Deduction of House Rent on flat rates without providing equal facilities: Item No. 48/19/SC Standing Committee Meeting

Deduction of House Rent on flat rates without providing equal facilities: Item No. 48/19/SC Standing Committee Meeting

AGENDA DISCUSSED DURING THE STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 26.2.2021 – DECISIONS TAKEN

A. Unresolved Items of the Earlier SCM held on 7.3.2019

Item Nos. and Ministry / Deptt.:  Item No. 48/19/SC M/o Housing and Urban Affairs

Subject: Deduction of House Rent on flat rates without providing equal facilities

Staff Side informed that House Rent is being deducted from Railwaymen and other Central Government Employees on flat rates fixed by the Nodal Ministry. But facilities like underground drainage, provision for flushing from the allottees of General facilities in toilets, supply of water etc., have not been provided equally in all the quarters.

Till such time these facilities are provided, the same amount of House Rent should not be deducted in lieu of these facilities.

Staff Side have specially mentioned that quarters of M/ o Railways are very old and in a very bad condition and yet they are taking charges from employees as per latest norms.

Decision in the Meeting of 7.3.2019:

The representative of M/o Housing & Urban Affairs stated that this item is partially related to their Ministry and the Ministry of Finance as the House Rent Allowance (HRA) Rules are administered by the Ministry of Finance. Further, M/ o Housing & Urban Affairs only notifies the rate of License Fee to be recovered Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) Accommodations are constructed and classified as per the plinth area norms.

Status as on 25.02.2021:

M/o Railways requested the Secretary (Staff Side) to discuss the matter in next Departmental Council meeting in Ministry of Railways.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has informed through their letter dated 29.11.2019 that the representative of this Ministry had already explained that this item is partially related to the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs because the House Rent Allowance (HRA) Rules are administered by Ministry of Finance. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs only notifies the rate of Licence Fee to be recovered from the allottees of General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA).

Hence, this item may be treated as closed and the matter in Departmental Council meeting in Ministry of Railway.

Discussions/Decision on 26.02.2021: It was decided that the Ministry of Railways will hold a meeting with Staff Side in Departmental Council. 

Hence, the item may be treated as closed in so far as agenda for Standing Committee meeting is concerned.