PGI Chandigarh in Controversy of Recovery of Bonus from employees, CAT stay on Health Ministry Order

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had directed the institute to desist from paying a bonus for 2018-19 to its employees and to initiate the recovery of the amounts already paid in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. The medical college was further ordered to furnish a compliance report to the ministry.

Chandigarh: Controversy has erupted at the premier Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI Chandigarh) in connection with the recovery order for bonus paid to its employees since 2015.

According to media reports, it all began with the 29th October dated Union Health Ministry’s order to the medical institute asking it to recover non-productivity linked bonuses paid to some 5,000 PGIMER employees since the 4 years.

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Since 2015, around Rs 15 crore has been paid to approximately 5,000 category Group B (non-gazetted), C and D employees as non-productivity linked bonus. Group B includes nursing officers, office superintendents and personal assistants; Group C includes clerical staff on different pay scale levels; and Group D employees are hospital and sanitation attendants, reports HT.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had directed the institute to desist from paying a bonus for 2018-19 to its employees and to initiate the recovery of the amounts already paid in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. The medical college was further ordered to furnish a compliance report to the ministry.

In response to the move, the PGI Employees Union, on November 14, filed a petition in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) seeking revocation of the Ministry’s order.

Via the petition, the employees submitted that the non-gazetted Group B and Group C employees are being paid ad hoc bonus for the past more than 30 years and also fulfil the terms and conditions laid down by the Ministry of Finance for payment of ad hoc bonus to employees of autonomous bodies.

After hearing the submissions made before the concerned bench, the tribunal stayed the order and issued a notice to the PGI Chandigarh and the Union Health Ministry; reports Tribune.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the with over 21 positions still lying vacant, PGI decided to re-advertise for the faculty including Professors, Assistant Professors and Associate Professors for 14 of its department vacancies inviting eligible candidates for interview.

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