Echoing the sentiments of thousands of Government officers, the Confederation of Civil Service Associations (CoCSA) comprising 20 Civil Services has reiterated its demand for fair representation of Services in the Empowered Committee constituted for examination of the Pay Commission recommendations. It has asked that any one service should not have more than 25 per cent representation.
The CoCSA has also expressed dismay at the extraordinarily measly compliance of PMO’s instructions on reducing the huge inter Service gap in empanelment to the Joint Secretary level by December 2015.
Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer Jayant Mishra, Convenor, CoCSA said, “Against this background, the CoCSA had submitted a Memorandum dated 9th December, 2015 to the Cabinet Secretary highlighting the apprehensions shared by a majority of officers and requested for a fair representation of Services in the Empowered Committee constituted for examination of the Pay Commission recommendations, limiting the representation of any one Service to 25 per cent of the total strength and had also requested the Cabinet Secretary for an opportunity to a delegation from the Confederation to meet him. This was necessary to boost the confidence of thousands of officers that their views will be well represented.”
However, officers say they are dismayed to see reports that majority of the members in the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECoS) shall be from a single Service. If the Cabinet has taken or takes such a decision, we shall respect and honour the same.
“However, we have no information whether our Memorandum was placed before the Cabinet for consideration, in the interest of natural justice. In the absence of the same, thousands of officers are getting disheartened. We are still waiting for an opportunity to meet the Cabinet Secretary. We have submitted fresh Memoranda on January 19 to the Cabinet Secretary and also to the Expenditure Secretary, reiterating our demand of equitable representation be given to various Services,” added PVR Sastry, Secretary of IPS Central Association.
The Confederation has also dismissed rumors of inter-services rivalry. “We have read about the supposed inter Service rivalries in connection with the implementation of the Report of the Seventh Pay Commission. It is clarified that officers from various Services continue to maintain excellent inter personal relations and serve the Government with full devotion,” said Mishra.