The State government has notified terms of reference for the 10th pay revision commission headed by Justice (Retd) C.N. Ramachandran Nair.

The Commission will study and make recommendations on revising pay and allowances and other benefits of employees, including teaching and non-teaching staff of aided educational institutions and local bodies.

AUSTERITY MEASURES This comes against the background of a tightening fiscal position warranting austerity measures in the administration. But both Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Finance Minister K.M. Mani have denied that there is a severe financial crunch.

The government will introduce measures to cut down expenditure and beef up revenue realisation. There are curbs on creation of new posts and restrictions on deputation of officers to field departments.

PREDECESSOR PANEL The ninth pay revision commission headed by Justice R. Rajendrababu submitted its report in 2010, recommending a minimum rise of Rs 1,104 and a maximum of Rs 4,490.

The minimum salary of government employees was fixed at Rs 8,500 and maximum at Rs 59,840. Gratuity amount was increased from Rs 3.30 lakh to Rs 7 lakh, and, for the first time, leave travel concession was introduced. The number of scales was increased from 24 to 27 inducting three new scales at higher level.

This was done mainly to accommodate certain categories of higher level officers in line departments viz; with senior-level functionaries in the Government Secretariat. The additional financial burden that these measures wrought on the government was around Rs 2,000 crore.

TERMS OF REFERENCE Terms of reference for the 10th pay commission require it to assess implications for the exchequer for implementing the pay revision with effect from July 7, 2014.

The Commission shall suggest modifications for pay and allowances of posts under government service, including part-time contingent service and casual sweepers.

Part-time posts and casual sweepers under educational institutions of the government, aided schools and colleges too will be covered under its ambit.

The Commission will examine the present structure of pay and allowances and other emoluments and service conditions, including promotional avenues and fringe benefits.

It may suggest changes thereto which may be desirable and feasible keeping in view, inter-alia, the need for greater social accountability and efficiency of administration.

SERVICE PENSIONERS It will also examine and suggest changes to the benefits available to service pensioners. It will suggest remedies for anomalies caused due to the last pay revision and measures to avoid cascading effects likely to be caused by such anomalies.

While considering these, the Commission will keep in mind need for bringing down any disparity existing between different scales in government service as also a gender-sensitive service structure.

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