5562-F: West Bengal Services ROPA Rules 2019 and Pay Matrix

Government of West Bengal

Finance Department

Audit Branch

NOTIFICATION

No. 5562–F the 25th September, 2019

In exercise of the power conferred by the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor is pleased hereby to make the following rules, namely :‐

1. Short title and commencement ‐ (1) These rules may be called the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019.

(2) They shall be deemed to have come into force on the first day of January, 2016.

2. Application ‐ (1) Save as otherwise provided by or under these rules, these rules shall apply to persons appointed to civil services and posts under the rule making control of the Government of West Bengal except members of All India Services, the West Bengal Judicial Service and members of the services to whom the University Grants Commission, the All India Council of Technical Education and Indian Council of Agricultural Research scales of pay apply.

(2) Unless specifically extended under express order of the State Government, these rules shall not apply to ‐

(a) Subordinate executive staff of the Police Forces in West Bengal,

(b) Officers and staff of the West Bengal National Volunteer Force,

(c) Officers and staff of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Secretariat,

(d) Officers and staff of the Public Service Commission, West Bengal,

(e) Officers and staff of the High Court at Kolkata

(3) These rules shall not also apply to :

(a) Government employees appointed on contract,

(b) Government employees not in whole time employment,

(c) Government employees paid otherwise than on a monthly basis, Including those paid at piece‐rates,

(d) Government employees who have retired in the afternoon of the 31st December, 2015, and

(e) Government employees re‐employed after retirement.

3. Definitions ‐ (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,‐

(a) “existing basic pay” means the pay drawn in the prescribed existing Pay Band and Grade Pay but does not include any other type of pay;

(b) “existing Pay Band and Grade Pay” means the running Pay Band and the Grade Pay applicable to the post held by the Government employee or, as the case may be, the personal scale applicable to such Government employee on account of his advancement to a higher Pay Band/Grade Pay under specific or general orders of the Government as on 1st day of January, 2016, whether in a substantive or officiating or temporary capacity, and

(c) “existing pay structure” means the present system of Pay Band and Grade Pay applicable to the post held by the Government employee as on the 1st day of January, 2016 whether in a substantive or officiating capacity or the Pay Band and Grade Pay as personal scale applicable to him on account of advancement to higher Pay Band /Grade Pay.;

Explanation.‐ the expressions “existing basic pay” and “existing Pay Band and Grade Pay” in respect of a Government employee, who was on the 1st day of January, 2016, on deputation or on foreign service or on leave or who would have on that date officiated in one or more lower posts but for his officiating in a higher post, shall mean such basic pay, Pay band and Grade pay applicable to the post which he would have held but for his being on deputation or on foreign service or on leave or officiating in a higher post;

(d) “existing emoluments” means the sum of existing basic pay and existing dearness allowance allowed to the basic pay as on 1st day of January, 2016.

(e) “Pay Matrix” means Matrix specified in Schedule‐I and Schedule‐II, with levels of pay arranged in vertical cells as assigned to corresponding existing Pay Band and Grade Pay ;

(f) “Level” in the Pay Matrix shall mean the Level corresponding to the existing Pay Band and Grade Pay as specified in Schedule‐III;

(g) “pay in the Level” means pay drawn in the appropriate Cell of the Level as specified in Schedule‐I and Schedule‐II;

(h) “revised pay structure” means the Pay Matrix and the Level specified therein corresponding to the existing Pay Band and Grade Pay of the post unless a different revised level is notified separately for the post ;

(i) “basic pay” in the revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed Level in the Pay Matrix ;

(j) “revised emoluments” means the pay in the Level of a Government employee in the revised pay structure and includes the revised non‐practicing allowance, if any, admissible to him.;

(k) “Schedule” means a schedule appended to these rules.

(2) Words and expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the same meanings as respectively assigned to them in the West Bengal Service Rules, Part‐I.

4. Level of posts ‐ From the date of commencement of these rules, the Level of posts shall be determined in accordance with the various Levels as assigned to the corresponding existing Pay Band and Grade Pay as specified in the Pay Matrix.

