UT gives pay scale options to govt staff on deputation

The UT Administration today issued a clarification regarding standard terms and conditions of the government employees, who are on deputation.

According to the notification, the government employees on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration, irrespective of date of joining, may elect to draw either the pay in the level/scale of pay of deputation post or his/her basic pay in the parent cadre from April 1, 2022.

Further, the Deputation (Duty) Allowance would only be admissible up to fifth year as calculated from the date of joining or April 1, 2022, whichever is later, if employees and officials of Punjab and Haryana opt parent scale.

However, contrary to this, Punjab and Haryana Civil Services Rules Chapter 10 clearly stated that those officials, who are sent to the Chandigarh Administration, Deputation Allowance will not be admissible as they are being sent in the interest of States. Once the officers/officials exercise their option to draw pay of his/her parent cadre, the grant of Deputation (Duty) Allowance, after reviewing deputation terms, may be regulated in terms of provisions of the Government of India. However, consultation of the Finance Department may be sought, if required.

Also, the deputationists opting to draw pay of the post against which they have been appointed on deputation shall be entitled to Dearness Allowance at the rates applicable in the Chandigarh Administration. However, in such cases, pay of the deputationists will be re-fixed as per guidelines of the Government of India, dated March 28, 2024, and DA as per government’s orders as issued from time to time.

In the case of deputationist who opt to draw the pay of his/her parent cadre post, a separate proposal may be furnished to the Finance Department for consideration as they shall be eligible for DA at the rates prevailing in their parent organisation. More than 1,500 employees are presently serving with the Chandigarh Administration on deputation.

Ranbir Jhorar, president, Punjab Haryana Employees Welfare Association (Deputationists), Chandigarh, stated that employees on deputation with UT were not entitled to Deputation Allowance, as per the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines dated March 28, 2024, as they were getting pay scales of Chandigarh.

“Secondly, any change in condition of deputation involves financial implications and for this, it is mandatory to get approval of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance,” he said.

Being a joint capital of Haryana and Punjab, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given a special status to UT of Chandigarh, and as such, special terms and conditions for deputationists were approved by Ministry of Finance in 1967 and 1978, he added.

Chandigarh