New Delhi: The Seventh Pay Commission's term was today extended by four months till December 31 to give its recommendations on revising emoluments for nearly 48 lakh central government employees and 55 lakh pensioners.
The Commission, whose recommendations may also have a bearing on the salaries of the state government staff, was given more time by the Union Cabinet just a day before its original 18-month term was coming to an end.
The Commission, headed by Justice A K Mathur, was appointed by the previous UPA government in February 2014, and its recommendations are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2016.
“The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave its approval for the extension of the term of the 7th Central Pay Commission by four months up to December 31, 2015,” an official statement said.
In view of its volume of work and intensive stakeholders' consultations, the Pay Commission had made a request to the government for a four-month extension up to December 31, it added.
The government constitutes the Pay Commission almost every 10 years to revise the pay scale of its employees and often these are adopted by states after some modifications.
As part of the exercise, the Commission holds discussions with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as Defence services.
The other members of the commission are Vivek Rae, a retired IAS officer of 1978 batch, and Rathin Roy, an economist. Meena Agarwal is Secretary of the Commission.
The Sixth Pay Commission was implemented with effect from January 1, 2006, the fifth from January 1, 1996 and the fourth from January 1, 1986.
