Chandigarh, December 30: The Captain Amarinder Singh led Cabineton Wednesday approved certain amendments to the Punjab Civil Services Rules forgranting new pay scales (matrix) on the pattern of the 7th Central PayCommission for all fresh recruitments to State Government and its entities.
The decision to amend Volume-I, Part-1, Rule 4.1(1) to bringthe pay scales for all prospective recruitments/appointments – directrecruitments/compassionate appointments – at par with the Central Governmentscales was taken during a virtual Cabinet meeting.
It may be recalled that the Finance Department had on July17, 2020 issued instructions that these Pay scales in any cadre of anyAdministrative Department of the Punjab Government or its entities shall not behigher than the Pay scales for the same cadre in the Government of India, asnotified as per the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. As per the letter dated January 15, 2015issued by the Finance Department, and letters issued in continuation thereof,grant of basic pay (minimum of the pay band) and allowances during theprobation period are also applicable as per the same rule.
According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office,the amendment approved by the Cabinet stipulates that the expression"fixed monthly emoluments" for the employees, appointed to theservice before the 17th day of July, 2020, means the amount drawn monthlyby a Government employee equal to the minimum of the pay band of the service orpost to which he is appointed. The said amount shall not include grade pay, specialpay, annual increment or any other allowance, except travelling allowance drawnwith reference to the grade pay of the relevant service or post.
Further, the amended rule states that the expression"fixed monthly emoluments" for the employees, appointed to theservice against direct quota posts, on or after the 17th day of July, 2020means the amount drawn monthly by the Government employee equal to the amountof relevant Level of Pay Matrix of service or post as notified by theAdministrative Department concerned to which he is appointed. shall not includespecial pay, annual increment, or any other allowance, except travellingallowance drawn with reference to the relevant service or post.
The amended rule shall also not include any other emolumentswhich may be specifically classed as part of pay by the competent authority, asprovided in rule 2.44 (b), said the spokesperson.
According to the spokesperson, the state’s AdministrativeDepartments are now being advised by the Finance Department about the paymatrix for the new appointments to be made under the State Employment Plan.Further, the departments are in the process of direct recruitment by therecruiting agencies like Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), SubordinateService Selection Board (SSS Board) and the departmental committees, as thecase may be.