Section 6 in The Indian Forest Service (Pay) Rules, 2016
6. Exercise of option.
(1)The option shall be exercised in writing in the form (Form of Option) appended to these rules so as to reach the authority mentioned in sub-rule (2) within three months of the date of notification of these rules or where any revision in the existing pay structure is made by any order subsequent to the date of notification of these rules, within three months of the date of such order:Provided that.-(i)in the case of a Member of Service who is, on the date of such notification or, as the case may be, date of such order, out of India on leave or deputation or foreign service or active service, the said option shall be exercised in writing so as to reach the said authority within three months of the date of his taking charge of his post in India; and(ii)where a Member of Service is under suspension on the 1st day of January, 2016, the option may be exercised within three months of the date of his return to his duty if that date is later than the date prescribed in this sub-rule.Provided further that any member of Service may opt to continue to draw pay in the existing pay structure until the date on which he earns his next or any subsequent increment in the existing pay structure or until he vacates his post or ceases to draw pay in that pay structure:Provided also that in cases where a member of the Service has been placed in a higher pay scale between the 1st January, 2016 and the date of notification of these rules on account of promotion or upgradation, the member of Service may opt to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion or upgradation, as the case may be.(2)The option shall be intimated by the Member of Service to the Controlling authority along with an undertaking in the form appended to these rules.(3)If the intimation regarding option is not received by the authority within the time specified in sub-rule(1), the member of service shall be deemed to have elected to be governed by the revised pay structure with effect from the 1st day of January, 2016.(4)The option once exercised shall be final.Note 1. - The members of service whose services were terminated on or after the 1st January, 2016 and who could not exercise the option within the prescribed time limit, on account of discharge on the expiry of the sanctioned posts, resignation, dismissal or discharge on disciplinary grounds, shall be entitled to exercise option under sub-rule (1).Note 2. - The members of service who have died on or after the 1st day of January, 2016 and could not exercise the option within prescribed time limit are deemed to have opted for the revised pay structure on and from the 1st day of January, 2016 or such later date as is most beneficial to their dependents if the revised pay structure is more favorable and in such cases, necessary action for payment of arrears shall be taken by the Head of Office.Note 3. - The members of service who were on earned leave or any other leave on the 1st day of January, 2016 which entitled them to leave salary shall be entitled to exercise option under sub-rule (1).