5. Drawal of pay in the revised pay structure ‐ Save as otherwise provided in these rules, a Government employee shall draw pay in the Level in the revised pay structure applicable to the post which he is holding as on 01.01.2016 or to which he is appointed on or after 1st day of January, 2016 :

Provided that a Government employee may elect to continue to draw pay in the existing pay structure until the date on which he earns his next increment in the existing pay structure or until he vacates his post or ceases to draw pay in the existing pay structure:

Provided further that in cases where a Government employee has been placed in a higher Grade Pay between 1st day of January, 2016 and the date of notification of these rules on account of promotion or upgradation, the Government employee may elect to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion or upgradation as the case may be.

Explanation 1 ‐ The option to retain the existing pay structure under the proviso to this rule shall be admissible only in respect of one existing Pay Band or Grade Pay.

Explanation 2 ‐ The aforesaid option shall not be admissible to any person appointed to a post on or after the 1st day of January, 2016, whether for the first time in Government service or by transfer from another post and he shall be allowed pay only in the revised pay structure.

Explanation 3 – Where the Government employee exercises the option under the proviso to this rule to retain the existing pay structure in respect of a post held by him in an officiating capacity on a regular basis for the purpose of regulation of pay in that pay structure under the existing rule or order applicable to the post, his substantive pay shall be substantive pay which he would have drawn had he retained the existing pay structure in respect of the permanent post on which he holds a lien or would have held a lien had his lien not been suspended or the pay of the officiating post which has acquired the character of substantive pay in accordance with any order for the time being in force, whichever is higher.

6. Exercise of option ‐ (1) The option under the provisos to rule 5 shall be exercised in writing in the form appended to Schedule IV so as to reach the authority mentioned in sub‐rule (2) within three months of the date of notification of these rules in Official Gazette:

Provided that‐(i) in the case of a Government employee, who on the date of notification of these rules, is on leave or on deputation or on foreign service, the said option shall be exercised in writing so as to reach the said authority within three months of his return from such leave or deputation or foreign service, as the case may be; and

(ii) where a Government employee is under suspension on the date of publication of these rules in the Official Gazette, the option may be exercised by him within three months of the date of his return to his duty or within three months of the date of notification of these rules, whichever is later.

(2) The option shall be submitted by the Government employee to the Head of his Office.

(3) If the option is not received by the Head of his Office within the time specified in sub‐rule (1), the Government employee shall be deemed to have elected to be governed by the revised pay structure with effect from the 1st day of January, 2016.

(4) The option once exercised shall be final.

Note 1‐ A Government employee, who died on or after the 1st day of January, 2016 and could not exercise the option within the prescribed time limit, shall be deemed to have opted for the revised pay structure on and from the 1st day of January, 2016 or from such subsequent date as is considered most beneficial to him, if he was alive.

Note 2‐ A Government employee who was on earned leave or any other leave on 1st day of January, 2016 which entitled him to leave salary shall be entitled to exercise option under this rule.

Note 3‐ A Government employee whose existing pay structure of the post was revised with effect from any date before publication of these rules, may be allowed the benefits of exercising option under this rule on the basis of notional basic pay in the related scale.

7. Fixation of initial pay in the revised pay structure.‐ (1) The initial pay of a Government employee who elects, or is deemed to have elected under rule 6 to be governed by the revised pay structure on and from the 1st day of January, 2016, shall, unless in any case the Governor by special order otherwise directs, be fixed separately in respect of his substantive pay in the permanent post on which he holds a lien or would have held a lien if such lien had not been suspended, and in respect of his pay in the officiating post held by him, in the following manner, namely:‐

(a) in the case of all employees,‐

(i) the pay in the applicable level in the Pay Matrix shall be the pay obtained by multiplying the existing basic pay by a factor of 2.57, rounded off to the nearest rupee and the figure so arrived at will be located in that level in the Pay Matrix and if such an identical figure corresponds to any Cell in the applicable level in the pay matrix, the same shall be the pay, and if no such cell is available in the applicable level, the pay shall be fixed at the immediate next higher Cell in that applicable Level of the Pay Matrix, as per schedule V.

(ii) if the minimum pay or the first cell in the applicable Level is more than the amount arrived at as per sub‐clause (i) above, the pay shall be fixed at minimum pay or the first Cell of that applicable Level.

(b) In the case of Medical Officers and Veterinary Doctors who are in receipt of Non‐Practising Allowance, the pay in the revised pay structure shall be fixed in the following manner: The existing basic pay shall be multiplied by a factor of 2.57 and the figure so arrived at shall be added to by an amount equivalent to Dearness Allowance on the pre‐revised Non‐Practicing Allowance admissible as on 1st day of January, 2016. The figure so arrived at will be located in the applicable Level in the Pay Matrix and if such an identical figure corresponds to any Cell in the applicable Level, the same shall be the pay. If, no such Cell is available in the applicable Level, the pay shall be fixed at the immediate next higher Cell in that applicable Level in the Pay Matrix.

