Memo 16965 (13-02-1987): Periodical increment — Sanction of Increment to the different categories of employees by Drawing Officers — Instructions — Issued.

[Memo. No. 16965/677/A. & L./5, Fin. & Plg., Dt. 13-2-1987]

Order : —It has come to the notice that different procedure is followed in different departments in regard to sanction of annual increments to the staff. In some of the departments, Section Officer incharge of establishment is signing the increment certificates for release of increments of Asst. Section Officer and Typists and in some departments, Asst. Secretary incharge of establishment is releasing the increments and it appears that each department is following its own procedure.

According to S.R. 13 under T.R. 16 of the A.P.T.C., Vol. I, the increment certificate is to be signed by the authority to which Government have delegated power to withheld Govt. Servants increments. It will be difficult both for the Government servants as well as the disciplinary authorities if release of annual increments were to be assigned to the disciplinary authorities as the release of increments in some cases will have to come to Government.

According to F.R. 24, an annual increment shall ordinarily be drawn as a matter of course, unless it is withheld. Government servants can therefore drawn their annual increment automatically unless it is withheld. So long as there is no order withholding the increment, sanction of increment is on the basis of calculation of the period prescribed as per rules for earning the increment.

In order to decentralize the powers, the matter was discussed at the Secretaries meeting and it was decided to instruct the release of increments to the Drawing Officers in each department of Secretariat, Heads of Department and Heads of offices as this would ensure uniform procedure being followed in all departments. In cases where the Drawing Officer and the Officer who maintain the service records of the employees is different, a certificate of service particulars eligible for earning increment shall be given by the authority who maintain the service registers to the Drawing Officer, release of the increment.

The Drawing Officer in each department is therefore authorised to release and to sign the increment certificate of the Government employees in each Department.