Date of Uploading	Brief Decription
24-09-2015	Clarification regarding filling up Vacancies of the post of Inspectors, Senior Tax Assistants, Deputy Office Superintendent-incorporation of a clause of retention of eligibility service for persons holding the feeder grade posts or regular basis etc.
24-09-2015	Clarification regarding filling up Vacancies of the post of Stenographer Grade-I.
24-09-2015	Office Memorandum dated 22.09.2015 regarding Review of process of revision of pension
23-09-2015	Circular regarding Review of process of revision and disbursement of arrears of pension to the concerned pre 2006 pensioners

PAYMENT OF DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES – REVISED RATES EFFECTIVE FROM 1.7.2015

No.1/2/2015-E-II (B)

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi

Dated: 23rd September, 2015.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Payment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees – Revised Rates effective from 1.7.2015

            The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s Office Memorandum No.1/2/2015-E-II (B) dated 10th April, 2015 on the subject mentioned above and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Central Government employees shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 113% to 119% with effect from 1st July, 2015.

2.         The provisions contained in paras 3, 4 and 5 of this Ministry’s O.M. No. 1(3)/2008-E-II(B) dated 29th August, 2008 shall continue to be applicable while regulating Dearness Allowance under these orders.

3.         The additional installment of Dearness Allowance payable under these orders shall be paid in cash to all Central Government employees.

4.         These orders shall also apply to the civilian employees paid from the Defence Services Estimates and the expenditure will be chargeable to the relevant head of the Defence Services Estimates. In regard to Armed Forces personnel and Railway employees, separate orders will be issued by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways, respectively.

5.         In so far as the employees working in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued with the concurrence of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Sd/-

(A. Bhattacharya)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Authority: www.finmin.nic.in

Amendment in Recruitment Rules for the post of Tax Assistant (TA).

            

Supreme Court judgement on Aadhar card CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Review of CSSS Officers (PSO) under FR 56(j) and Rule-48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972- reg CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Processing of files referred to DOPT for advice/clarification: Draft OM by DoPT for comments CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

THE NEXT MEETING OF JAC OF CBEC WILL BE HELD ON 04.10.2015 AT 11.00HRS AT CR BUILDING , NEW DELHI.

Date of Uploading	Brief Decription
21-09-2015	Review of process of revision and dissbursement of arrears of pension to the concerned pre-2006 pensioners
21-09-2015	Circular dt. 21-Sept-2015 for VRS

17-09-2015	Letter dated 28.08.2015 regarding the review status of 'Jeevan Pramaan'- Aadhar based Life Certificate by Pensioners
17-09-2015	Waiver from payment of Cost Recovery charges in respect of customs Staff
17-09-2015	Streamlining the process of Adjudication
16-09-2015	Shifting of Headquarters of commissionerates

THE NEXT MEETING OF JAC WILL BE HELD ON 04.10.15 AT NEW DELHI.

Presentation made before the FM by Member(ST)--(click below)

• Presentation made before the FM by Member(ST)

Strengthening of administration-Periodical review under FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

Strengthening of administration-Periodical review under FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

No.25013/01/2013-Estt.A-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
Establishment A-IV Desk

North Block, New Delhi
Dated 11th September, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Strengthening of administration-Periodical review under FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM No. 25013/1/2013-Estt(A) dated 21/03/2014 on the periodical review under Fundamental Rule 56 or Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules.

2. Various instructions issued on the subject deal with compulsory retirement under the above mentioned provisions. The Supreme Court has observed in State of Gujarat Vs. Umedbhai M. Patel. 2001 (3) SCC 314 as follows:

(i) Whenever the services of a public servant are no longer useful to the general administration, the officer can be compulsorily retired for the sake of public interest.

(ii) Ordinarily, the order of compulsory retirement is not to be treated as a punishment coming under Article 31 l of the Constitution.

(iii) “For better administration, it is necessary to chop off dead wood, but the order of compulsory retirement can be passed after having due regard to the entire service record of the officer.”

(iv) Any adverse entries made in the confidential record shall be taken note of and be given due weightage in passing such order.

