The Captain Amarinder Singh led Cabinet on Wednesday approved certain amendments to the Punjab Civil Services Rules for granting new pay scales (matrix) on the pattern of the 7th Central Pay Commission for all fresh recruitments to State Government and its entities.The decision to amend Volume-I, Part-1, Rule 4.1(1) to bring the pay scales for all prospective recruitments/appointments – direct recruitments/compassionate appointments – at par with the Central Government scales was taken during a virtual Cabinet meeting.It may be recalled that the Finance Department had on July 17, 2020 issued instructions that these Pay scales in any cadre of any Administrative Department of the Punjab Government or its entities shall not be higher than the Pay scales for the same cadre in the Government of India, as notified as per the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. As per the letter dated January 15, 2015 issued by the Finance Department, and letters issued in continuation thereof, grant of basic pay (minimum of the pay band) and allowances during the probation period are also applicable as per the same rule.
According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, the amendment approved by the Cabinet stipulates that the expression "fixed monthly emoluments" for the employees, appointed to the service before the 17th day of July, 2020, means the amount drawn monthly by a Government employee equal to the minimum of the pay band of the service or post to which he is appointed. The said amount shall not include grade pay, special pay, annual increment or any other allowance, except travelling allowance drawn with reference to the grade pay of the relevant service or post.Further, the amended rule states that the expression "fixed monthly emoluments" for the employees, appointed to the service against direct quota posts, on or after the 17th day of July, 2020 means the amount drawn monthly by the Government employee equal to the amount of relevant Level of Pay Matrix of service or post as notified by the Administrative Department concerned to which he is appointed. shall not include special pay, annual increment, or any other allowance, except travelling allowance drawn with reference to the relevant service or post.The amended rule shall also not include any other emoluments which may be specifically classed as part of pay by the competent authority, as provided in rule 2.44 (b), said the spokesperson.According to the spokesperson, the state’s Administrative Departments are now being advised by the Finance Department about the pay matrix for the new appointments to be made under the State Employment Plan. Further, the departments are in the process of direct recruitment by the recruiting agencies like Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), Subordinate Service Selection Board (SSS Board) and the departmental committees, as the case may be.