Minimum wages in Delhi increased by 33%

New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) Unorganised sector workers in the national capital will now get 33 per cent enhanced wages.

The Delhi Cabinet today approved a proposal, paving way for enhanced wages to the workers.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, said the daily wage of an unskilled worker has been increased to Rs 203 from Rs 163 while the wage of a semi-skilled worker has been fixed at Rs 225.

Dikshit said the daily wage of a skilled worker has been fixed at Rs 248.

For the clerical segment, the daily wage of an under-matric has been fixed at Rs 225 while daily wage of a graduate will be Rs 270.

Officials said the new wages approved by the Cabinet are "more or less" in the same range recommended by the central government.

Changes in the Recruitment Process of Civil Services Exam

The examination system of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is updated from time to time to keep it in harmony with the changing environment. In regard to the Civil Services Examination (CSE) the Prime Minister has approved the proposal for introduction of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in place of the existing Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. The CSAT is expected to come into effect from Civil Services Examination, 2011.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Mobility of personnel amongst Central /State & Autonomous Bodies while working under Pensionable establishments - regarding.

Restriction of officiating pay under FR 35 - clarification - regarding

Ministry of Railway OM on Minimum Pay

Encasliiiient of 10 days earned leave alongwith LTC by re- Employed pensioners - Clarification regarding

Child Care Leave Waiving of age restrictioll of 18 years for Government servant having mentally challenged /disabled children

Revision of 1/3rd commuted portion of pension

Mechanised cheque processing using MICR technology - Procedural Guidelines

Standardisation and Enhancement of Security Features in Cheque Forms

RBI/2009-10/323
DPSS.CO.CHD.No. 1832/ 04.07.05 /2009-10

February 22, 2010

The Chairman and Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
All Scheduled Commercial Banks including RRBs /
Urban Co-operative Banks / State Co-operative Banks /
District Central Co-operative Banks

Madam / Dear Sir,

Standardisation and Enhancement of Security Features in Cheque Forms

Paper-based cheque clearing continues to be one of the popular modes of initiating payment transactions in the country. During the period April-December 2009, clearing houses in the country have processed on an average around 4.5 million cheques every day. Several measures have been initiated by Reserve Bank of India to ensure that this retail payment product functions in a safe and efficient manner.

2. Introduction of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) technology during the mid-eighties has been the single-most important development responsible for making the cheque clearing popular and efficient – volume-wise, speed-wise and convenience-wise. At the banks’ end too, cheques in MICR format have facilitated post-processing ease in operations, affording credit to customer accounts and reducing reconciliation issues, thus improving customer service. Standardisation of cheque forms (leaves) in terms of size, MICR band, quality of paper, etc., was one of the key factors that enabled mechanisation of cheque processing.

3. Over a period of time, banks have added a variety of patterns and design of cheque forms to aid segmentation, branding, identification, etc., as also incorporated therein a number of security features to reduce the incidence of cheque misuse, tampering, alterations, etc. Growing use of multi-city and payable-at-par cheques for handling of cheques at any branches of a bank, introduction of Cheque Truncation System (CTS) at New Delhi for image-based cheque processing, increasing popularity of Speed Clearing for local processing of outstation cheques, etc., are a few aspects that led to looking into the need, if any, for prescription of certain minimum security features in cheques printed, issued and handled by banks and customers uniformly across the banking industry.

4. Against the above backdrop, a Working Group was set-up by the Reserve Bank of India for examining further standardisation of cheque forms and enhancement of security features therein. The Working Group comprised various stakeholders viz. commercial banks, paper manufacturers, security printers, etc., apart from Reserve Bank of India. Recommendations of the Working Group were discussed internally as also forwarded to Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and select banks for their views. The feedback from these institutions has been received and duly considered.

5. It has since been decided to prescribe certain benchmarks towards achieving standardisation of cheques issued by banks across the country. These include  provision of   mandatory   minimum   security  features   on   cheque  forms  like  quality  of paper, watermark, bank’s logo in invisible ink, void pantograph, etc., and standardisation of field placements on cheques. In addition, certain desirable features are also being suggested which could be implemented by banks based on their need and risk perception. The set of minimum security features would not only ensure uniformity across all cheque forms issued by banks in the country but also help presenting banks while scrutinising / recognising cheques of drawee banks in an image-based processing scenario. The homogeneity in security features is expected to act as a deterrent against cheque frauds, while the standardisation of field placements on cheque forms would enable straight-through-processing by use of optical / image character recognition technology.

6. The benchmark prescriptions shall be known as "CTS-2010 standard", specifications of which are annexed. Effective date of implementation of the standard will be advised to you in due course. It is our intention that the revised cheque standard is implemented by banks before the roll-out of CTS at Chennai. IBA and NPCI will be co-ordinating and advising banks on introduction of additional security features on cheques as also other aspects relating to implementation of the standard across the country.

