Defence Industrial Employees are expected grant of pay scale Rs. 5000 – 8000 to Master Craftsman( MCM) at par with the Railways…



Brief facts of case for parity in pay scale of Master Craftsman (MCM) in MOD at par with Ministry of Railways.<br>
Vth CPC recommended the pay scale of Rs.4500-125-7000 to Master Craftsman, both in Railways and Defence and was implemented.
However, the scale of MCM in Railways was revised upwards to Rs. 5000-8000 in modification of 5th recommendations with the approval of Cabinet. Prior to implementations, the Defence Artisan staff and Railway workshop staff had a common three grade structure comprising of Skilled, Highly skilled II and Highly skilled I.
In the Ministry of Defence the benchmark ratio of Artisans was 65:20:15 respectively to Skilled, Highly skilled GrII and Highly skilled GrI.
In addition to the aforesaid three grades, 10% of the Highly skilled grade I strength was operated in the post of Master Craftsman in some of the trades.
The post of Master Craftsmen was personnel to the holder and lapses with his retirement / posting out. As can be seen, the post of MCM is a personal grade post carved out of HS I grade as an incentive to Senior Highly skilled workers.
5th CPC has reduced the then existing three grades of Artisan staff to two grades by merging Highly skilled Gr II (HS II) and Highly skilled Gr. I (HS I) into one grade of Highly skilled (HS) as shown below,

Merging of Highly Skilled
GradeBefore 5th CPCAfter 5th CPC
SkilledRs. 950 - Rs. 1500Rs. 3050 - Rs. 4590
Highly Skilled Gr-IIRs. 1200 - Rs.1800Rs. 4000 - Rs. 6000
Highly Skilled Gr-IRs. 1320 - 3040Rs.Rs. 4000 - Rs. 6000


Right from 3rd to 4th CPC the scale of pay in respect of MCM both in Railways and Defence was as under:-
Scale of pay MCM in Railways and Defence
CPCRailwaysDefenceTehnical Sup / Ch.man Gr.II
3rd CPCRs.425 - 640Rs. 425 - 640Rs. 425 - 700
4th CPCRs. 1400 - 2300Rs. 1400 - 2300Rs. 1400 - 2300
5th CPCRs. 4500 - 7000Rs. 4500 - 7000Rs. 5000 - 8000
Revised / Modified
by Govt. from 1.1.96
in Railways only
Rs. 5000 - 8000Rs. 4500 - 7000Rs. 5000 - 8000


Staff side demand for revision of the recommendations of Vth CPC was discussed in the meeting held by the then Group of Ministers on 11th Sep, 1997 and it was agreed that to remove this anomaly the concerned administrative Ministries will put up proposals directly to the Cabinet under Business of Transaction Rules, 1961.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Railways directly put up the proposal to the Cabinet. Railways demand was accepted by the Government and pay scale of MCM was revised from 4500 – 7000 to Rs. 5000 – 8000 from 1.1.1996, vide Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) letter No. PC-V/97/R-II/17 dated 24-11-1998. The scale of pay of HS grade was de-merged into HS-I and HS-II with separte scales of Rs.4500 – 7000 and Rs,4000 – 6000 respectively.

Following two proposals were also put up by Defence Ministry to the Cabinet for consideration:-
a. Grant of higher pay scale for highly skilled artisan staff in Defence Establishment;
b. Revision (de-merger) of inter-grade ratio for skilled artisan staff working under Ministry of Defence nullifying the recommendations of the Vth CPC.
However in case of Defence Ministry, Cabinet decided that the matter may, in the first instance, be considered by the Group of Ministeres (GoM) constituted to consider matters relating to the recommendations of Vth CPC and thereafter brought up before the Cabinet.

“ The issue of higher pay scale to highly skilled artisan staff in Defence Establishments could be considered only if the Ministry is able to confirm that consequent to the proposed de-merger of the pay scale of highly skilled grade, no proposal seeking higher pay scales for PBORs will be raised.”
Following pay scales and grade ratio have benn given to them in MOD:-
Pay scales and Grade ratio
SkilledRs. 3050 - 4590 45%
Highly SkilledRs. 4000 - 6000 55%
Master CraftsmanRs. 4500 - 7000 25%


The issue was however raised by the staff side members of JCM in Departmental Council as well as in National council meetings repeatedly. To resolve the issue, Defence Secretary had constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of JS(O/N) comprising staff side members from each Federations to look into the matter regarding revision of pay scale of MCM in Ministry of Defence at par with Ministry of Railways.
The committee recommended for up-gradation of pay scale of senior most master craftsman (8% of overall artisan strength) by giving higher pay scale of Rs.5000 – 8000 without disturbing the existing structure. The committee felt that the service personnel and civilian workshop staff are governed by different service conditions and their pay scales and working conditions are not comparable. The committee has come to the conclusion that the demand of the staff side has merit.
The historical parity was disturbed between the workshop staff of Defence or Railways after the scales of Railways workshop staff were improved upon by Government. Based on the recommendations of the committee, a proposal was submitted to Defence (Finance) for getting, it approved by DOP&T of Finance (Department of Expenditure).
Department of Expenditure, Min of Finance has returned the proposal advising the Min of Defence to put the matter before 6th CPC. The issue has again been raised in the 45th meeting of the National Council (JCM) held on 14th Oct 2006 under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary. The Chairman has also directed that it would be appropriate to refer the matter for consideration to the 6th CPC.

