Conveyance Allowance(In Case of Handicap)

                         Keeping in view the Blind and Orthopaedically handicapped state government employees who generally requires physical assistance for going to and coming from their place of duty, A question of granting some concession to such government employees on the pattern of Central government has been under the consideration of state government. Government had decided that such of the state government employees borne on regular establishments(including workcharge staff) may be granted conveyance allowance. This concession will be subject to following terms and conditions:-

1. If he or she has a minimum of 40% permanent  partial disability of either the upper or lower extremity deformities or 50% of partial disability of both upper and lower limb together.
2. Admissible to Orthopaedically handicapped employees on the recommendation of the Head of the orhopaedics department of a Government hospital.
3. In case of blind, the allowance will be admissible on the recommendation of the Head of the orthamological department of a Government hospital.
4. The allowance will not be admissble during leave, joining time and suspension except casual leave.

                         let us now discuss about the amount of conveyance allowance that may be allowed to these handicapped employees as per letters issued from time to time by the Government of Punjab Department of Finance:-  
Letter No.31/38/78-7FR/5073 Dated:15th June,1982:-

Orthopaedically handicapped: 10% of Basic pay subject to maximum of Rs. 50 per month

Blind government employees: Rs. 50/- or more.

Letter No.3/2/10-5FP2/205 Dated: 21-5-2010:-
                      Amount of Conveyance allowance increased from Rs. 250 to Rs. 450/-  with effect from 01-05-2010.
Letter No.3/2/10-5FP2/1402 Dated: 21-12-2011:-
                      With effect from 01-12-2011 amount of conveyance allowance increased to Rs. 600 from Rs. 450/- per month.
Letter No.3/9/2011-5FP2/251 Dated: 02-07-2012:-
                         In this letter government clarifies that blind and  handicapped employees are entitled to both of Conveyance allowances.
Letter No.10/120/2015-2FP2/205 Dated: 22-05-2017:-
                         By this letter Government has decided to grant conveyance allowance at rate of Rs. 1000/- per month to deaf and dumb employees.
Letter No.03/06/2016-5FP2/634 Dated: 25-09-2017:-
                        With effect from 25-09-2017 Conveyance allowance of physically handicapped employees increased from Rs.600 to Rs.1000.

4,9,14 ACP Scheme for Junior Engineers

Government of Punjab, Department of Finance(Finance Personnel-1 Branch) issued instructions regarding grant of  Assured Career Progression Scheme Benefit to the category of Junior Engineers after completion of 4,9 and 14 years of  Service in the cadre by their letter No.5/138/2009-3FP1/444 Dated:26-03-2019. Actually this letter is issued in the reference of ACP Scheme instructions and decision of Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regard.
          Assured Career Progression Scheme was implemented on the recommendations of 4th Punjab Pay Commission with effect from 1-1-96.This scheme is also known as 8,16,24,32 years Scheme.
          On 27-06-2000 Punjab Government have decided to extend the benefit of "Career Progression" to Junior Engineers. Now after 8 years of service as Junior Engineer they were given higher pay scale of 6400-10640 and after 16 years of service they were given higher scale of 7220-11320 with class II Gazetted Status and designation of Assistant Engineer.
          With effect from 01-11-2006 during 5th Punjab pay commission new ACP scheme made applicable to state government employees.In this scheme after completion of 4,9,14 years of service on the same post and in a same cadre, employees were granted higher pay scale which is next in the hierarchy of pay scales.     
            Scales of the post of Junior Engineer were re-revised with effect from 01-12-2011 by letter No.5/138/09-3FP1/881. Now entry scale changes to 10300-34800+4800 from 10300-34800+3800. A  Junior Engineer with 10 years of regular Service designated as Assistant Engineer with higher pay scale 15600-39100+5400. After 20 years of regular service higher pay scale 15600-39100+6600 were granted and after 25 years of regular service an additional increment at rate of annual increment were granted. In this letter at serial no.5 it is written that the employees governed by these orders shall not be entitled to any benefit under any other Assured Career Progression Scheme issued by the Government. According to this recoveries have been made from those Junior Engineer who have taken benefit under 4,9,14 ACP Scheme dated 03-11-06. Against this a civil writ petition which titled as CWP 16446 of 2010 Jaswinder Singh Bedi and others vs State of Punjab and others.The writ petition was allowed and the petitioners are held entitled to the benefits of the instructions dated 03-11-06. The Government in compliance with the orders of Hon'ble court has decided to grant benefit of 4,9,14 acp vide its letter dated 20-11-2017. But the contradiction starts again with letter because Government has decided that Junior Engineers will get benefit of one scheme either acp scheme notified on 03-11-2006 or structural pay scales as per letter dated 01-12-2011.
             Against these orders another writ petition was filed that is CWP 28628 of 2017 titled as Gurinder Singh and others vs State of Punjab and others. Hon'ble court has disposed of the case on 23-01-2019 and the letter dated 20-11-2017 was kept in abeyance till the further decision taken by the Government. Now in compliance of this order Government issued this letter and decided that Junior Engineers will get benefit of one scheme either acp scheme notified on 03-11-2006 or structural pay scales as per letter dated 01-12-2011. The Junior Engineers will given option in this regard and their pay will be fixed according to that. If on re-fixation as per his option, an employee is drawing higher pay then their pay will be re-fixed, no recoveries will be effected and the higher pay will be treated as personal pay which will be absorbed in future increments. Time to file an option is one month from issuing of this letter i.e one month from 26-03-2019.

