale of Post man i.e. Rs. 3050-75-3950-80-4590 to the post of LDC after increasing the educational qualification for the post to Matriculation.

1.6          LDC & Police Constable: The Police Constable with matriculation has been granted Rs. 2000/ Grade pay by the 6^th Pay Commission. During the 3^rd & 4th CPC Police Constable was a Group D post with pay scale Rs. 210-4-270 & Rs.825-15-900-20-1200 respectively and educational qualification required for the post was 8^th Standard.

1.7          Notice Server of Income Tax The Notice Server of Income Tax was also Group D officials during 3^rd and 4^th Pay Commission and was getting pay scale lesser than the pay scale of LDC. But similar to the Post Man & Police Constable, the pay scales of this post has been upgraded to the level of LDC after raising their educational qualification to Matriculation during 5^th CPC. And 6^th CPC upgraded the pay scale of these posts and granted Rs. 2000 Grade pay in the pay band Rs. 5200-20200.

Please see table 2 below:

Name of post/ Educational Qualification	3rd CPC	4th CPC	5th CPC	6th CPC
Post Man/Police Constable/ Notice Server of Income Tax  (8th Class till 5th CPC and thereafter Matriculation )	210-4-270 (EDQ: 8th)	825-15-900-20-1200 (EDQ: 8th)	3050-75-3950-80-4590 (EDQ: Matriculation)	5200-20200 (GP 2000) (EDQ: Matriculation)
LDC (up to 6th CPC Matriculation & 6th CPC onwards 10+2 & Proficiency in Computer.	260-6-326-8-390-10-400 (EDQ: Matriculation)	950-20-1150-25-1400 (EDQ: Matriculation)	3050-75-3950-80-4590 (EDQ: Matriculation)	5200-20200 (GP 1900) (EDQ: 10+2)

1.8       Action taken by the Government to remove the anomaly:

In order to remove disparity, a request was sent to the DoPT by the All India Association of Administrative Staff, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation(AIAAS, Mos&PI) and the DoPT termed the case related to anomaly and sent to the JCA for disposal. JCA returned the case to DoPT directing them to consider the case at their level in consultation with Ministry of Finance. And finally Ministry of Finance vide OM No 58 (2)/E. III (B)/2014 dated 12^th November 2013 has directed the Ministries/Associations for sending proposals to the Ministry of Finance through FA, DoPT for approval.  Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation was also directed to do action for necessary upgradation of LDC vide Ministry of Finance OM No.58 (2)/E. III (B)/2014 dated 18^th February 2014. But the directions contained in the Ministry of Finance OM were insufficient to consider the upgradation of Grade Pay of LDC w.e.f.  1.1.2006 i.e. the date of implementation of the 6^th CPC and that is why AIAAS, Mos&PI has filed a case in the CAT Jabalpur (Application No.200/00205/2014.)

1.9       JCM Staff Side Proposal:  JCM Staff side has proposed the upgradation of LDC to the post of UDC (Para 12.6) in the memorandum submitted to the 7^th Pay Commission.

1.10     Comptroller & Auditor General of India has recommended the 7^th Pay Commission to upgrade the Grade Pay of LDC to 2400(Extract of the recommendation is given below):

“6.1     Clerk cum typist: Present Pay scale PB-1 (Rs. 5200-20200) Grade Pay Rs. 1900/

Deemed Pay scale (corresponding to the 6th CPC): PB-1 (Rs. 5200-20200) Grade Pay Rs. 2400/

The mode of recruitment to Clerk/Typist is 85% by direct recruitment (through SSC), 10% by seniority from Multi tasking staff (MTS) and 5% from examination quota (12^th pass MTS with 3 years of service and eligible to appear at the examination). Through the qualification for direct recruitment to clerk/typist is almost the same as to the appointment to the post of Data Entry Operator (DEO), the work profile of a clerk/typist is more varied than that of DEO. Further, it also a promotional post for MTS. On promotion from MTS to Clerk/typist, the change in the grade pay is a mere Rs. 100, which is not commensurate with the increase in duties and responsibilities in the promotional post. Therefore, the more appropriate and justified grade would be the Grade Pay Rs. 2400.”

It is requested to please grant upgradation of the Grade Pay of LDC to the present Grade Pay of UDC. The present Grade Pay of UDC as granted to the Army Ordinance Corps by the DoPT is Rs. 2800. Thus the pay of the LDC may be granted accordingly.

2.          Upper Division Clerk

4.3.1      UDCs are the first level supervisory staff in subordinate offices, the link between LDCs, who have been allocated responsible sections, and Section Officer. The pay structure given to the post by the 6^th Pay Commission was very meager in view of the role played by them in the Administrative Offices of the Government of India. And as such the demand for upgradation of the Grade Pay of the UDC in subordinate offices have been raised immediately after the implementation of the 6^th Pay Commission. Even though the Government has not taken a common decision to upgrade the Grade Pay of UDC for all Central Government offices, DoPT has revised the Grade Pay of UDC in Army Ordinance Corps vide letter No. A/26576/CPC/Clerks/OS-20/268/D (O-II)/2011 dated 23^rd September 2013.

2.1       The average time period in most of the subordinate offices, especially in the smaller offices, for the promotion from LDC to the post of UDC is 15 to 18 years. In Central Secretariat the Assistants with Rs. 4600 Grade deal the important and policy matters. In subordinate offices such work are handled by the UDCs because the number of post of Assistant there are very less and as such the work earmarked for the post of Assistant have been allocated to UDCs.  The details of work assigned to the UDCs are given below:

a)            Preparation of pension papers and allied correspondence.

b)            Preparation of budgets.

c)            Processing cases under Right to information act 2005.

d)            Scrutiny of TA Bills, Medical Bill, LTC, Tuition fees, overtime bill etc...

e)            Preparation of bills (Pay, Medical, TA, LTC, GPF, Tuition fee, GPF etc...) & contingent expenditure and all other works related to accounts.

f)             Maintenance of store including purchase and disposal of the articles etc.

g)            Dealing with Recruitment matters

h)            Dealing with Audit matters.

i)             Dealing with legal matters

j)             Preparation and maintenance of GPF accounts Register of Group D employees.

k)            Maintenance of registers and files in all subjects related to the work allotted to them.

l)             Maintenance and up keeping of service books, grant of annual increment, leave cases,  

         Correspondence related to the service matters of the staff and all other works related to Establishment. 

m)          Noting, drafting etc related to their section and additional assigned to them from time to time.

n)            Dealing the cases of various times of monthly/quarterly/half yearly/yearly returns.

o)            Typing (on computer) of work related to their section and also assigned by the concerned officer from time to time.

p)            Discharging the duties and responsibilities of Cashier

q)            RTI Matters

r)             All other works allocated from time to time by the superior officers.

2.2          In addition, the UDCs are responsible for the scrutiny of important documents/ registers maintained in various sections of the office and held accountable for all lapses at their level. The UDCs should have full knowledge of the rules and regulations and updating of the same with latest circulars issued by the Government from time to time.  The vigor and vitality is mandatory for the post to handle complex nature of work. In contrast, the UDCs working in Central Secretariat is less accountable and is having less work-load as compared with the UDCs of subordinate offices

                Thus the Grade Pay of UDC in NSSO may be upgraded Rs. 4200 Grade Pay.