(v) Even un-communicated entries in the confidential record can also be taken into consideration.

(vi) The order of compulsory retirement shall not be passed as a short cut to avoid Departmental enquiry when such course is more desirable.

(vii) if the officer was given a promotion despite adverse entries made in the confidential record, that is a fact in favour of the officer.

(viii) Compulsory retirement shall not be imposed as a punitive measure.

3. , In every review, the entire service records should be considered. The expression ‘service record’ will take in all relevant records and hence the review should not be confined to the consideration of the ACR / APAR dossier. The personal file of the officer may contain valuable material. Similarly, the work and performance of the officer could also be assessed by looking into files dealt with by him or in any papers or reports prepared and submitted by him. it would be useful if the Ministry/Department puts together all the data available about the officers and prepares a comprehensive brief for consideration by the Review Committee. Even uncommunicated remarks in the ACRs/APARS may be taken into consideration.

4. in the case of those officers who have been promoted during the last five years, the previous entries in the ACRs may be taken into account if the officer was promoted on the basis of seniority cum fitness, and not on the basis of merit.

5, As far as integrity is considered, the following observations of the Hon’ble Supreme Court may, while upholding compulsory retirement in a case, may be kept in view:

The officer would live by reputation built around him. in an appropriate case, there may not be sufficient evidence to take punitive disciplinary action of removal from service. But his conduct and reputation is such that his continuance in service would be a menace to public service and’injurious to public interest.

S. Ramachandra Raju vs. State of Orissa
[(l 994) 3 SCC 424]

Thus while considering integrity of an employee, actions or decisions taken by the employee which do not appear to be above board, complaints received against him, or suspicious property transactions, for which there may not be sufficient evidence to initiate departmental proceedings, may be taken into account. Judgement of the Apex Court in the case of Shri K. Kandaswamy, I.P.S. (TN:1966) in K. Kandaswamy vs Union Of India & Anr, l996 AIR 277, I995 SCC (6) l62 is relevant here. There were persistent reports of Shri Kandaswamy acquiring large assets and of his getting money from his subordinates. He also indulged in property transactions which gave rise to suspicion about his bonafides. The Hon’ble Supreme Court upheld his compulsory retirement under provisions of the relevant Rules.

6. Similarly, reports of conduct unbecoming of a Government servant may also form basis for compulsory retirement. As per the Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of UP. And Others vs Vijay Kumar ‘Jain, Appeal (civil) 2083 of 2002:

If conduct of a government employee becomes unbecoming to the public interest or obstructs the efficiency in public services, the government has an absolute right to compulsorily retire such an employee in public interest.

7. Many changes in the nomenclature and in the areas of responsibility of various departments/Ministries have taken place. In order to simplify and speed up the procedure of review, a need is felt to reconstitute the Review Committees. in partial modification of the OM 25013/15/86-Estt (A) dated 27/06/1986, it has been decided that the Secretaries of the Cadre Controlling Authorities will constitute Review Committees consisting of two Members at appropriate level. The Review Committees in the case of various levels of employees will be as under:

(A) in case of officers holding Group A posts:

(a) In r/o ACC appointees:

Review Committee may be headed by the Secretary of the concerned Ministry/Department as Cadre Controlling Authority.

(b) In r/o Non-ACC appointees:

(i) Where there are Boards viz CBDT, CBBC, Railway Board, Postal Board, Telecom Commission, etc. the Review Committee may be headed by the Chairman of such Board.

(ii) Where no such Boards/Commissions exist, the Review Committee may be headed ’by Secretary of the. Ministry/Department.

(B) in case of Group B (Gazetted) officers:

Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary level officer will head the Review Committee.

(C) In the case of Non-Gazetted employees:

(i) An officer of the level of Joint Secretary will head the Committee. However in case the Appointing Authority is lower in rank than a Joint Secretary, then an officer of the level of Director/Deputy Secretary will be the head.

(ii) in the case of Non-Gazetted employees in other than centralised cadres, Head of Department/Head of the Organisation shall decide the composition of the Review Committee.

8. CVO in the case of gazetted officers, or his representative in the case of non-gazetted officers, will be associated in case of record reflecting adversely on the integrity of any employee.