(2) A Government employee who is on leave on the 1st day of January, 2016 and is entitled to leave salary shall be entitled to pay in the revised pay structure from the date of actual effect of the revised emoluments.

(3) A Government employee who is on study leave on the 1st day of January, 2016 shall be entitled to pay in the revised pay structure from the date of actual effect of the revised emoluments.

(4) A Government employee under suspension, shall continue to draw subsistence allowance based on existing pay structure and his pay in the revised pay structure shall be subject to the final order on the pending disciplinary proceedings.

(5) Where the existing emoluments exceed the revised emoluments in the case of any Government employee, the difference shall be allowed as personal pay to be absorbed in future increases in pay.

(6) Where in the fixation of pay under sub‐rule (1) the pay of a Government employee, who, in the existing pay structure was drawing more pay than another Government employee junior to him in the same grade in the cadre immediately before the 1st day of January, 2016, gets fixed in the revised pay structure in a Cell lower than that of such junior, his pay shall be stepped up to the same Cell in the revised pay structure as that of the junior.

(7) In the case where a senior Government employee promoted to a higher post before the 1st day of January, 2016 draws less pay in the revised pay structure than his junior who is promoted to the higher post on or after the 1st day of January, 2016, the pay of senior Government employee in the revised pay structure shall be stepped up to an amount equal to the pay as fixed for his junior in that higher post and such stepping up shall be done with the approval of the Government with effect from the date of promotion of the junior Government employee subject to the fulfilment of the following conditions, namely :‐

(a) both the junior and the senior Government employees belong to the same cadre and the posts in which they have been promoted are identical in the same cadre ;

(b) the existing pay structure and the revised pay structure of the lower and higher posts in which they are entitled to draw pay should be identical ;

(c) the senior Government employee at the time of promotion was drawing equal or more pay than the junior ;

(d) the anomaly should arise directly as a result of the applications of the provisions of normal rule or any other rule or order regulating fixation of pay on such promotion in the revised pay structure :

Provided that if the junior officer was drawing more pay in the existing pay structure than the senior by virtue of any advance increment(s) granted to him, the provisions of this sub‐rule shall not be applicable to step up the pay of the senior Government employee.

Provided further that the order relating to stepping up of the pay of the senior employee in accordance with the provision of these sub‐rule shall be issued under rule 55(4) of the West Bengal Service Rule, Part I and the senior employee shall be entitled to the next increment on completion of his required qualifying service with reference to the date of such stepping up of pay.

(8) Where a Government employee is in receipt of personal pay on the 1st day of January, 2016, which together with his existing emoluments exceeds the revised emoluments, the difference representing such excess shall be allowed to such Government employee as personal pay to be absorbed in future increases of the pay.

(9) Subject to provisions of rule 5, if the pay as fixed in the officiating post under sub‐rule (1) is lower than the pay fixed in the substantive post, the former shall be fixed at the same stage as the substantive pay.

8. Fixation of pay in the revised pay structure in respect of an employee appointed as fresh recruits on or after 01.01.2016 ‐ The pay of employees appointed by direct recruitment on or after the 1st day of January, 2016 shall be fixed at the minimum pay or the first Cell in the Level, applicable to the post to which such employees are appointed subject to the higher initials, where applicable, as indicated in Schedule‐III.

Provided that where the existing pay of such employee appointed on or after the 1st day of January, 2016 and before the notification of these rules, has already been fixed in the existing pay structure and if his existing emoluments happen to exceed the minimum pay in the revised pay structure as applicable to the post to which he is appointed on or after the first day of January, 2016, such difference shall be treated to be personal pay to be absorbed in future increments in pay.

Provided further that the pay of a Government employee, while holding a post under the Government, is appointed to another post on or after the 1st day of January, 2016, through direct recruitment after applying with due permission of the appointing authority, shall be fixed in the level applicable to the new post at the Cell, which is equal to his last pay of the old post and if there exists no such Cell in the applicable level of the new post, the pay shall be fixed (i) at the immediate higher Cell of that Level if the new post carries higher Level than that of the old post and (ii) at the immediate lower Cell of that Level if the new post is in the lower Level (up to the second lower Level) in relation to the old post when the difference shall be treated as personal pay to be absorbed in future increment.

