16
Head 2: Civil Service.
26. With one or two small amendments which appear to me to be necessary 1 would advise the adoption of the Commission's proposals for the Civil Service. There is at present considerable stagnation at the top of Class II and on the maximum of Class I Grade II. Under the present scheme comparatively few officers reach the maximum of Class I before retirement. It seems probable that in the future the congestion at the top of Class I Grade II would be no less serious than at present, and to meet this difficulty I would suggest that the number of posts in Class I Grade I be increased. As recommended the numbers in each grade are respectively 4 and 18. I would suggest that the numbers be altered to 10 and 12. Some increase in the number of posts in Grade I is essential if the recommendations of the Salaries Commission are to be carried out as regards the improvement of the prospects of the Judicial side of the Service. I am fully in agreement with the Commissioners that such improvement is necessary as it cannot be denied that the practical impossibility of promoting Judicial Officers to Grade 1, while the number in Grade I is restricted to 4, creates a feeling of discontent in that branch of the Service and causes almost all officers to seek advancement on the Revenne side. In paragraph 156 the Com- missioners recommend the placing of the post of Principal Collector of Customs in Grade I. I am averse from any suggestion to go back to the principle, abandoned some years ago, of fixed posts in Grade I. I would therefore not adopt this pro- posal, but the increase of the number of Grade I officers would make it probable that the Principal Collector of Customs would in future reach Grade I pay before retirement.
Officers at present on a Rupee Scale.
With the
27. No provision has been made for these officers in the report. exception of Mr. Carbery in Class II all these officers are in Class I. I suggest the following scale, which is arrived at by adding to the present Rupee scales the same amount of increase as is given to the Sterling Officers:
Controller of Revenue
Class I Grade I
Class I Grade II
Class II
Present Salary, Rs. 20,250.
Ra. 18,000 to Rs. 20,250 by annual increments of Rs. 582).
Rs. 15,750 to Rs. 18,000 by annual increments of Rs. 562 after two years in the Class.
Rs. 11,250 to Rs. 13,500 by annual increments of Rs. 5621 after three years in the Class.
Head 3: Clerical Service.
Proposed Salary.
Rs. 25,500.
Rs. 29,250 to Rs. 25,500 by annual increments of Rs. 5624.
Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 23,250 by annual increments of Rs. 5624 after two years in the Class.
Rs. 15,750 to Rs. 18,000 by annual increments of Rs. 562 after three years in the Class.
28. The Commission's proposals for the General and other Clerical Services have been the subject of much severe criticism in the press and by the general public, and have caused considerable disappointment to the Clerical Staff. In the numerous memorials received it has been urged upon me that the minimum and maximum salaries should be raised and the increment restored to its present level. With regard to the General Clerical Service, after a careful examination of the report and of the memorials received since its publication. I am of opinion that the increments proposed are too low, but that the salaries proposed are adequate. In Class II the present increment is Rs. 120 plus Rs. 40 (temporary increase). The Commission propose to lower the increment to Rs. 100. It is true that by the introduction of a continuous time-scale stagnation periods at the top of Grades III and II have been abolished. At the same time this would not appear to afford adequate compensation for the very substantial reduction in the increment. In Class I the present incre- ment of Rs. 180 plus Rs. 60 (temporary increase) has been cut down to Rs. 120. No compensation for this reduction is found in the proposed scheme. The restoring of the increments to Rs. 120 and Rs. 180 respectively would go far towarda allaying the
17
present discontent. It would therefore appear to be both equitable and advisable to adopt this course. This would entail small increases in the maximum salaries of Classes II and I. To ensure that promotion to the top of Class II shall not be too rapid I would advise that there be two halts of two years each at different stages in the scale. The following scheme has been prepared on the lines above, and I would strongly advise its adoption:-
suggested
Class II--Rs. 900-120-2,820—with halts of two years each on Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 2,100, and Efficiency Bars before Rs. 1,620 and Rs. 2,220.
Class I-Rs. 3,000-180-4,260.
29. With regard to the Special Class I would recommend the adoption of the Commission's proposals in respect of salaries and the number of posts, but would suggest that, with the exception of the Chief Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office, all special class clerks be placed on a time-scale rising from Rs. 4,500-200-5,500. The reason for recommending this new departure is that owing to the difficulty of trans- ferring officers from one post to another in the Special Class it has happened in the past that the higher-paid posts have been granted to clerks junior to those holding the lower-salaried post who received earlier promotion to the Special Class.
30. The proposals for the Railway and Postal Clerical Services have caused much discontent. In sections 167 and 263 of the report the Commission have given it as their considered opinion that the present relative positions of the General Clerical Service, Railway and Postal Clerical Services should be maintained. With this view I am entirely in agreement. On examination, however, it will be found that the result of giving effect to the Commission's proposals would be to disturb seriously the present relative position. The Railway and Postal Services in Class II have always been identical with one exception, namely, that the Postal Service starts one increment behind the Railway. The Commission, however, have fixed the maximum of Class II in the Postal Service Rs. 200 below that of the Railway Clerical Service. This has led to a corresponding relative lowering of the minimum salary of Class I in the Postal Service. Again, the existing schemes are so adjusted that a Railway Clerk reaches his maximum one year after the General Clerical Service clerk and one year before, the Postal Clerk. I would now present for your consideration the following salary scales, which are designed to retain these par- ticular features of the existing schemes :--
Railway--Class II—Rs. 840-(8 of 80, 11 of 120)-2,800. Postal-Class II—-Rs. 760-(9 of 80, 11 of, 120)-2,800.
The alterations are:--
31.
Efficiency Bars before Efficiency Bars before Rs. 1,600 and Rs. 2,200.
Rs. 1,600 and Rs. 2,200.
(1) The Postal minimum is raised to Rs. 760-one increment lower than
that in the Railway.
(2) The Postal maximum in Class II is raised to Rs. 2,800 the same as that
in the Railway.
(8) In both departments two increments of Rs. 120 each have been substi-
tuted for three of Rs. 80.
With regard to Class I, I would recommend that the Commission's pro- posals for the Railway Clerical Service be adopted intact, but that in the Postal Service the minimum be raised to Rs. 2,840.
Customs Clerical Service.
32. It would appear that the minimum and maximum salaries of Class II are too low, while the increment of Rs. 150 is too high. At present the maximum of Class II is the same as in the Railway Clerical Service. It should, I feel, continue at least to approximate closely to that of the other services. The
present minimum
is Rs. 300. The Principal Collector of Customs has pressed strongly upon my notice that the minimum is at present much too low even apart from the increase in the cost of living, and that it has led to considerable difficulty in recruiting the right type of officer. I would recommend that the initial salary be raised to Rs. 600, and would advise the adoption of the following scale :——
Class II-Rs. 600-(8 of 90, 12 of 120)-2,760. Efficiency Bars before
Rs. 1,440 and Rs. 2,160.
The posts above Class I are dealt with separately under Head 13: Customs.
Class I-Rs. 2,880-180-9,600.
33.
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302
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE.
I k Ikk L
Reference :-
C.O. 882/10
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