9. in addition to the above, the Secretary of the Ministry/Department is also empowered to constitute internal committees to assist the Review Committees in reviewing the cases. These Committees will ensure that the service record of the employees being reviewed, alongwith a summary bringing out all relevant information, is submitted to the Cadre Authorities at least three months before the due date of review.

10. The procedure as prescribed from time to time has been consolidated and enclosed as Appendix to the OM issued by this Department on 21/03/2014. As per these instructions the cases of Government servant covered by FR 56(j), FR 56(l), or Rule 48(1) (b) of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 should be reviewed six months before he/she attains the age of 50/55 years, in cases covered by FR 56(j) and on completion of 30 years of qualifying service under FR 56(l)/Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 as per the following calendar:

Sl No	Quarter in which review is to be made	Cases of employees who will be attaining the age of 50/55 years or will be completing 30 years of service or 30 years of service qualifying for pension, as the case may be, in the quarter.
1.	January to  March	July to September of the same year
2.	April to June	October to December of the same year
3.	July to September	January to March of the next year
4.	October to December	April to June of the next year

11. All Ministries/Departments are requested to follow the above instructions and periodically review the cases of Government servants as required under FR 56(j)/FR56(l)/Rule 48(1)(b) of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

Uploading	Brief Decription
14-09-2015	No of MTS deployed
11-09-2015	No of MTS deployed
10-09-2015	Submission of representations directly to higher authorities by passing the prescribed channel of communication is a violation of Conduct Rules

Centre says rotate Govt Employees for Integrity, Compulsorily Retire If In Public Interest

New Delhi: The central government has emphasised on rotation of government employees on sensitive and non-sensitive posts “to ensure integrity” in the government service and has also asked all ministries to strictly follow existing rules of compulsorily retiring government employeess before 60 years of age if “in public interest”. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said in the circular F.No.C-11020/1/2015-Vig   issued to all central ministries and departments on Monday, incorporating the observations of cabinet Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha at a meeting on August 10. “it has been emphasized that rotation needs to be carried out in respect of sensitive posts and non-sensitive posts to ensure probity,” the circular of DoPT said. It also suggested review and screening of officers under FR 56(J) within ministries. Under FR 56(J) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, periodical review of officers is permitted for strengthening of administration.  DoPT will monitor the implementation and obtain compliance from all ministries in this regard, the circular said. “All ministries/departments are, therefore, requested to kindly look into the matter and carry out rotation in respect of sensitive and non-sensitive posts and FR 56(J). As this activity is to be completed in a time bound manner, it is requested that priority attention may be paid to it and inputs sent to the internal Vigilance Section at the very earliest,” according to the circular. FR 56 (J) of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, says, the government has the absolute right to retire, if it is necessary to do so in public interest, a government servant of group ‘A’ and ‘B’ who entered service before 35 years of age and have attained the age of 50 years. In other cases, the age-limit is of 55 years when the government servant can be compulsorily retired. A three-month notice period or three month pay in lieu of it is supposed to be given.

JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE OF CBEC

 Dear Comrades,

At the outset I, congratulate the employees and officers for the magnificent demonstration of unity and struggle by participating in the one day strike on 2.09.2015. Once again the officers and employees of Central Government departments could register maximum participation, a feat unprecedented in the annals of the movement of employees. In the earlier circular, I stated the following:
“As you are aware, the Central Trade Unions in the country have decided to organize yet another one day strike on 2nd September, 2015. They took the decision in the National Convention of the workers held at New Delhi on 26th May, 2015. The NDA Government, as expected, has intensified the pursuance of the neo-liberal economic policies. The two important enactments they had placed before the Indian Parliament seeks to (i) amend the existing labour welfare legislations, detrimental to the interest of the workers and (ii) virtually end the legislation passed by the UPA II Government in the matter of acquisition of land from farmers, both to favour the corporate houses. The amendments, once passed, will deprive the worker’s various welfare measures undertaken by the Government in the post independent era. It will, undoubtedly, have an adverse impact on the service conditions of the Central Government employees and officers in the days to come, as many of the present rules and regulations have been framed in consonance with the provisions of those enactments. The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, to which most of the Civil Servants’ Associations and Federations are affiliated, being party to the National convention of the workers, have served the strike notice on 11th August, 2015 on 12 point Charter of Demands and would be mobilizing the employees in the strike action scheduled for 2nd September, 2015. As in the past, the strike will enlist the participation of a large number of Central Government employees.
 In that background I appeal to all the constituent of JAC to extend moral/solidarity support to the Strike action on 02-09-2015 by conducting lunch hour’s demonstration at least on 02.09.15.
 In the context of the continued procrastination on the part of the Central Board of Excise and Customs  in settling the Department specific issues, especially the stagnation issues of all cadres  and  much delayed promotion to the different  cadres, it is required to mount sustained and continuous programmes of actions under the banner of JAC”.