9. Increments in Pay Matrix ‐ After fixation of pay in the appropriate Level in the Pay Matrix, the subsequent increment in the Level shall be at the immediate next higher Cell vertically arranged in that Level.

10. Date of next increment in revised pay structure. – In respect of all Government employees, there shall be a uniform date of annual increment, as existing and such date of annual increment shall be the 1st day of July of every year.

Note. – In the case of Government employees completing 6 (six) months and above in the revised pay structure as on 1st day of July, shall be eligible to be granted increment.

11. Fixation of pay on promotion on or after the 1st day of January, 2016.‐ The fixation of pay in case of promotion from one level to another in the revised pay structure shall be made in the following manner, namely;‐

(i) One increment shall be given in the Level from which the Government employee is promoted and he shall be placed at a Cell equal to the figure so arrived at in the Level of the post to which promoted and if no such Cell is available in the Level to which promoted, he shall be placed at the next higher Cell in that Level.

Note 1.‐ An employee may have option to get his pay fixed either from the date of promotion or from the date of next increment.

(a) In case the employee opts to get his pay fixed from the date of promotion, his pay in the promotion post shall be fixed under the provisions of this rule and his next increment will fall due on the 1st July on completion of six months from the date of such promotion.

(b) In case the employee opts to get his pay fixed from the date of increment, then on the date of promotion his pay shall initially be fitted in the applicable level of the promotion post at the same Cell as that of his existing pay and in absence of such Cell, it shall be fitted at the next higher Cell and such pay shall finally be re‐fixed under the provisions of this rule after accrual of increment in the lower post. The next increment shall, however, fall due on the next 1st July.

Note 2.‐ In the case of non functional movement under MCAS, 2001 / Promotion Policy Circular, 1981 the provisions as were prescribed for CAS/MCAS shall be followed.

(ii) In case of Government employees receiving Non Practicing Allowance, their basic pay plus Non Practicing Allowance shall not exceed Rs. 2,01,000.

12. Payment of arrears.‐ Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in these rules, or in any other rules for the time being in force, no arrears of pay to which a Government employee may be entitled in respect of the period from the 1st day of January, 2016 to the 31st day of December, 2019, shall be paid to the Government employee.

Note.‐ For the purpose of this rule, “arrears of pay”, in relation to a Government employee, means the difference between the aggregate of pay and allowances to which he is entitled on account of revision of pay and allowances under these rules for the period in question and the aggregate of pay and allowances to which he would have been entitled for that period had his pay and allowances not been so revised.

13. Classification of Government employees.‐ From the date of commencement of these rules, Government employees shall be classified as Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D in the following manner :‐

(i) Group A ‐ Government employees holding all posts in the Pay Level 12 and above.

(ii) Group B ‐ Government employees holding all posts in the Pay Levels 8 to 11.

(iii) Group C ‐ Government employees holding all posts in the Pay Levels 3 to 7.

(iv) Group D ‐ Government employees holding all posts in the Pay Levels 1 and 2.

14. Overriding effect of rules.‐ The provisions of these rules shall have effect notwithstanding anything contrary contained in any other rules, orders or notifications for the time being in force, and all such rules, orders and notifications including the West Bengal Service Rules, Part I, shall have effect subject to the provisions of these rules.

15. Relaxation of rules.‐ Where the Governor is satisfied that the operation of all or any of the provisions of these rules causes undue hardship in any particular case, he may, by order dispense with or relax the requirements of that rule to such extent and subject to such conditions as he may consider necessary for dealing with the case in a just and equitable manner.

16. Interpretation ‐ If any question arises relating to the interpretation of any of the provisions of these rules, it shall be referred to the Finance Department for decision.

By order of the Governor

Sd/‐ H. K. Dwivedi
Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal

Government of West Bengal

Finance Department

Audit Branch

NOTIFICATION

No. 5564‐F dated 25th September, 2019

In exercise of the power conferred by the clause (b) of article 318 of the Constitution of India, the Governor is pleased hereby to make the following regulations:‐

Regulations

(1) With effect from the 1st January, 2016, the Pay and Allowances of the members of the staff of the Public Service Commission, West Bengal, shall be governed by the provisions of the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019, published under the Finance Department notification No. 5562‐F, dated the 25th September, 2019 and Finance Department Memorandum No. 5563‐F, dated the 25th September, 2019, which is explanatory to the said rules and allied matters mutatis mutandis.

