Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Island Civil Service (DANICS) and Delhi, Nicobar and Andaman Island Police Service (DANIPS) officers come under the Union Home Ministry, and their salary can be revised only after the ministry's notification. Home Minister L.K. Advani is understood to have sent a written complaint to the Chief Minister a couple of days ago.

Many officers of these cadre will officiate as returning officers in the forthcoming Delhi elections this year. Chief Secretary Omesh Saigal had ordered the revision of the DANICS and DANIPS entry-grade scale from Rs 2,000-3,500 to Rs 2,200-4,000. In his order dated September 15, Saigal has ordered implementation of the new pay scale with immediate effect and also subjected these scales to approval from the Home Ministry.

The order notes that it is being passed in ``anticipation of the approval of the Government of India'' and it also directs officers who will benefit from the order to take an ``undertaking to refund the extra amount paid in case the Government of India does not eventually accept the recommendations of the Pay Commission....''

Saigal's order came five days after a state cabinet decision to not only revise the pay scales of both DAINICS and DANIPS officers, but also to introduce the higher grade fourth pay-scale (Rs 4,500-Rs 5,700) in the administration.

Saigal states in his order that he is putting his signature only after Lt Governor Vijai Kapoor approved the decision of Sahib Singh's cabinet.

Asked whether this decision was illegal or if he had submitted any `protest' note against it, Saigal said: ``I will not comment. This issue was pending for a long time. I have only implemented what the Lt Governor and the cabinet had approved''.

DANICS and DANIPS officers, however, will start getting enhanced salaries with immediate effect. The finance department of the Delhi government has already received orders to revise their scales from September 15. However, there is a rider that if the Union Government rejects the implementation of these pay scales -- which were recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission -- they have to pay back the ``extra'' money that they will receive with their existing salaries.