Now, I appeal to all of you to think about us. Board meeting was held but no progress has been made to settle our charter of demands. We must remember that Department specific issues are begging settlement for quite a long time presumably due to our not exerting the requisite pressure on CBEC.  Undoubtedly a successful agitation can lead to settlement of our burning issues.
With fraternal regards,
Yours comradely,
LOKANATH MISHRA

Central Government Employees Warned against Complaining to the Minister, PM

‘The DoPT has, in its newly issued orders, warned the Central Government employees, including defence personnel, of departmental disciplinary action if they choose to take their complaints directly to the ministers or the PM.’

Central Government employees, army officers, and members of the paramilitary forces are directly contacting the concerned ministers, the ministry officials, and the Prime Minister. The Department of Personnel & Training has termed it a “violation of procedures.”

Central Government employees are contacting the ministers, their secretaries, and the Prime Ministers for grievances related to their work. If they want a solution to their grievance, they must contact their senior officer or bring the grievance to the attention of the head of the department. Instead, seeking other means to solve the problem is in violation of the CCS Rules and Instructions. Disciplinary actions will be taken against such violators.

Central Government employees are prohibited from using the emails or approaching grievance cells to find a solution to their problems. Trying to use their external influence to solve work-related issues is also a violation of the CCS Rules. Trying to influence the department’s activities through friends and relatives who are employed in higher designations in other departments shall also be deemed as using external influences.

Therefore, the employee has to approach the senior-ranked officer to solve the work-related grievance. Violators of this rule shall be subjected to disciplinary actions. Such warnings have been issued a number of times since 1952.

Nine such orders have been issued since 1952.

It is expected that announcement on DA hike from July 2015 will be made today by central government. Sources said that approval to release an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from 01.07.2015 at the rate of six percent increase over the existing rate of 113 percent will be given today.The announcement of enhancing Dearness Allowance will be made after the Cabinet Meeting today. Since nationwide one day Strike observed today by All the Central Tarde Unions except BMS which is a trade union Wing of BJP, this will be the unexpected development from Government to please the babus.

Chairman's d.o. letter dated 5th August 2015 addressed to all Chief Commissioners (click below)

Chairman's d.o. letter dated 5th August 2015 addressed to all Chief Commissioners 

Bharat bandh hits normal life; Bengal, Kerala among most affected

Bharat bandh hits normal life; Bengal, Kerala among most affected

The initial report received at the Confederation of Central Govt. employees and workers  CHQ indicates the participation of about 8.5 lakh Central Government employees in today’s general Strike action of the Indian working Class. Earlier endorsing the call of the Central trade Unions, the Confederation of CGE and workers had called upon the Central Government employees to take part in the one day strike to compel the Govt. to withdraw the anti-people and anti-worker neo-liberal policies pursued since 1991. The report states that the offices of the Postal, Income Tax Ground Water Board, Survey of India Geological Survey of India, , Indian Bureau of Mines. Offices of the Census Departments, ISRO, Atomic Energy, Medical Store Depots, Film Institute of India, Offices of the AGMARK, various other autonomous scientific and research institutions, etc remained closed for the whole day and the work completely paralysed. The strike also paralysed the functioning of various offices of the Indian Audit and Account Department, Printing and Stationary, Census, CPWD, Civil Accounts, Indian Standards Institute etc. Total civilian employees of various Defence Organisations and Defence Accounts Departments participated in the strike.   The strike in which lakhs of workers participated has cautioned the Government of the consequences of scrapping the various labour welfare legislations intended to please the Corporate houses.

