The Hindu Business Line : Interim relief: `Govt to await pay panel recommendations'

The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, on Friday ruled out suo-motu payment of any interim relief to Central Government staff, stating that the Government would await the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission on this issue. The Central Government staff have demanded an interim relief of Rs 1,000 per month.

"The question of interim relief has been referred to the Sixth Central Pay Commission and is part of its terms of reference. We will await the recommendations of the Pay Commission on this issue," Mr Chidambaram told the Lok Sabha at question hour in reply to volley of supplementaries on the Sixth Central Pay Commission.

Mr Chidambaram also made it clear that the Government was not contemplating any mechanism of "automatic revision" of pay and allowances for Central Government employees.

"I cannot see how there can be any automatic revision. This is not in contemplation," he said, pointing out that the dearness allowance takes care of the erosion of pay due to price increases.

He also highlighted that Pay Commissions have become an accepted mechanism for revision of pay and allowances of Central Government employees.

The Central Government had on October 5 constituted the Sixth Pay Commission to recommend the principles and guidelines for revision of wages of nearly 33 lakh Central Government employees. The Commission is required to submit its report in 18 months from the date of its constitution.

As part of its terms of reference, the Commission had been asked to look into the desirability and need to sanction interim relief, if any, till the time its recommendations are submitted and accepted by the Government.

Periodicity

Responding to complaints in the Lok Sabha on delay in constituting the Pay Commission, he highlighted that there is no particular periodicity for constitution of Pay Commissions. "The Fifth Pay Commission was constituted in April 1994 and the Sixth Pay Commission in October 2006. It's not very different from the past average," Mr Chidambaram said.

The Finance Ministry also assured the Lok Sabha that steps would be taken to avoid anomalies while implementing the recommendations of the Pay Commission.

"After the Pay Commission submits its report, Government will have to consider it carefully and then take decisions. Usually, after decisions are taken, some anomalies are brought to our notice and they are addressed in a manner that is well settled within the Government. I will as far as possible not give room for anomalies", he said.

He also said that both the monetary and non-monetary aspects of the recommendations are implemented.

"Whenever pay commission makes recommendations, they make recommendations on both monetary and non-monetary aspects. In our clamour for implementing monetary aspects, we forget the non-monetary aspects for which we pay a huge price," he pointed out.