Increments above an efficiency Bar.(IREC - 1319) (F.R.25). --
Where an efficiency bar is prescribed in time-scale, the increment next above the bar shall not be given to a railway servant without the specific sanction of the authority empowered to withhold increments under Rule 1318 (F.R. 24) or the relevant disciplinary rules applicable to the railway servant or of any other authority whom the competent authority may, by general or special order, authorize in this behalf.
PRESIDENT’S ORDERS
A railway servant against who an efficiency bar has been in force or whose increment has been withheld for failure to pass a prescribed examination, may be allowed to draw pay at the stage which he would have ordinarily reached but for his detention at the bar or withholding of increment and he may be allowed to draw his future increments from the original date or increment. In other words, ordinarily the detention at the efficiency bar stage or withholding of increment for failure to pass a prescribed examination will have only the effect of postponing the drawl of increment above that stage by the time taken in qualifying for crossing that stage. In particularly bad cases, however, the authority competent to sanction increments may allow the railway servant to recommend his ascent in the time-scale from the stage at which he was detained only from the date on which the bar is removed or on which he passes the examination.
(Railway Board’s letter No. E(NG)62-ICI/3,dated 12-12-1963)
Government of India’s Orders
Revised procedure for efficiency bar application and fixation of pay on restoration.--1. The Third Central Pay Commission have made the following recommendation in regard to crossing of Efficiency Bar by Government servants, vide recommendation No.37 of their Report:-
“There should be a more effective application of efficiency bars than has been done hitherto. Measures should be taken to ensure that crossing the efficiency bar is no longer a routine matter and that those who do not pull their weight are denied further increments”.
Government have since accepted the above recommendation of the Third Central Pay Commission.
2. In order to ensure effective implementation of the aforesaid recommendation, the third Central Pay Commission have indicated certain further steps in para 17 of Chapter 8 of their Report (Vol.I). These have been accepted by Government and the following decisions have been taken:
(1) Cases of railway servants for crossing the Efficiency Bar in a time-scale of pay shall be considered by a standing Committee of three officers for various categories of employees which shall be the same as the Departmental Promotion committee constituted for the purpose of considering cases of confirmation of the government servants concerned. The Committee shall be nominated by the Head of the department in case of non-Gazetted staff and by the General Manager in case of Gazetted officers. (Railway Board’s letter No.PCIII/76/EB/1 dated 19-1-78). Where, however, in a Departmental Promotion Committee for considering case of confirmation, a Member of the Union Public Service Commission is associated, it shall not be necessary to associate the Member of the Commission in the Committee for considering cases of Government servants for crossing of the Efficiency Bar. It is not essential for the Committee considering case of railway servants for crossing the Efficiency Bar to sit in a meeting to consider such cases, but it may consider such cases by circulation of papers. The Committee shall make its recommendations to the authority competent to pass an order declaring the employee to cross the Efficiency Bar.
(2) In respect of Railway servants in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’:-
(i) Trade tests wherever these are being conducted for crossing the efficiency bar should continue.
(ii) Where confidential reports are not maintained, the review of the Committee shall be on the basis of the service record and the report of the immediate supervisor of the concerned employee.
(Authority:- Railway Board's letter No. PCIII/92/FE-1/2 dated 10.08.92)
(iii) Where confidential reports are maintained, the Committee of the three officers appointed for the purpose, shall make a report on the basis of reports of the immediate superior as well as confidential reports.
(iv) Oral/written test will not be held in (ii) and (iii) above.
(v) Also, the Artisan staff shall not be subjected to a trade test as in (i) above and their cases shall be processed according to (ii) and (iii) above.
(Railway Board’s letter No.PCIII/76/EB/1 dated 11-8-78 and 31-5-79.)
(3) Where a railway servant who has been held up at the Efficiency Bar stage on the due date on account of unfitness to cross the Efficiency Bar is allowed to cross the Efficiency Bar at a later date as a result of subsequent review which should also be done in accordance with procedure mentioned in para 2(1) above, the increment above the Efficiency Bar shall be allowed to him from the date of such order to cross the Efficiency Bar. Where, it is proposed to fix his pay at a higher stage, taking into account the length of service from the due date for crossing the Efficiency Bar, the case should be referred to the next higher authority for a decision.
(4) At regular intervals, which may be prescribed by the Railway Board/General Managers concerned, the Divisional Railway Managers, Heads of Deptt. And General Managers and competent authority in Railway Board should review the position obtaining in that Ministry/Railway regarding sanction of increments above the Efficiency Bar stage in order to see whether the authorities concerned are being objective and not either to lenient or too strict enforcing the Efficiency Bar.
(5) The Ministry of Railways may undertake every three years or so, a method study to see the working of the system of considering railway servant’s suitability for crossing the Efficiency Bar and suggest improvements therein.