The Central Government employees were particularly unhappy over the denial of the wage revision for the past 5 years, non grant of interim relief and merger of DA, the continued outsourcing and contractorisation of Governmental functions, denial of the Statutory defined benefit pension to the fresh appointees and above all the closure of the negotiating forum- JCM- since 2010. The Finance Minister’s statement in the Parliament while laying the Medium term Expenditure Framework Statement pegging the additional revenue expenses on account of salary, pension etc for the year 2016-17 at just 5% more than 2015-16 was indicative of the nugatory attitude of the Government towards its own employees’ genuine demand for wage revision. It has no doubt acted as a catalyst to the enthusiastic participation of the employees in the Strike action.

The Strike was total in Kerala, Tamilnadu. Maharashtra, Punjab ,Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chattisgrah, MP, Orissa, West Bengal Assam, North Eastern States w and 80 to 90% in other States.

The Confederation secretariat congratulates the employees and their leaders, who undertook intensive Campaign to make the strike such a grand success. The Confederation Secretariat while thanking all its members for their whole hearted participation in the Strike and making it an unprecedented success, places on record the gratitude and appreciation for the yeomen efforts of the various Central Government Pensioners organizations in supporting the strike action.

Ten trade unions with a combined membership of 15 crore workers in public and private sector, including banks and insurance companies, are on a nationwide strike to protest against changes in the labour laws.  

Normal life was affected in various parts of the country, including in West Bengal and Kerala, Goa, Karnataka and Tripura, as 10 central trade unions on Wednesday went on a day-long nationwide strike to protest against changes in labour laws and privatisation of PSUs.

BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and National Front of Indian Trade unions however stayed away from the strike.

West Bengal

In Kolkata, train services on South Eastern railway were normal although Eastern railway officials said suburban services in the Sealdah south section were hit for sometime in the morning due to blockade at some places.

Metro Rail services were operating normally, officials said.

Shops, markets and business establishments in most areas remained closed.

State administration was plying a large fleet of public buses while private buses and taxis were also seen on the streets though their number was less compared to other week days.

State government employees stay at their office on the eve of nation wide strike called by several trade unions, in Kolkata. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI Photo

West Bengal government and opposition Left Front locked horns over the strike call, with the former issuing circulars to employees and making all out efforts to keep life normal and the latter asking people to "tear away circulars".

Airport officials said that flights of Air India and other airlines operated normally at N S C Bose International Airport.

They, however, said passengers faced inconvenience due to inadequate number of taxis at the airport.

Protesters block the railway track in North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal

Delhi

In the National Capital, commuters faced problems as a large number of autos and taxis remained off the roads.

Kerala

In Kerala, public and private bus services, taxis and autorickshaws were off the roads. Only private cars and two wheelers were seen on the roads. Shops, hotels and even small tea stalls were closed in the state.

Autorickshaw drivers clash in Delhi

Tripura

In Tripura, the entrance gates of ONGC facility and the Tripura Jute Mill were closed.

Strike supporters were seen picketing on the roads and CITU members organised small rallies on railway stations while train services were also severely affected.

Goa

In Goa, the streets donned a deserted look during morning hours as private buses and state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd buses remained off the roads.

"Towns of Calangute, Ponda and Bicholim remained totally shut. All shops and transport have remained closed in support of the strike," convenor, Goa Convention of Workers and All Goa Transport Operators Associations, Suhas Naik said.

He said the state government was trying to force employees of KTCL to run buses but the workers refused to bow down.

Taxi service in the state was also affected as vehicles were withdrawn since mid night.

"Taxis from airport and railway stations were withdrawn since last night. Not a single taxi was plying from morning," secretary, North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association, Vinayak Nanoskar said.

Shops remain shut for the day in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 

Karnataka

In Karnataka, government transport workers joined the strike objecting to the proposed motor bill as buses and autorickshaws kept off the roads causing inconvenience to office-goers and those travelling to far-off places.

