Deputationists to get allowances on a par with UT staff

Providing a major relief to more than 1,500 employees serving with the Chandigarh Administration on deputation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed that they will now get dearness allowance (DA) and other allowances on a par with the UT employees. The decision, based on the rules of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, is expected to increase DA for these officers by 15%.

At present, the UT employees get 53% DA, while those brought here on deputation from Punjab and Haryana receive 38% DA. Despite being eligible, these employees have not received the revised DA for the past nearly three years. The ministry’s latest directive ensures that the existing guidelines of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) are fully applicable to the UT employees on deputation, entitling them to the increased DA as part of their emoluments.

The lower DA had been cited as a key reason for reluctance among officials from Haryana and Punjab to take up deputation posts in Chandigarh. The UT Administration has repeatedly raised concerns over delays in receiving deputation panels from these states.

The move is expected to streamline deputation processes and attract more employees to Chandigarh, addressing the issue of vacancies and ensuring smoother governance.

Employees of the Punjab and Haryana governments working on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration had protested against the UT Administration for not giving 53% DA to them.

Ranbir Jhorar, president, Punjab Haryana Employees Welfare Association (Deputationist), Chandigarh, stated that the employees, who had come on deputation from Punjab and Haryana, are not being given the increased 53% DA since April 1, 2022.

Jhorar said with the ministry issuing fresh directive, they have written to the UT Administrator for the release of the pending DA with interest from April 1, 2022. He said now, they would also be eligible for the children education allowance and the travelling allowance. According to the letter issued by the MHA on July 27, 1982, when service rules were applicable in Chandigarh, the tenure clause will not be applicable to the employees from Punjab and Haryana, as they don’t get the deputation allowance, he said. Earlier, the UT Administration had proposed a seven-year tenure cap for employees serving on deputation in UT.

According to the order issued by the ministry on standard terms and conditions of the government employees on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration, the Union Territory of Chandigarh Employees (Conditions of Service) Rules-2022 have been made applicable to the employees of the UT Administration with effect from April 1, 2022. Accordingly, a notification of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, dated September 8, 2022, was issued bringing on a par the service terms and conditions for staff on deputation as well as UT employees.