7. Please acknowledge receipt of the circular and indicate your readiness for implementing the "CTS-2010 standard".

Yours faithfully

(G Padmanabhan)
Chief General Manager

Encl. : CTS-2010 Standard Specifications

Seniority not a fundamental right: CAT

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) The Central Administrative Tribunal has refused to set aside an order by the MCD revising the seniority list of its junior stenographers, saying that it cannot be claimed as a "fundamental right".
"As per the settled law, seniority is not a fundamental right of a public employee. It is only a civil right. There cannot be any change in this contrary to the principles of natural justice," the Tribunal bench, comprising Members Shanker Raju and Veena Chhotray, said.
It dismissed the petition of junior stenographers seeking to set aside the order of the civic agency which had revised their 1988 seniority list.
The Tribunal noted that seniority list of junior stenographers was revised in 2000 by the MCD after duly considering the objections invited by it after circulating a provisional seniority list.

Scientist moves high court over award

KOLKATA: Calcutta High Court has admitted a complaint by scientist Srimanta Kumar Raut against the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Human Resource Director General (HRDG) for not conferring upon him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for 1992, in spite of his name being announced by the media.

While Justice Dipankar Datta has sought explanations from CSIR and HRDG by March 17, the development has brought out contradictory reactions from the Centre and University of Calcutta, where Raut was a reader in the department of zoology. While counsel for the central government told the court that CU had not provided necessary details about the scientist, those for the university wanted the matter dismissed as it dated back nearly 18 years.

The award named after the founder-director of CSIR is given every year for outstanding contributions in the field of science and technology. Raut is a life member of the National Academy of Sciences, India, and has been recognised for his research worldwide.

The scientist's counsel, Supradip Roy, told the court that Raut's name was announced as a winner by the media, including All India Radio and television channels, in October 1992. But on December 6, Raut came to know that he was not being given the award. Since then, the scientist has taken up the matter with CSIR, ministry of human resource development and CU but his grievance was not addressed. Raut also brought the matter to the notice of MPs but they were of little help. Finally, he moved court, contending that it was a clear violation of Article 14 that ensures citizens equality before law.

Raut claimed in his petition that he was awarded the Ashutosh Mukherji Prize in zoology in 1984. From 1985 to 2005, Raut got several diplomas, fellowships, associateships and other awards from various institutions.

Roy told the court that he had been told by CU that all formalities had been completed on its part and it was CSIR that should explain why Raut was not given the award.

CSIR rules state that the university would have to nominate names and give all details in a certain format for a scientist to be awarded. After lawyers for the Centre contended that the university had not done so, those for CU submitted that the matter should be dismissed. 

Courtesy: Times of India

AUV's trial to be conducted again in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 25 (PTI) After the successful preliminary trial of the indigenously developed Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in a Kerala reservoir, the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute is expected to carry out another round of experiment in the same lake this year.

A senior scientist in-charge of the project said the trial conducted in the Idukki Dam reservoir, one of the largest in the country, was a success.

"Another round of trials will be held in the same lake before trying it in the sea," the scientist told PTI from CMERI at Durgapur, a Research and Development Institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

"We chose Idukki reservoir in Kerala since it offers the required parameters for conducting the test", the scientist said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

HRD ministry mulling second shifts in universities

New Delhi, Feb 19 (PTI) The idea of starting second shifts in existing universities and colleges is doing the rounds in government circles.A roundtable on higher education, set up by HRD Ministry, today discussed about such a measure which is aimed at utilising fully the facilities that remain unused after the class hours.

The committee, chaired by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, explored the possibilities whether facilities could be used for second shifts in the existing institutions.There are about 480 universities and nearly 20,000 colleges in the country. Facilities at majority of these institutions remain unutilised in the evening hour.

The round table also discussed about uniform accounting standards to be followed by educational institutions. The educational institutions are following different accounting standards at present.It discussed about freedom for faculty to go outside the system for development and enhancement.

The members of the round table include UGC Chairman Sukhadeo Thorat and CSIR Director General Samir Brahmachari.

Power of contempt must be exercised with caution: CAT

New Delhi, Feb 19 (PTI) The Central Administrative Tribunal has held that the power of contempt in judicial proceedings has to be exercised with "abundant caution".
"The power of contempt, which is essentially a local tool to secure respect and confidence in judicial proceedings, has to be exercised with abundant caution," the Tribunal bench comprising members Shanker Raju and Veena Chhotray said.
The CAT passed the observation on a plea of a doctor who had filed a contempt petition against MCD for allegedly not obeying the Tribunal's previous order directing it to regularise certain period of his service during which he remained absent as per the service rules.
The doctor R R Gautam had also challenged the charge sheet issued against him in 2009 which questioned the genuineness of the medical certificate produced by him.
"Every act cannot be a definite defile or wilful negligence of the court's order.