The strike affecting normal life has been reported from several parts of the state including Dharwad, Raichur, Davangere, Bellary and Hassan.

As per the membership claims filed by the central trade unions, there are over 13 crore members of the government recognised 12 central trade unions. India has a workforce of 50 crore people, of which over 80 per cent is in the unorganised sector.

Karnataka Home Minister K J George has warned against forceful imposition of the strike. City Police Chief N S Megharikh said adequate security arrangements have been made to see that no untoward incident happens.

Passengers have accused private transporters of over charging, using the strike as an opportunity.

Stranded commuters in Khammam, Telangana.

Odihsa

In Odisha, train services were disrupted for sometime at several places as protesters blocked tracks near railway stations like Cuttack,

Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Chhatrapur and Khalikot, East Coast Railway (ECoR).

In the state capital of Bhubaneswar, roads wore a deserted look with agitators staging pickets at several places in a bid to prevent people from proceeding to offices and other destinations. Similar reports were received from places like Puri, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Berhampur and Balasore.

The strike remained by and large peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere, police said adding elaborate security arrangements were made to deal with any eventuality during the strike. In the port town of Paradip, loading and unloading of goods was hit at the port, while work in industrial units like IFFCO and PPL remained unaffected.

Trade union members protest over NDA's proposed changes in labour laws in Kanpur

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh

Several services like public transport were partially affected in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Commuters faced a lot of difficulties, though private buses plied on their route. Bank customers faced inconvenience.

All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said in Gurgaon that as many as five lakh industrial workers have gone on strike there.

He also said that workers did not turn up at Maruti Suzuki plant on Wednesday due to agitation and even Rajasthan Roadways employees are in strike. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter plant in Manesar remained closed.

"The strike has had an impact across the country and even in Delhi. In several areas BMS people also joined the strike. Many local and affiliated unions have also joined in the strike," All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said.

In Delhi, people were seen waiting for hours for autorickshaws in several parts of the city, and public services like metro and Delhi Transport Corporation buses witnessed surge in number of passengers. People headed for offices, schools and colleges on Wednesday morning were impacted.

Taxis refuse to ply in Mumbai

Tamil Nadu     

In Tamil Nadu, Government and private owned transport buses continued their services normally. Attendance in government offices and private establishments were also normal. All government and private hospitals also worked.

Meanwhile, a Puducherry report said normal life was hit due to the strike as shops, hotels and business establishments remained closed in the entire union territory.

Though government owned buses conducted services normally, privately operated inter-state and intra-state buses and auto rickshaws were off the roads. Majority of the schools also remained closed while attendance in government offices was normal.

Trade unions owing allegiance to Left parties, Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and a few other political parties conducted rallies and dharnas as part of the strike.

“Puducherry unit Communist Party of India secretary R Viswanathan, Indian national trade union congress president G Ravichandran, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader V Perumal and all India trade union congress general secretary V S Abishegam were arrested for holding protests. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the union territory following the strike,” police said.

Policemen keep vigil as the government and opposition Left Front locked horns over the strike call.

The government had on Tuesday appealed trade unions call off the agitation in the interest of workers and nation. The unions however decided to go ahead with strike as their talks with a ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last month did not make any headway on their 12-point charter of demands.

All India Democratic Women's Association and Democratic Youth Federation of India members block a railway track in Chennai

Trade unions' 12-point charter of demands includes urgent measures to contain price rise, contain unemployment, strict enforcement of basic labour laws, universal social security cover for all workers and minimum wage of Rs 15,000 per month.

They are also demanding enhanced pension for workers, stoppage of disinvestment in PSUs, stoppage of contractorisation, removal of ceiling on bonus and provident fund, compulsory registration of trade unions within 45 days, no amendment to labour laws unilaterally, stopping of FDI in railways, defence etc.

All India Bank Employees' Association protest in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Tinamool Congress and Communist Party of India-Marxist workers clash in Murshidabad, West Bengal

Banking services are also likely to be affected with bank employees also announcing to observe strike on Wednesday.

Employees of departments which will be participating in the protest include transport, power, education, HUDA, health, irrigation, market committees, universities, he added.