Comments

sonu8 said…
trade unions and govt are humbly requested to look into the matter of stenographer gde-III and oblige them. always remember for efforts and favourable orders.
Anonymous said…
why no one is speaking about the increase of Rs 100 in grade pay for a skilled or ldc instead of Rs 400 in 1st ACP,every one is talking of mcm grade pay,no heirarchical promtion grade pay for ACP?
sathyanandan said…
Court verdict during 2001was as follows:”
……..to grant the applicants the pay scale of Rs.1400-2300/- for the Master Craftsman /Head Staff Car Driver, presently existing in the Railways, from the date of filling of the OA and to grant arrears and to allow consequential benefits."
The benefits were extended to Defence ministry and Civilian Motor Driver grade I and MCM were drawing the equal grade pay of Rs. 2800/- till the implementation of 6th pay commission. The Grade pay of MCM have been upgraded with the grade pay of Rs. 4200/-.wef. Jan 2006.
Now at least 50% of senior most Civilian Motor Drivers (Staff Car Drivers) have the right to get promotion as Special Grade, in the Grade pay of Rs. 4200 in the pay band 9300-34800 those who are completed more than 18 years regular service due to the following reasons:-.
On the strength of clarification No.59 of DOP&T OMNo.35034/1/97-Estt (D) (Vol.IV) dated 18 July, 2001, Civilian Motor Drivers working in various directorates under Ministry of Defence have been denied benefits of ACP Scheme. In this connection, it is stated that four Grade Promotional Scheme has been made available for Civilian Motor Drivers under Ministry of Defence w.e.f. 08/11/1996 which provides that a Civilian Motor Driver (Ord. Gde) with 9 years of service and having passed the requisite trade test will be considered for promotion to the post of Civilian Motor Driver (Gde II) but subject to availability of vacancy. Similarly, a Civilian Motor Driver with 15 years of service and having passed the trade test of CMD Gde I can be considered for promotion of CMD Gde I but only if and when vacancy is available. Further, a CMD Gde I is entitled for third promotion of CMD (SplGde) on completion of three years qualifying service (i.e after 18 years of service) but subject to availability of vacancy. Thus the four grade promotional scheme cannot be termed and construed to be a TIME BOUNDPROMOTION to deny ACP benefits to the Civilian Motor Drivers(CMDs).It is stated that as per DOP&T OM dated 09th Aug, 1999, ACP will not be applicable only in those cases where a TIME BOUND PROMOTION SCHEME is already available. As already stated above, no time bound promotion scheme is available for the Civilian Motor Drivers under Ministry of Defence. But due to DOP&T clarification ibid, all such CMDs have been denied their legitimate benefits. Your Excellency may please consider the above anomalous situation and may recommend for grant of benefits under TIME BOUNDPROMOTION to all affected CMDs.

After completion of 18 years of service I became eligible for promotion as CMD (special grade) in the grade pay of Rs. 4200/- in the pay band 9300-34500 However, Now I had completed 26 years of service, neither promotion nor ACP scheme have been granted to me.. All other Group ‘C’ basic categories & skilled industrial staff who were appointed along with me or after my appointment are availing the benefit of grade pay of Rs. 4200/- in the pay band 9300-34500 either through promotion or ACP scheme. In my view it is an extreme injustice with me.

Therefore, it is requested favourable action as deem fit may please be taken so that the grade ratio of CMD (Special grade) may be revised into 40% instead of 5% and the implementation of three grade structure in case of Civilian Motor Drivers (Staff Car Drivers) by merging the CMD Gde I and Special Gde into one grade in the ratio of 30:30:40 as the 50% senior most CMDs are having more than 24 years of regular service. It is a request for justification

Or time scale promotion may please be recommended to Civilian Motor Drivers (Staff Car Drivers) As soon as CMDs Gde I who are completing 3 years in the grade are eligible for promotion to CMD Special grade and the promotion has to be granted forthwith. So that I may also be benefited either promotion or ACP scheme. As Justice delayed is justice denied
Rakesh Banerjee said…
Another important point:
IV CPC had HSK I scale & V CPC didnt Had that & again in VI CPC they added HSK I. Pay Commissioner had always done injustice to Defence Employees

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