Move to increase salary of PSC chairman and members; salary hike from 2.24 lakhs to 4 lakhs; additional liability of four crores per year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Move to increase the salary of PSC chairman and members despite the severe financial crisis of the government. The Finance Department has started the process to increase the salary of the Chairman from 2.24 lakhs to 4 lakhs and that of the members from 2.19 lakhs to 3.75 lakhs. It is recommended to increase the Chairman's pension from Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh and that of members from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh. It is also suggested to give a retrospective effect from 2016.

PSC has 21 members. As three vacancies are not filled, there are 17 people. The file came up for consideration in the last cabinet meeting, but due to a severe financial crisis, the recommendation was returned with the understanding that a decision can be taken later. However, the Finance Department has decided to proceed with the measures. There will be an additional liability of at least four crores per year.

The Finance Department was of the view that by giving a unified salary to the PSC chairman and members the DA should be waived. The file also pointed out another argument that the government order of 2007, that the PSC chairman and members can be paid like District Judges are paid DA along with salary at the central rate, can be applied. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts the competitive examinations for jobs at the national level on time and declares the results on time, has only nine members.

Constitutional status

The reason given for the increase in salary is that the PSC Chairman and members are constitutional post holders and the salary and benefits should be aligned with the same post in the Central Government.

50% government employees

50 percent of the total membership is from government service. They should have 10 years of service. The rest are political appointments. There are 17 members including the Chairman at present. 11 of them are from government service. Three seats are vacant.