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Ex-Gratia grant.

                        Rules regarding the payment of Ex-gratia grant to the family of government employee, including a member of All India Services under the Punjab Government who died while in service are listed in Punjab Civil Service Rules Vol.2 Chapter 2. This grant is paid to family member of a government employee as per rule 2.7 and as per annexure to chapter 2 of ibid equivalent amounting to Rs. 50000 on uniform basis. Also employee, who while in service, are permanently disabled or rendered unfit for further service are also entitled for ex-gratia grant at the rate of Rs. 50,000/- on uniform basis.
                        The ex-gratia grant admissible to the dependents of a government employee dying in harness shall be equal to 24 times of the basic pay of the government employee on the date of his or her death with a minimum limit of Rs. 1 lac and maximum limit of Rs. 3 lacs;if death of government employee occurs due to causes attributable to service i.e for reasons which are directly or indirectly connected with the performance of official duties and is clearly relate able to the performance of such duties.
                        After this Government of Punjab, Department of Finance(Finance, Pension Policy and Coordination Branch) vide its letter No.3/23/09-3FPPC/879 Dated:17-08-2009 by implementing the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission regarding pension and other retirement benefits increased the maximum limit of ex-gratia to Rs. 3 lacs in case of death occurs in harness which occurs due to causes attributable to the service  and to 10 lacs for death in case of performance of duty such as dealing with riots, terrorist attack or enemy action. 
                   After this Department of Finance by  its letter No.3/19/10-3FPPC/1251 Dated:13-10-2010 partially modified the earlier instructions dated:17-08-2009 and ordered that where death occurs in harness or the employee is permanently disabled and rendered unfit for further service, the ex-gratia payment shall be made at the rate of Rs. 1 lac on uniform basis. Also in case of para 2nd stated above minimum and maximum limits are changed to Rs. 2 lacs and 4 lacs. respectively. whereas for death in case of performance of duty such as dealing with riots, terrorist attack or enemy action the amount of ex-gratia grant remains same i.e 10 lacs. The most important thing of these order is that these shall be deemed to have come into force retrospectively i.e with effect from 1-1-2006.
                          Now Finance Department of Punjab government by its letter No.3/19/10-3FPPC/1368 Dated:16-12-2011 decided that in case of accidental or homicidal death of an employee during the performance of duty, his legal heirs will be entitled to a lump sum payment of Rs. 5 lacs as ex-gratia grant. However, ex-gratia grant shall not be admissible in case of those government employees who commits suicide during the performance of duty. In case of those employees who incur partial permanent disability during the performance of duty, ex-gratia payable proportionate to the percentage of partial permanent disability incurred by him. These orders shall come into force with effect from 1-12-2011.
                           Now in the end good news for the employees recruited under new pension scheme i.e recruited after 1-1-2004. Department of Finance through letter No.2/19/2016-2FPPC/563 Dated:10-03-2019 extend the benefit of ex-gretia grant to these employees. Means Now Ex-gratia grant will also be admissible to their legal heirs.
Download letters from below links:-👇
letter No.3/23/09-3FPPC/879 Dated:17-08-2009
letter No.3/19/10-3FPPC/1251 Dated:13-10-2010
letter No.3/19/10-3FPPC/1368 Dated:16-12-2011
letter No.2/19/2016-2FPPC/563 Dated:10-03-2019

All About Probation(ਪਰਖਕਾਲ ਸਮ੍ਹਾਂ)

                         Today we will discuss about the term "Probation". Many of newly recruited and promoted employees are very familiar with this word. Actually Probation means testing. Employees are tested during first one or two years of service to check that are they fit for this post or not? Probation of every employee appointed or promoted to a post is determined by "General and Common Condition Service Rules 1994". Let's get some basic knowledge about Probation from these rules:-

• Probation of each employee appointed directly or promoted to a post of Group A,B and C is determined by the rule 7 of General and Common Condition Rules,1994.
• If a person is recruited by direct appointment then he shall remain on probation for period of two years and one year if appointed otherwise. For example in case of promotion.
• Any kind of leave not exceeding six months during or at end of probation, shall be counted towards the period of probation.
• On completion of probation period, the appointing authority may confirms such person from the date of appointment or from the date he completes his probation period satisfactorily and declare that he has completed his probation satisfactory.
• If in the opinion of appointing authority the if the work and conduct of an employee has not been satisfactory or if he has failed to pass the departmental examination then dispense with his service, if appointed by direct appointment or if appointed otherwise revert him to his former post; or extend his period of probation. 

