No.35034/3/2015-Estt.(D)
Government
of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 13th July, 2021.
OFFICE
MEMORANDUM
Subject:
Cases pending or decided by Hon’ble
High Courts/Central Administrative Tribunals regarding preponement of effective
date of Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme – Order of the Hon’ble
Supreme Court of India dated 28.4.2021 in CA No. 1579/21 (SLP (C) No.
15572/2019) of Union of India v/s R.K. Sharma & others – reg.
The undersigned is directed
to say that vide O.M. of even number dated 30.9.2020, Ministries/ Departments
were advised to defend all cases or challenge the Orders of Court/Tribunal, as
the case may be, which are contrary to Modified Assured Career Progression
Scheme (MACPS) guidelines, since the matter relating to preponing the date of
effect of the MACPS from 1.9.2008 (as provided in the scheme) to 1.1.2006, was
sub-judice in a number of cases pending in the Apex Court, which have been
tagged with SLP No. 10811-13/2018 of Uol v/s Ranjit Samuel, and that all
similar matters were being heard together.
2. Though decision in the above
mentioned cases is still awaited, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in a
related matter, has held that benefits under the MACPS cannot be claimed w.e.f.
1.1.2006. In its Order dated 28.4.2021 in Civil Appeal No. 1579/2021 [arising
out of SLP (C) No. 15572/2019] of Union of India v/s R.K. Sharma & Others,
the Hon’ble Apex Court has held as under:-
“7. For a better understanding of the
dispute in these cases, it is necessary to examine the judgments of this Court
in Balbir Singh Turn (supra) and M.V. Mohanan Nair (supra). The point that was
considered by this Court in Balbir Singh Turn (supra) relates to the
applicability of the benefit of MACPS from 01.01.2006. The Respondents therein
approached the Armed Forces Tribunal which held that the benefit of ACP granted
to an employee is part of the pay structure which affects the pay and also his
pension. The Armed Forces Tribunal held that an ACP is not an allowance but a
part of pay and therefore, in terms of the Government resolution, the employees
were entitled for MACP w.e.f. 01.01.2006. This Court in Balbir Singh Turn
(supra) upheld the said finding recorded by the Armed Forces Tribunal.
Instructions issued on 30.05.2011 were found to be contrary to the resolution
dated 30.08.2008 as, according to the resolution 01.01.2006 was the effective
date for implementation of MACPS in matters relating to pay and dearness
allowance.
8. In MV. Mohanan Nair (supra) a three
Judge Bench of this Court considered the ACPS as well as the MACPS to hold that
the schemes are in the nature of incentive schemes which were brought into
force to relieve stagnation. This Court was of the considered view that the
Respondents therein were entitled only to the benefit of next grade pay in the
pay band and not to the benefit of grade pay of next promotional post. As the
MACPS is a matter of Government policy pursuant to the recommendations made by
the Pay Commission, this Court refused to accept submissions of the employees
that MACPS should be made applicable w.e.f. 01.01.2006.
9. In view of the judgment of this Court
in M.V. Mohanan Nair (supra), the Respondents and other similarly situated
employees are entitled for financial upgradation under MACPS only to the next
grade pay and not to the grade pay of next promotional post. It is clear from
the resolution dated 30.08.2008 that the recommendation of the 6th Pay
Commission was accepted by the Government and was made effective from
01.01.2006 in respect of civilian employees with regard to revised scales of
pay and dearness allowances. In so far as the revised allowances other than
dearness allowance, recommendation of the 6th Pay Commission were given effect
from 01.09.2008. The judgment in M.V. Mohanan Nair (supra) clinches the issue.
Benefits flowing from ACP & MACP Schemes are incentives and are not part of
pay. The resolution dated 29.08.2008 is made effective from 01.09.2008 for
implementation of allowances other than Pay and DA which includes financial
upgradation under ACP & MACP Schemes. Therefore, the Respondents and other
similarly situated officers are not entitled to seek implementation of the
benefits of MACPS w.e.f. 01.01.2006 according to the resolution dated
29.08.2008. Moreover, the implementation of MACPS by granting financial
upgradation only to the next grade pay in the pay band and not granting pay of
the next promotional post w.e.f. 01.01.2006 would be detrimental to a large
number of employees, particularly those who have retired. We find force in the
submission made by the learned Additional Solicitor General that uniform
implementation of MACPS for civilian employees w.e.f. 01.01.2006 would result
in large scale recoveries of amounts paid in excess.
10. In view of the above, we set aside
the judgment of the High Court and allow these Appeals.”
3. Accordingly, in terms of the existing
MACP guidelines, and in light of above mentioned order dated 28.4.2021, all
Ministries/Departments are, therefore, advised to dispose of all pending
grievances seeking grant of benefit w.ef. 1.1.2006 under the MACP Scheme, and
also. to defend the various pending Court Cases or to take immediate suitable
action for appealing against such judgments which are contrary to the existing
policy, as upheld by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the instant case.
Sd/-
(A. Bhattacharya)
Deputy Secretary
No comments:
Post a Comment