Modifications in the instructions issued w.r.t. implementation of recommendations of 7th Central
Pay Commission accepted by the Government – Qualification Pay renamed as “Railway Accounts Examination Allowance”….

No.AIRF/101 Dated: August 9, 2019

The Financial Commissioner(Railways),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Modifications in the instructions issued w.r.t. implementation of recommendations of 7th Central
Pay Commission accepted by the Government – Qualification Pay renamed as “Railway Accounts Examination Allowance”

Ref: Railway Board’s letter No.E(P&A)I-2012/SP-1/Genl.-1 dated 01.05.2019(RBE No.71/2019)

The 7th Central Pay Commission vide their recommendation at para 8.9.45, recommended increase in Qualification Pay, being paid to Accounts Staff, for qualifying Appendix II and III Examinations, which reads as under:-

“Since the allowance is not indexed to DA, it is recommended to raise it by a factor of 2.25. The amount will further rise by 25 percent each time DA crosses 50 percent. The nomenclature should be changed to Railway Accounts Examination Allowance.”

Above recommendation of the VII CPC has since been accepted and Railway Board have already issued instructions on the aforementioned subject vide RBE No.02/2019 dated 03.01.2019, and thereafter vide RBE No.71/2019 dated 01.05.2019. While rates of Qualification Pay, renamed as “Railway Accounts Examination Allowance”, have been enhanced in terms of VII CPC recommendation supra, however, an uncalled for condition has been incorporated at para 4 of the RBE No.71/2019 that, this allowance will not be treated as a part of pay for the purpose of fixation of pay in promotion to next higher post.

It would not be out of context to mention here that, the Qualification Pay, which has been renamed as “Railway Accounts Examination Allowance”, was always being computed as part of pay for the purpose of fixation of pay in promotion to next higher post before issuance of RBE No.71/2019. Owing to para 4 of Railway Board’s letter ibid dated 01.05.2019, a huge amount is being recovered from the Accounts Staff who have qualified Appendix II and III Examinations, and pay of whom has already been fixed by treating Qualifying Pay, renamed as “Railway Accounts Examination Allowance”, as part of the pay, which is highly unfair and unjustified as well.

AIRF, therefore, demands that, the condition stipulated under para 4 of RBE No.71/2019, be withdrawn, and Qualification Pay, renamed as “Railway Accounts Examination Allowance”, be allowed to continue as part of the pay for the purpose of promotion to next higher post as hitherto, and no recovery be made from any staff whose pay has been fixed, by treating it as part of the pay prior to issuance of RBE No.71/2019.

An early action in the matter shall be highly appreciated.

 

√Copy to: General Secretaries, all affiliated unions – for information.