Yearly Update on Pay Parity of Technicians with Lighting Assistants,

 OA 4424/2014


As we are aware, Pay Parity of Technicians with Lighting Assistants from 1983 to 1995 is restored by the Order of Hon’ble Supreme Court on Notional Basis in Pay Scale Rs. 4500-7000 (Pre Revised).

Lighting Assistants have granted the Pay Scale of Rs. 5000-8000 w.e.f 01.01.1996 and the Pay Parity is again disturbed. It is pertinent to mention that the above issue was discussed in ARTEE’s meeting with the CEO,Prasar Bharati on 22.04.2014 and later approved by the Prasar Bharati Board in its 122nd Meeting. As per the Proposal prepared in DG (AIR), there is financial implications of 90 Crores as One time and around 6 Crores as Annual. This proposal was for all Tech/ Sr.Tech and was not only for ARTEE Members. We were optimistic that, Department of Legal Affairs and Department of Expenditure would have given approval for this issue, since it is already established by the apex court that Technicians of AIR & DD have historic Pay Parity with Lighting Assistants of Doordarshan who have parity with Assistant Cameramen of Films Division.

      When we were pursuing the case Organizationally, Some Individuals filed the OA 1861/2014 and it made the issue subjudice. It was mentioned in the proposal also. In this scenario, ARTEE filed OA 4424/2014 for grant of pre revised scale of Rs. 5000- 8000 to Technicians in Pay Parity with Lighting Assistants w.e.f. 01/01/1996 and the Court given a favorable Order. After this Department issued a speaking Order in our case informing that that our case will be considered as per outcome of OA 1861/2014.


      The verdict of OA 1861/2014 was favorable, but the Court granted the scale on Notional Basis only. After the verdict in OA 1861/2014, ARTEE filed MA 2096/2015 for extending the benefit to all similarly placed employees

     The file of OA 1861/2014 filed by some Individuals was sent to the Department of Legal Affairs (DOLA) by Hon’ble Ministry of I & B for their opinion. The Department of Legal Affairs (DOLA) recommended to grant it not only for the applicant of 1861/2014 but also to the applicants of OA 4424/2014 filed by ARTEE for all our Technicians and Sr. Technician Members.

        Accordingly a proposal was being prepared to be sent to the Department of Expenditure, but the applicants of OA 1861/2014 filed a Review Application RA 148/2015 in CAT Delhi for grant of the scale with Arrears. Hence the process of sending the file to the Department of Expenditure was stopped and as per information MIB is waiting for the outcome of this RA.

          Meanwhile, in the last hearing (held on 15.12.2015) of MA 2056/2015 filed by ARTEE in OA 4424/2014, Hon’ble CAT clubbed both the Cases. Next date of hearing is on 22.01.2016.

         Again some people are questioning this clubbing also. We want to make it ample clear that ARTEE Central Office  is for ARTEE Members and not for few Individuals. It is pertinent to mention that the process of implementation is stopped for want of outcome of RA 148/2015.

    Should we wait for Individuals to get the benefit and then start functioning for our Members? It will be like betraying the trust of our Members. How a responsible Association can do like that?

    While some are working for few Individuals in this issue, ARTEE Central Office  is  working for ARTEE Members and we shall continue our work for our members
 

 


Central Office