                             Provided that total period of probation including extension, if any,shall not exceed three years.
Click here to download General and Common Conditions of Service  Rules,1994 👈

Punjab Subordinate Account Service(PSAS)

                 In this post we will discuss about an exam of Subordinate Account Service which is popularly known as SAS. Usually this exam is conducted by Finance Department of Punjab Government twice a year.  Only a regular government employee can give this exam by depositing an amount of Rs. 2000 in state treasury which can be increased from time to time.  SAS exam has two parts i.e Part-1 and Part-2.  Only the candidate which qualifies Part-1 can give exam of Part-2.  Each part consists of Four Papers and every single paper is of 150 marks.  An employee can give this exam number of times but the condition is that he would have to secure at least 20% marks in each attempt to qualify for second attempt. If any candidate secure 60% marks in any paper(90 marks out of 150) then he will got an exemption i.e he don't need to give that paper again.  The practical paper of SAS examination consists of practical questions to the extent of 75% of total marks.
                 Now let's discuss about essential requirements to give this exam:-

• Only Group A,B and C employees can give this exam.
• Employee must have degree of a recognized university.
• Employee must have minimum of 3 years of regular service.

                After clearing both parts, the employee is promoted to the post of the Section Officer in pay scale 10300-34800 + 5000 grade pay. In this way he becomes a gazetted officer. 

To download Syllabus of SAS Click here👈

To download Application Form of SAS Click here👈

Instructions related to direct recruitment

Salary fixing rules for newly recruited employees have changed drastically from 15-01-2015. Prior to this date, newly recruited employees received full pay with allowance as per old service rules and other benefits such medical reimbursement was also admissible.But for appointment of employees to provide more and more employment opportunities to the educated and unemployed youth, keeping in view the financial crisis of the state, Govt. has made amendments in Punjab civil service rules volume-1 part-1 by its notification no. 7/204/2012-4FP1/60 dated 15-1-15. After this lots of instruction were issued regarding pay of newly appointed employees.
In this post we will discuss all the instructions step by step.
letter No.7/204/2012-4FP1/66 dated 15-1-15:-

                        We have already discuss about this letter in our previous post "Full pay(with allowances) after two years of probation period". So you can read that and can also download the instructions.
letter No.7/204/2012-4FP1/761 dated:28-08-15

Through this letter Finance department of the Punjab Government has clarified that if candidates, against the vacant post of direct recruitment are selected from same recruitment process and are from same batch, many of whom given appointment letter prior to instructions dated 15-01-15 and many later, they will receive full wages according to the old rules.

letter No.7/204/2012-4FP1/935 dated:15-10-15

In this letter Government of Punjab clarified if the recruitment process for filling up the vacancies started before the issuance of instructions dated 15-01-15, i.e the test or interview had been done even though the recruitment process completed after the issuance of above instructions or the attendance report is given later, in such cases the instructions of 15-1-15 will not apply means they will be entitled to full pay.
letter No.7/204/2012-4FP1/1049 dated:21-12-15
Finance department of the Punjab Government in this letter written that if wages of employees is less than the DC/labour rates during the period of probation then in that case their wages should be kept equal to DC/Labour rates.

letter No.7/100/2015-4FP1/247 dated:15-3-16:-

By referencing all of above letters in this letter Punjab Government clarified that employees recruited against the posts of direct recruitment on compassionate ground, who had applied prior to instructions dated 15-01-2015, will be entitled to full pay as per letter no.7/204/2012-4FP1/935 dated 15-10-15.
letter No.6/1/1995-1FP1/204 dated 27-03-17:-
In this letter Finance department of Punjab Government clarified that employees to whom minimum of pay band is given as per notification dated 15-01-15, shall also be paid interim relief @ 5% of minimum of pay band applicable to them and the amount so worked out shall be added to the pay already drawn by them at minimum of pay band or dc/labour rate, whichever is being drawn by them.
letter No.7/61/2017-3FP1/734 dated 29-08-17:-
In this letter Government of Punjab has decided that the newly recruited regular employees of the Government of Punjab, who are being paid salary @ basic pay (minimum of the pay band) or DC/Labour rate as per Finance Department's instructions dated 15.1.2015 and dated 21.12.2015, be allowed to avail government accommodation facility by deducting Licence fee @ S% of the basic pay plus percentage of House Rent Allowance as permissible to the confirmed employees at their station of posting.
letter No.7/72/2017-4FP1/775 dated 08-09-17:-
It is clarified by the Government that employees who have been recruited against the posts of direct quota after 15-01-15, to whom grade pay, annual increment or any other allowance except travelling allowance is not admissible during the period of probation as per finance department instructions, to those employees medical reimbursement is also not available during the period of probation.
letter No.7/17/2017-1FP2/627 dated 25-09-17:-
It has been written in this letter by the government that if any employee was employed in the Punjab government before the new appointment and his lien has also been kept on previous post, Then during the period of probation on new post he will draw pay which he was drawing on his previous post under the government and in no case he should not be paid more than the pay of his previous post.