(2) The West Bengal Public Service Commission (Conditions of Service and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1953, as subsequently amended, shall be deemed to have been further amended to the extent indicated above.

By order of the Governor

Sd/‐ H. K. Dwivedi
Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal

Government of West Bengal

Home & Hill Affairs Department

Police Branch

NOTIFICATION

No. 2991‐PL/PB/3A‐1/19 dated 25th September, 2019

In exercise of the power conferred by section 2A, read with section 46 of the Police Act, 1861 (5 of 1861), section 4 of Bengal Police Act, 1869 (Ben. Act VII of 1869), and the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution of India and in supersession of all rules previously made on the subject, the Governor is pleased hereby to make the following rules to regulate the pay of the Inspectors, Sub‐Inspectors, Assistant Sub‐Inspectors, Constables and other officers of the West Bengal Police Force :‐

Rules

With effect from the 1st January, 2016, the Pay and Allowances of the Inspectors, Assistant Sub‐Inspectors, Sub‐Inspectors, Constables and other officers of the West Bengal Police Force shall be governed by the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 as promulgated with the Finance Department notification No. 5562‐F, dated the, 25th September, 2019 and the Finance Department Memorandum No. 5563‐F, dated, the 25th September, 2019, which is explanatory to the said rules and allied matters, mutatis mutandis.

By order of the Governor

Sd/‐ P. Raha
O.S.D & Ex‐Officio Joint Secretary to the Government of West Bengal

Government of West Bengal

Home & Hill Affairs Department

Police Branch

NOTIFICATION

No. 2992‐PL/PB/3A‐1/19 dated the 25th September, 2019

In exercise of the power conferred by section 2A, read with section 46 of the Police Act, 1861 (5 of 1861), section 4 of Bengal Police Act, 1869 (Ben. Act VII of 1869), section 8 of the Calcutta Police Act, 1866 (Ben. Act IV of 1866), section 2 of the Calcutta Suburban Police Act, 1866 (Ben. Act II of 1866) and the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution of India and in supersession of all rules previously made on the subject, the Governor is pleased hereby to make the following rules to regulate the pay of the Inspectors, Sergeants, Assistant Sub‐Inspectors, Sub‐Inspectors and other officers of the Kolkata Police Force :‐

Rules

With effect from the 1st January, 2016, the Pay and Allowances of the Inspectors, Sergeants, Assistant Sub‐Inspectors, Sub‐Inspectors and other officers of the Kolkata Police Force shall be governed by the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 as promulgated with the Finance Department notification No. 5562‐F, dated the 25th September, 2019 and the Finance Department Memorandum No. 5563‐F, dated the, 25th September, 2019, which is explanatory to the said rules and allied matters, mutatis mutandis.

By order of the Governor

Sd/‐ P. Raha
O.S.D & Ex‐Officio Joint Secretary to the Government of West Bengal

Government of West Bengal

Home & Hill Affairs Department

Police Branch

NOTIFICATION

No. 2993‐PL/PB/3A‐1/19 dated the 25th September, 2019

In exercise of the power conferred by section 2A, read with section 46 of the Police Act, 1861 (5 of 1861), section 4 of Bengal Police Act, 1869 (Ben. Act VII of 1869), and the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution of India and in supersession of all rules previously made on the subject, the Governor is pleased hereby to make the following rules to regulate the pay of the Subedar Majors, Subedars and other members of the Eastern Frontier Rifles Battalion :‐

Rules

With effect from the 1st January, 2016, the Pay and Allowances of the Subedar Majors, Subedars and other members of the Eastern Frontier Rifles Battalion shall be governed by the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 as promulgated with the Finance Department notification No. 5562‐F, dated, the 25th September, 2019 and the Finance Department Memorandum No. 5563‐F, dated, the 25th September, 2019, which is explanatory to the said rules and allied matters, mutatis mutandis.