Payment of Interest on Savings Bank Account on Daily Product Basis

RBI/2009-10/322
DBOD. No. Dir. BC 77/13.03.00/2009-10

 February 19, 2010

All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Excluding RRBs)
Dear Sir
Payment of Interest on Savings Bank Account on Daily Product Basis
Please refer to our circular DBOD. No. Dir. BC.128/13.03.00/2008-09 dated April 24, 2009 advising banks that in view of the present satisfactory level of computerisation in commercial bank branches, it is proposed that payment of interest on savings bank accounts by scheduled commercial banks would be made on a daily product basis with effect from April 1, 2010. Further, banks were advised that in order to ensure a smooth transition, they may work out the modalities in this regard.
2. We advise that payment of interest on savings bank accounts may be made by banks on a daily product basis with effect from  April 1, 2010.
Yours faithfully
(P. Vijaya Bhaskar)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge

CVC to join hands with NGOs to check corruption

New Delhi, Feb 19 (PTI) The Central Vigilance Commission has decided to involve non-government organisations (NGOs) to check corruption in government offices and departments.
"We are interacting with civil society organisations across the country and planning their roles and responsibilities to fight corruption," Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha said.
These NGOs will be roped in to work in coordination with Chief Vigilance Officers of different organisations to get information about unfair practices, he told PTI.
The Commission has asked offices to use the latest software for accounts, manpower and logistics-related work.
The probity watchdog, CVC, is mandated to advise and guide central government agencies to draft and implement different measures to check corruption in government offices, departments and Public Sector Units (PSUs).

No arrogance while discharging duty, advises apex court

The Supreme Court has advised those in power to ensure that there should be no trace of arrogance and vanity while discharging their official duty.

A bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice A.K. Patnaik gave this counsel to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), while also rebuking it for dismissing one of its head constables Angad Das arbitrarily.

“People in power and authority should not easily lose equanimity, composure and appreciation for the problems of the lesser mortals. They are always expected to remember that power and authority must be judiciously exercised according to the laws and human compassion, said the bench Thursday.

“Arrogance and vanity have no place in discharge of their official functions and duties,” the bench said while restoring Das’s original punishment of compulsory retirement with all pensionary benefits and gratuity.

The CRPF June 14, 1996, imposed the punishment of compulsorily retirement on Das, serving in the 51 Battalion in Jammu and Kashmir, on the ground that he obtained the job using a false birth date certificate.

Following the order for his retirement, Das wrote a mercy plea to the authorities begging that he should not be retired and instead be awarded any other punishment. In his plea, he said that if he is forced to retire, his entire family including his five daughters, would be ruined and would be forced to begging. He also argued that his birth certificate was not false but was issued to him by the block development officer (BDO) and the panchayat authorities.

Irked by Das’s mercy plea, the CRPF authorities treated it as his appeal against his punishment of compulsory retirement entailing all retirement benefits like pension and gratuity etc and ordered his “removal from service”, depriving him from all terminal benefits.

Das appealed in the apex court. The apex court regretted the attitude of the authorities, saying: “The appellant had sent a very polite letter of request to the additional deputy inspector general of police praying that his request for re-employment be kindly considered because he has enormous responsibility of educating and marrying his five daughters. The prayer was made with folded hands and touching his feet. The letter reflected pinnacle of humility”.

The apex court said no provision of law permits the authorities to treat a letter of request for re-employment as an appeal.

“The DIG (Police) has no power or authority to enhance the sentence of the appellant. We fail to comprehend how such an innocuous and polite letter of request seeking re-employment on compassionate ground can ever receive such an unwarranted and arrogant reaction. The order is wholly arbitrary and illegal,” the apex court said.

CAT steps in to rescue AIIMS employees on pay scale

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) The Central Administrative Tribunal has held that an employee of an autonomous organisation like AIIMS is entitled to similar pay and allowances akin to Central government servants.

"Applicants cannot be discriminated against despite being in autonomous organisation, where the government rules and instructions and the decision in pay and allowances would mutatis mutandis (the necessary changes) extend to him," the Tribunal, comprising Members Ramesh C Panda and Shanker Raju, said.

The CAT passed the order on a plea of Sudesh Kumar and others, working as private secretaries and personal assistants in AIIMS, seeking parity in terms of pay scale with Central government employees.

CVC gist of circulars issued during the year 2009