CHANDIGARH: PCS executive branch officers association has decided to protest against the “step-motherly” treatment meted out to the cadre.
The simmering discontent among PCS officers will surface (on Friday January 24 when officers belonging to the 281rmember-srong civil service all over the state will march to Bhavan after their general house meeting at Kisan Bhavan
Association sources said that a meeting with the joint secretary (personnel) on Monday proved supportive The executive of the association at its meeting on Jan 11 and had decided to resort to a “democratic” protest by going on leave and wearing black badges to draw attention to its service conditions which were anything but conclusive and congenial given the ascendency of the police over the civil administration magistracy if you please.
“The main demand of the officers association is proper pay scale and restoration of PCS officer’s preeminence. The PCS service came into existence in the twenties and the British fondly called it the “premier” civil service. A “handsome pay scale was given to PCS officers then. Its pay as per the recommendation of the first pay commission Rs 450-1250.
Though not fully satisfied with what the Second pay commissions doled out the how came when the recommendations of the Third pay commission were made in 1989 which in its “wisdom” gave a higher pay scale then granted 10 PCS officers to at least 39 other categories of posts in the state. Not only that another 27 categories of officials who were in lower scale were brought at par with PCS officers. This obviously led to heart-burning and subsequent representations to the Chief Secretary as well as the pay anomalies commission but all to no avail.
The pay scales demanded by the association are on the pattern of those available to IAS officers as historically and administratively” the job of the two was the same.
The five categories of pay scale demanded by PCS association are Entry scale Rs 2200 4000 with an edge of Rs 75 of Rs 100 time scale Rs 3000 4500 after 5 years’ service selection grade RS 4125-4600 after 13 years’ service senior selection grade Rs 4500 6100 after 16 years’ service and super time scale -RS 5900 6700 after 21 years services.
What has really irked PCS officers assured term that something would be done within “two months” nothing tangible had been done. The two-month promise was given when he was invited as chief guest at association’s general house meeting at Punjab Bhavan on October 1.
The case of the association for four categories was to go before the Governor in Council then it was however dropped. AS regards the four categories starting with Rs 2400-4000 the association wanted Rs 3300-4500 after eight years Rs 4500-6100 after 18 years and Rs 5500-6500 after 21 years. In fact the association would accept either of the two five categories of pay as demanded now or four categories as agreed to by the Chief Secretary
Pay scales are not their only demand. They are also keen on the government honoring 20% exceeder posts for PCS officer’s categorization of posts on the TAS pattern protection of pay on promotion into the IAS and proper promotional avenues. For want of promotion stagnation has set in much to the chagrin of the officers.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 31, 1992