By order of the Governor

Sd/‐ P. Raha
O.S.D & Ex‐Officio Joint Secretary to the Government of West Bengal

Government of West Bengal

Disaster Management and Civil Defence Department

NOTIFICATION

No. 1389‐CD (E‐227466) dated the 25th September, 2019

In exercise of the power conferred by section 16 of the West Bengal National Volunteer Force Act, 1949 (West Bengal Act I of 1949), read with the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor is pleased hereby to make the following rules to regulate the pay and allowances of Officers, and others staff of the West Bengal National Volunteer Force:‐

Rules

With effect from the 1st January, 2016, the Pay and Allowances of the Officers, and other staff of the West Bengal National Volunteer Force shall be governed by the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 as promulgated with Finance Department Notification No. 5562‐F, dated the 25th September, 2019 and the Finance Department Memorandum No. 5563‐F, dated the 25th September, 2019, which is explanatory to the said rules and allied matters, mutatis mutandis.

By order of the Governor

Sd/‐ D. Nariala, IAS
Principal Secretary to the Government of West Bengal

Government of West Bengal

Finance Department

Audit Branch

No. 5563‐F Dated, Howrah the 25th September, 2019

MEMORANDUM

Subject: Clarificatory Memorandum on the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 and on allied matters dealt with by the Sixth Pay Commission.

In Finance Department Resolution No. 8071–F(P) dated the 27th November, 2015 the Government constituted a Pay Commission‐

(1) to examine the present structure of pay and conditions of service to the following category of employees after taking into account the prevailing pay structure under the Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, other State Governments etc., and to furnish recommendations for changes which may be desirable and feasible

(a) employees under the rule making control of the Government of West Bengal except the members of the All India Services, the West Bengal Judicial Service and members of services to whom the UGC scales of pay, AICTE scales of pay and ICAR scales of pay are applicable

(b) teaching and non‐teaching employees of Government sponsored or aided educational institutions, Training Institutions of Primary Teachers, Libraries & Polytechnics and Junior Technical Schools;

(c) non‐teaching employees of non‐Government Colleges (Sponsored and Aided);

(d) employees of Municipalities, Municipal Corporations, Notified Area authorities, Panchayat Bodies;

(e) the employees of different Constitutional and Statutory Bodies,

(2) to examine the existing promotion polices and related issues and suggest suitable changes, which may be desirable and feasible, after taking into account the norms of promotions, efficiencies/productivity, wherever relevant and also having special regard to the priority for improving people‐orientation, social accountability and efficiency of the administration.

(3) to examine the special allowance and other allowances, concessions including Travelling Allowance and other benefits which are available to the employees in addition to the pay and suggest changes which may be desirable and feasible.

(4) to examine the issues relating to retirement benefits, and

(5) to make recommendations on each of the above having regard, inter‐alia to the economic condition of the country, financial responsibility of the Govt. of India and the pattern of allocation of revenues to the State, and the resources of the State Government and the demands thereon on account of the commitment of the State Government to the developmental activities,

The Commission submitted its report on the 13th September, 2019. After due consideration of the recommendations of the Commission , the Governor has been pleased to make the decisions set out in the following paragraphs in respect of the employees under category 1(a) above :‐

2. Pay Matrix – The Government has accepted the recommendation of the Commission to dispense with the present system of pay bands and grade pay and a new Pay Matrix as recommended by the Commission has been accepted without any modification. In addition, the Government has prescribed another table for Pay Matrix to cover the cases for those Government employees whose pay structures were not identical with the pay structures covered by the Commission in its recommendations.

The new Pay Matrix is set out in

(a) Schedule I and Schedule II to the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 published with the Finance Department Notification No. 5562‐F dated the 25th September, 2019.

(b) Rules relating to Subordinate Executive Staff of the Police Force, published with Notification Nos. 2991‐PL, and 2992‐PL, and 2993‐PL, dated the 25th September, 2019.

(c) Rules relating to the officers and staff of the West Bengal National Volunteer Force, published with the Notification No. 1389‐CD(E‐227466), dated the 25th September, 2019.

(d) Regulations relating to the officers and staff of the Public Service Commission, West Bengal, published with the Finance Department Notification No. 5564‐F, dated the 25th September, 2019.

These rules and regulations have been published in the extraordinary issue of Kolkata Gazette dated the 25th September, 2019.

The revised pay shall be effective from the 1st January, 2016.

3. Fixation of pay in the revised pay structure.‐ The principle of fixation of pay in the revised pay structure, as recommended by the Commission, has been accepted. The principle of fixation of initial pay in the revised pay structure has been laid down in Rule 7 of the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019.

