17. Rates of subscription.- (1) The amount of subscription shall be fixed by the subscriber himself, subject to the following conditions, namely:- (a) it shall be expressed in whole rupees; (b) it may be any sum, so expressed not less than ten per cent of the emolument and not more than his emoluments. (2) For the purpose of sub-rule (1), the emoluments of a subscriber shall be – (a) in the case of subscriber who was in service of the Authority on the 31st March of the preceding year, the emoluments to which he was entitled on that date: Provided that – (i) if the subscriber was on leave on the said date and elected not to subscribe during such leave or was under suspension on the said date, his emoluments shall be the emoluments to which he was entitled on the first day after his return to duty; (ii) if the subscriber was on deputation out of India on the said date or was on leave on the said date and continues to be on leave and has elected to subscribe during such leave, his emoluments shall be the emoluments to which he would have been entitled had he been on duty in India; (iii) if the subscriber joined the Fund for the first time on a day subsequent to the said date, his emoluments shall be the emoluments to which he was entitled on such subsequent date; (b) in the case of subscriber who was not in Authority’s service on the 31st March of the preceding year, the emoluments to which he was entitled on the first day of his service, or if he joined the Fund for the first time on a date subsequent to the first day of his service, the emoluments to which he was entitled on such subsequent date: Provided that, if the emoluments of the subscriber are of a fluctuating nature, they shall be calculated in such manner as the Authority may direct. (3) The subscriber shall intimate the fixation of the amount of his monthly subscription in each year in the following manner, namely:- (a) if he was on duty on the 31st March of the preceding year, by the deduction which he makes in this behalf from his pay bill for that month; (b) if he was on leave on the 31st March of the preceding year, and elected not to subscribe during such leave, or was under suspension on that date, by the deduction which he makes in this behalf from his first pay bill after his return to duty; (c) if he has entered in to the service of the Authority for the first time during the year, or joins the Fund for the first time, by the deduction which he makes in this behalf, from his pay bill for the month during which he joins the Fund; (d) if he was on leave on the 31st March of the preceding year, and continues to be on leave and has elected to subscribe during such leave, by the deduction which he causes to be made in this behalf from his salary bill for that month. (e) if he was on foreign service on the 31st March of the preceding year, by the amount credited by him into the treasury on account of subscription for the month of April in the current year; (f) if his emoluments are of the nature referred to in the proviso to sub-rule(2), in such manner as the Authority may direct. (4) The amount of subscription so fixed may be - (a) reduced once at any time during the course of the year; (b) enhanced twice during the course of the year; or (c) reduced and enhanced as aforesaid: Provided that when the amount of subscription is so reduced it shall not be less than the minimum amount specified in sub-rule (1): Provided further that if a subscriber is on leave without pay or leave on half pay or half average pay for a part of a calendar month and he has elected not to subscribe during such leave, the amount of subscription payable shall be proportionate to the number of days spent on duty including leave, if any, other than those referred to above. | 