7th Pay Commission for central govt employees announced

New Delhi 25 Sept: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today approved the constitution of the 7th Pay Commission, which is likely to impact at least 85 lakh central government employees and pensioners.

“Its (7th Pay Commission’s) recommendations are likely to be implemented with effect from January 1, 2016,” Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said in a statement.

The setting up of the Commission comes ahead of the Assembly elections in five states this year and the general elections next year.
The government constitutes Pay Commission every 10 years to revise the pay scales of its employees and often these are adopted by states after some modification.
The names of the chairperson and members, as well as the terms of reference, of the Pay Commission will be finalised and announced shortly, the Finance Minister added.

The recommendations of the sixth Pay Commission were implemented from January 1, 2006; fifth from January 1, 1996, and fourth from January 1, 1986.

There are at present around 50 lakh central government employees and 35 lakh pensioners, who stand to benefit from the recommendations from the Pay Commission. NDTV

NISC, THN, TSA, condemn killing

‘Thou shall not kill also applies to those who claim to represent the Naga nation’

DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 20 (MExN): The Naga International Support Centre, the Tangkhul Hoho Nagaland, and the Tangkhul Scholar’s Union today condemned the abduction and killing of Jonathan Kashung, Presidential candidate for the Tangkhul Naga Long.

A press note from the NISC vehemently condemned the “perpetrators and those who ordered them to take the life Jonathan Kashung.” “Who are they to decide on the life of others?” it questioned. Lamenting that murder is committed on a regular basis, the NISC stated “Thou shall not kill also applies to those who claim to represent the Naga nation.”
“Still, if the person has done wrong he should be brought before a public Naga Customary Court to do him justice. In comparison, just like NISC suggested to the Naga organizations representing Naga peoples with regard to India; arrest a high placed Indian leader and charge him with wage war against the Naga Nation. But this is not done against the real enemy of the Nagas who deny them their right to self determination,” it added.

It stated that in a just society no stone will be left unturned to hunt the perpetrators down and bring them to justice. “Then how just is this emerging Naga Society if factions don’t stop at killing their own? And what about Nagas who collaborate with Indian invaders who hold the entire Naga Nation captive?” the NISC questioned.

Terming the killing as a severe case of injustice and “as the family points to the NSCN–IM as the party responsible for and accountable to this murder” the NISC said it is waiting for the NSCN-IM to break silence. “NISC wants the NSCN-IM to come out with a statement of either denying it has had a hand in this execution or explaining on what basis it came to the decision to murder this fellow Naga,” it added. To the leaders of the NSCN (IM), the NISC stated, “when you say ‘Praise the Lord,’ this Lord also put this to you: You shall not kill.”

The Tangkhul Hoho Nagaland (THN) meanwhile said that it was appalled by the incident. A press note said that the THN will always stand against the ‘killing culture’ by any group. It stated that late Jonathan had served the Tangkhuls in various capacities as student leader in his prime days. The THN appealed for all concerned to refrain from violence and use of brute force through gun culture. Instead, it called for the creation of a space for dialogue to resolve differences and misunderstandings.

A separate press note from the Tangkhul Scholars’ Association condemned the incident and stated, “We strongly feel that such heinous act can never justify the allegation against the victim whatsoever. Such barbaric act will not only damage the apex institution Tangkhul Naga Long but would bring more division and misunderstanding in our society.” It stated that the “culture of gun” has already taken its toll of destruction in Tangkhul society. The TSA appealed all responsible organisations and people at large to desist from violence and such inhuman acts. 

Jonathan’s murder : AMCU decries

HNS/Imphal, Sep 23, 2013: Describing it as brutal and inhuman, All Manipur Catholic Union (AMCU) has strongly condemned the killing of Jonathan Kashung, former Vice President of ANSAM and one of the presidential candidates of Tangkhul Naga Long election while allegedly in the custody of NSCN (IM).

In a statement issued by its General Secretary Pritam Ludwig, AMCU said that it firmly believes that all human lives are precious gifts of god and thus, all right thinking and sensible persons/organisations should honour, respect and value human lives as a whole.

But in the case of Jonathan Kashung, the perpetrators have shown no respect for human life and have grossly overlooked the very principle of Natural justice before taking the extreme step of killing him. It is indeed sad to note that even today; the so-called justice is being delivered through the barrel of a gun. The perpetrators could have shown maturity by standing up to the great Chritian virtue of forgiveness and allowing him to amend/correct himself if Jonathan had committed any mistakes, howsoever, grave or big it might have been as no individual is beyond redemption, the statement of AMCU observed.

AMCU also appealed for a proper and thorough investigation to bring about the truth behind the brutal killing of Jonathan Kashung so that justice is delivered to the aggrieved family and those involved in the brutal killing be held responsible for their heinous act.