(A) To arrive at the pay of a Government employee in the revised pay structure the following principles are to be followed:‐

(i) The pay of a Government employee who continued in the service after 31.12.2015, may be determined subject to his option notionally as on the 1st day of January, 2016 by multiplying his existing basic pay by a factor 2.57 and rounding off the resultant figure to the nearest rupee.

(ii) The figure so arrived at will have to be located in the applicable level in the Pay Matrix and if such an identical figure corresponds to any Cell in the applicable level in the pay matrix, the same shall be the pay, and if no such cell is available in the applicable level, the pay shall be fixed at the immediate next higher Cell in that applicable Level of the Pay Matrix.

(B) For the purpose of fixation of pay in the revised pay structure of Government employees who are in receipt of Non Practicing Allowance (NPA) , the following method is to be followed :‐

The existing basic pay shall be multiplied by a factor of 2.57 and the figure so arrived at shall be added to by an amount equivalent to Dearness Allowance on the pre‐revised Non‐Practicing Allowance admissible as on 1st day of January, 2016. The figure so arrived at will be located in the applicable Level in the Pay Matrix and if such an identical figure correspondence to any Cell in the applicable Level is available, the same shall be the pay. If, no such Cell is available in the applicable Level, the pay shall be fixed at the immediate next higher Cell in that applicable Level in the Pay Matrix.

4. Option for drawal of pay in the revised pay structure –

(i) The rules relating to exercising option for drawal of pay in the revised pay structure have been laid down in rule 5 read with rule 6 of the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019. The said rules prescribe the manner in which option is to be exercised and also the authority who should be appraised of such option.

(ii) The Form in which the option should be exercised has been set out in Schedule IV to the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019.

(iii) It should be noted that it is not sufficient for a Government employee to exercise the option within the specified time limit but also to ensure that it reaches the prescribed authority within the time limit.

5. Fixation of pay in the revised pay structure for fresh recruits on or after 01.01.2016 – Rule 8 of the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 prescribe the manner in which the pay of direct recruits appointed on or after the 1st day of January, 2016 is to be regulated.

6. Increments in Pay Matrix‐ After fixation of pay in the appropriate Level in the Pay Matrix, the subsequent increment in the Level shall be at the immediate next higher Cell vertically arranged in that Level as prescribed in rule 9 of the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019.

7. Fixation of pay on promotion on or after the 1st day of January, 2016 – For fixation of pay on promotion on or after the 1st day of January, 2016, the provisions of rule 11 should be followed.

8. Drawal of pay in the revised pay structure – A Government employee will be entitled to draw pay in the revised pay structure with effect from 1st January, 2020 after initial fixation of pay in the revised pay structure as indicated in rule 7 of the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 as per his option which he may exercise under the provisions of these rules.

Pay shall be fixed by the Head of Office concerned, who shall prepare the initial pay fixation statement in duplicate in the form set out in Schedule V to the Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019.

If any amount is drawn by a Government employee in excess of what is admissible to him as a result of erroneous fixation of pay in the revised scale, he shall refund the amount so drawn forthwith.

9. Non‐Practising Allowance –

(1) In case of the officers of the West Bengal Medical Education Service, West Bengal Dental Education Service Non‐ Practising Allowance (NPA) will be @ 24% of the revised basic pay subject to the maximum of Rs.24,000 and subject to the condition that the Basic pay plus NPA so computed, shall not exceed Rs. 2,01,000/‐

(2) In case of officers of the West Bengal Health Service, West Bengal Public Health & Administrative Service, West Bengal Dental Service, West Bengal E.S.I. Medical Service, Additional Medical Officers (Formerly Community Health Service Officers) and Veterinary Doctors, NPA will be @ 20% of revised basic pay subject to the maximum of Rs.20,000 and subject to the condition that the Basic pay plus NPA so computed shall not exceed Rs. 2,01,000/‐.

(3) In respect of the officers of the West Bengal Ayurvedic Health Service and West Bengal Homeopathic Health Service and also their corresponding Educational Services NPA will be @ 20% of the revised basic pay subject to the maximum of Rs.20,000 and subject to the condition that the revised Basic pay plus NPA shall not exceed Rs. 2,01,000/‐

(4) The rates of NPA in all the above three cases on the revised pay structure shall be effective from 01.01.2020.

10. House Rent Allowance – With effect from the 1st January, 2020, the house rent allowance admissible to a Government employee shall be 12% of his revised basic pay, subject to a maximum of Rs. 12,000/‐ per month. The ceiling of house rent allowance drawn by husband and wife together shall also be raised to Rs. 12,000/‐ per month.

