Rs 10,000 pay jump for over 1,000 employees on deputation in Chandigarh

More than 1,000 employees from Punjab and Haryana working on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration will receive a major financial benefit. The UT Administration has decided to provide key service-related allowances to them with effect from April 1, 2022.

According to an order issued today by the Department of Personnel, Chandigarh, the allowances shall be granted to the government employees working on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration as are admissible to the regular UT employees.

The employees on deputation will now get an increase of nearly Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month each and they are expected to receive arrears of up to Rs 5 lakh, including dearness allowance, enhanced house rent allowance, travelling allowance, children education allowance, arrears arising from fresh pay fixation and revised basic pay under the Seventh Pay Commission.

The Administration has further clarified that while allowances not admissible to regular employees of equivalent status in the borrowing organisation will not be payable, all benefits permitted under the relevant DoPT provisions will be extended to deputationists in Chandigarh. The order has brought long-awaited clarity to issues related to pay and service benefits of employees on deputation with the UT Administration. It will ensure equality between regular UT employees and officers serving on deputation from Punjab, Haryana and other states.

The order also refers to the service rules of Haryana and Punjab, which already provide that deputationists are entitled to allowances applicable in the borrowing government. These include HRA, transport allowance, joining time and joining time pay, travelling allowances, transfer TA, children education allowance and leave travel concession.

According to the order, all departments and offices under the Chandigarh Administration have been directed to implement the instructions with immediate effect and ensure that eligible employees receive their dues without delay.

Hailing the employee-friendly decision, Ranbir Jhorar, president, Punjab and Haryana Employees Welfare Association, expressed gratitude to the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, the UT Chief Secretary, the Finance Secretary and the Personnel Secretary for their “visionary leadership and sensitive approach”. He said the issues had been pending since 2022 and the decision would significantly boost employee morale while strengthening trust and coordination between the Administration and its workforce.

In August last year, the Chandigarh Administration vested final authority for recruitment rules, service rule amendments and deputation of employees with the UT Administrator. According to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel, UT Administration, in partial modification of the earlier notification dated May 12, 2020, all cases related to the framing and amendment of service or recruitment rules for Group A, B and C posts, as well as the appointment and relieving of employees on deputation, will now require the Administrator’s approval. Henceforth, whenever recruitment or service rules for these posts are framed or amended, the file will be placed before the Administrator for clearance.