Bonus through Bank -Letter given to GM SWR

To

     Sri. Ashok Kumar Mittal

     General Manager,

     South Western Railway,

     Kesavpur, Hubli.

Sir,

Sub: Payment of PLB 2013 through Bank-Reg.

Ref: 1) RB D.O.Lr. No. 2003/AC-II/21/13 dated 17.08.2004 to GM/SWR

        directing the South Western Railway to pay the salary through     

        ECS/Bank/ Cheque.

       2) Ministry of Railways (RB) addressed the GMs of All Railways in their         

        Lr.No. No.E (P&A) II -2012/PLB -4 dt. 18.10.2012  based on W.P.

        (CIVIL) NO. 6052/2012 OF 2012

******

Consequent on the judgment passed in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi at New Delhi by  Hon’ble Mr.Justice Suresh Kait on 24.09.2012 in the (Extra-Ordinary Civil Writ Jurisdiction) W.P. (CIVIL) NO. 6052/2012 OF 2012, the Ministry of Railways (RB) addressed the GMs of All Railways in their Lr.No. No.E (P&A) II -2012/PLB -4 dt. 18.10.2012 making it clear that the PLB should be disbursed in priority in the same mode as Salary.

The third sentence of Para 2 of the letter dated 18.10.2012

“Accordingly PLB order dated 18.10.2012 were issued instructing the Railways to make the payment of PLB on priority in the same mode as salary.”

The term Salary-mode’ means payment of salary through ECS/Bank/ Cheque. Under the above circumstances payment of PLB 2013 has to be made only in the ‘salary mode’ of the employee concerned.

If at all deviation is contemplated IT CAN BE DONE ONLY ON THE REQUEST OF THEE EMPLOYEE CONCERNED TO PAY THE BONUS IN CASH OR ANY OTHE MODE.

It is apparent THOSE WHO WANT THEIR BONUS THROUGH THEIR SALARY MODE NEED NOT GIVE ANY REPRESENTATION,

BUT ONLY THOSE WHO PREFER ANY ALTERNATE MODE – FOR EXAMPLE BONUS PAYMENT IN CASH.

Therefore PLB 2013 cannot be paid in cash UNLESS AN EMPLOYEE SUBJMITS A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR PAYMENT OF BONUS IN CASH which is a deviation from his mode of salary.

Therefore I plead to your esteemed good self that PLB 2013 shall be paid ONLY IN SALARY MODE. Perhaps the employees may be exempted from SALARY MODE and paid their PLB 2013 in cash ONLY IN CASES WEHRE THE EMPLOYEES HAVE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED FOR CASH PAYMENT THROUGH INIDVIDUAL REPRESENTATIONS.

The payment of the dues of the employees is a policy matter and it is well settled through extant RB letter that were quoted in my W.P. (CIVIL) NO. 6052/2012 OF 2012. Anyhow our contention that salary shall be paid only through bank or bearer cheque was not disputed by Mr.R.N.Singh, Senior Central Government Counsel (and the others) who had appeared for the Respondents in the said case.

It being so, the PLB 2013 stands to reason to be paid ONLY IN THE SALARY MODE and hence no deviation can be permitted on the plea of any Recognized Unions of the Railways that the employees will be put to hardship due to any urgency or the festival. The deviation may be considered ONLY IF THE EMPLOYEE SUBMITS HIS REPRESNTATION UNDER HIS NAME AND SIGNATURE.

In the above circumstances it is prayed that appropriate orders may be issued to Railways to effect PLB 2013 ONLY IN SALARY MODE. If your good self were to take into considerations the PROBABLE Representations  of the Recognized Federations like AIRF, NFIR etc  for payment of Bonus in cash it can be granted ONLY IN CASES WHERE THE EMPLOYEES HAVE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED FOR CASH PAYMENT in their  name and under their  signature.  I reiterate that it cannot be the other way around that those who want bank payment should submit a written representation. What you have to take note specifically is that Bank Payment has been made compulsory and hence it is not proper to advise EMPLOYEES TO GIVE REPRESENTATIONS REQUESTING FOR PAYMENT OF BONUS THROUGH BANK.

At this juncture it is warranted to state that cash payment involves huge expenditure in the form of Honorarium and Traveling Allowance for those who make payments. Needless to elaborate in the days of present financial scenario the huge loss to the exchequer is most regrettable and it stands to reason to be recovered from the one who issues orders for such an exchequer’s loss.

Therefore I request your benevolent good self to issue orders for payment of PLB 2013 ONLY IN SALARY MODE and IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES IN CASH ONLY ON RECEIPT OF SPECIFIC REPRESENTATION FROM THE EMPLOYEE REQUESTING FOR CASH PAYMENT AND CERTAINLY NOT ON THE REQUEST OF LABOUR UNIONS.

If orders are issued contrary to the prayer herein it may give rise to suspicion of circumventing well settled policies to appease Recognized Federations.

Thanking you,                                     Yours faithfully

Bangalore

07.10.13                                              (C. Sunish)