The term basic pay in the revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed pay level in the Pay Matrix and does not include Non Practicing Allowance or any other type of pay.

The existing terms and conditions of drawl of house rent allowance by Government employees living in their own house or in a rented house shall continue to apply.

Subject to continuance of the existing terms and conditions regulating drawl of house rent allowance by Government employees provided with accommodation owned / hired by the Government and recovery of license fee from them, the following conditions shall be there , as existing now , in respect of such category of employees:‐

(i) When a Government accommodation being in a habitable condition in all respect with appropriate supply of water, power and toilet arrangements for individual families and such a Government accommodation is earmarked for holder of a particular post, the holder will not be entitled to house rent allowance for living elsewhere.

(ii) Group D employees, when they occupy an accommodation provided by the Government (i.e., the accommodations are earmarked) and according to their entitlement, will be exempted from payment of licence fee.

(iii) Group D employees, who are required to occupy below standard or below entitlement accommodations, but when such accommodations are not earmarked for them, will also, be exempted from payment of licence fee.

11. Medical Allowance –

(1) The existing rate of Medical Allowance will be revised to Rs. 500/‐ per month in respect of Government employees and Government pensioners with effect from 1st January, 2020.

(2) The present limit towards reimbursement of the cost of medicine on each occasion of indoor treatment shall be Rs.3500 with effect from 1st January, 2020.

(3) Those who will opt for the West Bengal Health Scheme, 2008, will not be entitled to the benefits stated at (1) above.

12. Risk/Hazard Allowance: Risk/Hazard Allowance will be admissible @ Rs.300 per month with effect from 01.01.2020.

13. Hill Compensatory Allowance: Hill Compensatory Allowance will be admissible @ 12% of revised basic pay subject to maximum of Rs.2000 per month with effect from 01.01.2020.

14. Winter Allowance: Rs. 3,000/‐ per annum will be admissible as Winter Allowance w.e.f. 01.01.2020.

15. Hill Compensatory Relief: Hill Compensatory Relief will be admissible @ 12% of basic revised pension subject to maximum of Rs.1000 per month with effect from 01.01.2020.

16. Winter Relief : Rs.1500 per annum will be admissible as Winter Relief w.e.f. 01.01.2020.

17. Sundarban Allowance: This will be admissible at the revised rates of Rs.40, 70, 100 and 140 with effect from 01.01.20 in place of Rs. 30, 50, 70 and 100 for different pay slabs as given below :

18. Washing/Kit Maintenance Allowance : Washing/Kit Maintenance Allowance will be admissible @ Rs.70 per month with effect from 01.01.2020 .

19. Extra Duty Allowance : Extra Duty Allowance will be admissible @ Rs.300 per month with effect from 01.01.2020 .

20. Tiffin Allowance for overtime work by Mechanical staff in the Pool Car Establishment: This will be admissible @ Rs.30 per hour subject to maximum of Rs.180 per working day and also subject to the following conditions with effect from 01.01.2020.

(i) No allowance shall be payable for work beyond 6 hours on any day and 46 hours in a month

(ii) Duties on Sundays and holidays shall not be taken into account.

21. Tiffin Allowance to Secretariat Group D Employee: For orderlies attached to the Officers in the rank of Joint Secretary and above in the Secretariat Department who are required to stay in office beyond 6:30 p.m and also other peons and orderlies as are/will be approved under existing orders, the tiffin allowance shall be admissible @ Rs.30 per day with effect from 01.01.2020.

22. Conveyance Allowance for physically challenged employees: This will be admissible @ 5% of Revised Basic Pay subject to maximum of Rs.800 p.m with effect from 01.01.2020.

23. Additional Remuneration for Protocol Duties : This will be admissible @Rs.700 per month with effect from 01.01.2020.

24. Cash Allowance for Senior Accounts Clerk /Cashier: This will be abolished w.e.f. 01.01.2020.

25. Other Allowances : All other allowances shall continue with the existing amount as drawn as on the date of issue of this memorandum for the revised pay till such time the allowances are revised. Employees joining service after issue of this memorandum shall also draw the existing amount.

26. Payment of arrears : No arrears of pay to which a Government employee may be entitled in respect of the period from the 1st day of January, 2016 to the 31st day of December, 2019, shall be paid to the Government employee.

Sd/‐ H. K. Dwivedi
Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal