RECRUITMENT RULES AMENDED TO CREATE POSTMASTERS' CADRE WITHOUT CONSULTATIONS
NFPE PROTESTED THE UNILATERLISM AND DEMANDED DETAILS OF SCHEME AND DISCUSSION WITH STAFF SIDE
DISCUSSION WITH MEMBER [P] REVEALED SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE CREATION OF POSTMASTERS' CADRE
POSTAL BOARD IS LEARNT TO HAVE COMMENCED ITS DISCUSSIONS ON GDS COMMITTEE AND GOPINATH COMMITTEE PROPOSALS AND LIKELY TO FINALISE ITS PROPOSALS FOR SUBMISSION TO MINISTRY OF FINANCE / DOPT BEFORE GOING TO CABINET.
NFPE URGED DDG [Estt] FOR EARLY ORDER FOR IMPARTING TRAINING TO ALL NON-MATRICULATE GROUP 'D' BEFORE FEBRUARY 2009 TO GRANT HIGHER WAGES – WE WERE ASSURED OF THIS ACTION.
NFPE REQUESTED JS&FA TO CONSIDER EARLY REFIXATION OF WAGES FOR CASUAL LABOURERS, PART TIME CONTINGENT AND PAID SUBSTITUTES, RRR CANDIDATES ETC
DEPARTMENT HAS ACTED QUICKLY ON DOPT ORDERS TO CONSTITUTE DEPARTMENTAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE ON PAY COMMISSION ANOMALIES
DOPT SECRETARY COMMITTEE MEETING TO CONSIDER EXEMPTION OF POSTAL DEPARTMENT FROM SCREENING COMMITTEE DEFERRED DUE TO ILL HEALTH OF HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER – LIKELY TO BE HELD AFTER THE RETURN OF DOPT SECRETARY FROM FOREIGN TRIP
WE HAVE SUBMITTED DETAILED NOTE SEEKING DISCUSSION WITH DDGs LEVEL ON ITEMS OF 'ACTION TAKEN REPORT' SUPPLIED ON 13.01.2009 BY DEPARTMENT
Dear Comrades!
- We come to know two days before about the decision communicated by the Department to all Chief Postmasters General that the Postal Board had cleared a proposal for creation of Postmasters' cadre and the Recruitment Rules have been amended and sent to the DOPT and that the first examination also will be held soon in this year. Since no formal discussion on the creation of Postmasters' cadre was discussed with the Staff side and that no details of the scheme was made known to us, NFPE immediately protested the unilateral action of the Department through a letter to the Secretary [P]. The issue was discussed with the Member [P] today by a delegation of NFPE consisting of Comrades K.Ragavendran [SG NFPE]; Ishwar Singh Dabas [GS P4]; and Giriraj Singh [GS R3]. According to the Member [P], the scheme is that 30% of all supervisory posts would be a separate track on examination and 70% supervisory posts at all levels would be another track on seniority-cum-fitness. Officials at every level from LSG, HSG-II and HSG-I would be requested to select either of the two tracks as one time measure. They will thereafter go up only in their selected track and even the posts in Group B level will be segregated for both tracks separately. Officials in one track cannot cross the other path. There will be separate gradation lists for both tracks. The declining of promotion by seniors and reluctance to move away from their parent divisions is cited as a reason for the department thinking of creating this cadre and promotional route to encourage officials with aptitude to get the promotion through examination. We have stressed that the Staff Side should be supplied the full materials of the proposal and there should be discussion with the Staff Side before implementation. Member [P] agreed that this would be discussed with the staff side. We will continue the follow up for getting all the details of the proposals of the Postal Board and supply them for the consideration of all membership to take appropriate line on this important matter. The letter given to Secretary [P] by name by the federation is reproduced hereunder:
LETTER OF NFPE TO SECRETARY [P] DATED 3.1.2009
PF-32/2009 Dated 3rd February 2009
To
Ms. Radhika Doraiswamy
Secretary
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan
New Delhi – 110001
Sub: Creation of Postmasters' Cadre - Unilateral Decision of Postal Services
Board – reg.
Madam,
This Federation is shocked to come to the knowledge that the Postal Services Board has already cleared a proposal to create Postmasters' Cadre and the Recruitment Rules were also accordingly amended and sent to the DOPT and that the first examination is likely to be held very soon during this year. We are unable to understand the need for such a fast track action on the part of the PSB.
It is astonishing to see that no discussion about such a proposal effecting a sweeping change was brought to the knowledge of the Staff Side for mutual discussion, since such decisions would have far reaching implications on the major cadre in the Department of Posts. The timing of the unilateral decision is more perplexing because the Staff Side is exercised much over the cadre restructuring of all cadres including the cadre of PA/SA. Even when you took a meeting with this Federation and its affiliated Unions / Associations on 13.01.2009, and when the issue of cadre restructuring was a subject matter of discussion, the official side had kept silent about the proposal of holding examination for Postmasters or the creation of Postmasters' cadre. We are totally in dark and absolutely no idea as to what are the implications.
This Federation strongly protests such unilateralism on the part of the Postal Services Board, which lacks transparency and is void of the spirit of joint consultations even on matters of having very serious implication on the interests of staff. Such major decisions on staff matters that were taken by the Postal Board in the past without subjecting it for discussion with the staff side had always caused problems only to the staff and services. This Federation therefore urges upon you to kindly stop from further proceeding with this arbitrary proposal and supply the whole proposal of the Postal Board to the Staff Side and subject the issue to mutual discussions.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
[K.Ragavendran]
Secretary General
2. GDS COMMITTEE: The Postal Services Board is learnt to have commenced the discussions on the GDS Committee recommendations and the proposals of the Gopinath Committee. It seems the proposals of the Postal Board are likely to be sent to the nodal Ministries viz., the Ministry of Finance and the DOP&T. We are still not able to say as to whether there will be any more discussions with the Staff Side on the matter. However we have submitted the proposals for further modifications in the Report to ensure correct Pro-rata calculation of wages, Pension, Fixation benefit, Gratuity, payment of revised Severance Amount to Promotees, liberal Transfers to GDS, deferring establishment related decisions for future discussions etc., besides requesting for acceptance of positive proposals of Gopinath Committee on DA formula, PLB Ceiling, No abolition/relocation of GDS BOs on radial or distance factors, Continuation of retirement age as 65 and some other issues. The letter dated 30th January 2009 sent by the NFPE on this issue was already exhibited in our website.
3. Fixation of higher wages to Group D: Today our delegation met the DDG [Estt] and requested for action for fixing higher wages to Matriculate Group D as well as for imparting training before the end of February 2009. We have also requested that the appropriate higher pay level to TBOP/BCR Group D also should be ensured. We were assured by the DDG [Estt] that the same would be done before the end of February 2009. The letter addressed and handed over to DDG [Estt] is reproduced below:
NFPE LETTER TO DDG [Estt] ON GROUP D HIGHER PAY FIXATION AND TRAINING:
PF-14/2009 Dated 2nd February 2009
To
Shri. A.K.Sharma
Deputy Director General [Estt]
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan
New Delhi – 110001
Sub: Grant of appropriate Grade Pay in PB-1 to Matriculate Group D and
imparting of training for non-matriculate Group D – reg.
Sir,
This Federation draws your kind attention to the discussion the Secretary [P] had held with this Federation on 13.01.2009, wherein it was assured that necessary action would be taken to impart training to all non-matriculate Group 'D' employees before the end of February 2009. It was also mentioned that the matriculate Group D would be ensured upgraded Group 'C' pay in circles that has not been granted so far.
We request that necessary action may kindly be caused to ensure the following action to remove the feeling of deep dissatisfaction amongst the Group D employees:
- All Matriculate Group D employees be ordered with immediate fixation of upgraded Group 'C' scale in PB-1 with Grade Pay 1800/- and their TBOP and BCR level of pay be ordered in Grade Pay 1900/- and Rs.2000/- in PB-1 respectively, since this is not at all done in several circles even after many months of the implementation of 6th CPC pay scales.
- Orders for imparting the training to all non-matriculate Group D and fixation in upgraded Group 'C' scale with appropriate TBOP and BCR level of pay be ensured before February 2009 as assured by the Department on 13.01.2009.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
[K.Ragavendran]
Secretary General
4. Paid Substitues, RRR, Casual etc: Today we discussed with the JS&FA and requested for early decision at the level of JS&FA instead of sending it to Main Finance for taking a decision on the matter of revision of daily wages of Paid Substitutes, RRR Candidates, Casual and Part time contingent, in the background of amending the P&T Manuals Vol.IV to exclude all allowances like HRA etc except the Dearness Allowance from computing the daily wages. The JS&FA agreed to look into the matter and will decide as to whether a decision at her level would be sufficient or not. We hope the matter would be expedited for a decision soon.
5. Departmental Anomaly Committee: The Department has written to both the Federations intimating the decision of the Department of Posts to set up a Departmental Anomaly Committee to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission. The letter received today is reproduced below for the information of the membership:
LETTER FROM DEPARTMENT ON FORMATION OF ANOMALY COMMITTEE:
No.1-16/2008-PCC
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi – 110001
Dated 02.02.2009
To
1. Shri. K.Raghavendran
Secretary General
National Federation of Postal Employees
1st Floor, North Avenue PO Building,
New Delhi – 110001
2. Shri. D.Theagarajan
Secretary General
Federation of National Postal Organisation,
T-24, P&T Atul Grove Road,
New Delhi – 110001
Subject:- Setting up of Departmental Anomaly Committee of Department of Posts – Nomination of representatives from staff side.
Sir,
In accordance with the instructions contained in the OM No.11/2/2008-JCA dated 12.01.2009 of Department of Personnel & Training, New Delhi, appropriate Anomaly Committees should be set up by each Ministry/Department to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission's recommendations.
2. Accordingly, Department of Posts has decided to set up a Departmental Anomaly Committee comprising of representatives from Official Side and Staff Side. There will be 7 members from staff side in the ratio of 5:2 i.e. 5 from NFPE and 2 from FNPO. You are requested to intimate the names of staff side representatives from your Federation with in a fortnight.
3.It is intimated that the Departmental Anomaly Committee shall receive the anomalies through the Secretary of the Staff Side. It is, therefore, requested to intimate the name of the Secretary of the Staff Side along with the names of members.
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
(A.K.Sharma)
Dy.Dir.General (Estt)
6. Screening Committee: The meeting of the DOPT Secretary Committee originally scheduled on 21.01.2009 to consider the issue of exemption of Postal Department from the purview of Screening Committee could not take place due to last minute cancellation of the meeting by the DOPT in the background of ill-health of Honourable Prime Minister. Now we have ascertained that the meeting might take place after fixing a fresh date on the return of the DOPT Secretary from his foreign trip on 9th of February 2009.
7. DDGs level Meetings on ATR: A 44 Pages Action Taken Report [ATR] on all the items of our Sectional Charter of Demands was supplied to us by the Department on 13.01.2009 during the meeting taken by the Secretary [P] with the NFPE and its affiliated Unions / Associations. It was suggested that we can have detailed discussions with respective DDGs after our going through the ATR. Accordingly we have now submitted a detailed Note on those items of the ATR on which we require further discussions or improvement. The letter seeing DDGs level meeting along with the Annexures for respective DDGs is reproduced below for the information of the membership:
NFPE LETTER SEEKING DDGs LEVEL MEETINGS ON ATR:
PF-50(d)/2009 Dated 2nd February 2009
To
The Secretary
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan
New Delhi – 110001
Sub: Discussions at DDGs level on the Action Taken Report of our Sectional
Charter of demands – reg.
Sir,
This Federation is submitting in the enclosures citing certain issues of our Sectional Charter of Demands on which an Action Taken Report was supplied by the Department on 13.01.2009 during the meeting held by the Secretary [P] with the NFPE and its affiliated unions and associations, but no discussions could be held on that day, but on which further discussions are necessary.
We recall to the discussion on 13.01.2009 wherein it was advised by the Secretary [P] that on all such issues we can have DDG level discussions.
We therefore request that separate meetings may kindly be fixed with the concerned DDGs for further discussions and the date of such meeting may kindly be intimated to the Federation and all affiliated Unions / Associations at the earliest convenience of the DDGs.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
[K.Ragavendran]
Secretary General
Encl:
- Annexure 1 – DDG [Estt]
- Annexure 2 – DDG [P]
- Annexure 3 – DDG [PAF]
- Annexure 4 – Sr.DDG – CGM [MB]
- Annexure 5 – DDG [Training]
- Annexure 6 – DDG [Estates]
ANNEXURE – 1.
DDG [Establishment]
| Sl.No & Place | Particulars of Item | Staff Side submission |
| Item No. 2 of ATR | Re-fix the wages of all Paid substitutes – RRR Candidates – Part Time / Contingent w.e.f. 1.1.2006 on the basis of 6th CPC Revised Pay Scales | i) Omission of allowances including HRA etc in computing the wages will constitute violation of Honourable Madras High Court Judgment. Therefore the Staff Side may be supplied with the amended version of Main Finance Orders in this matter.
(ii) Staff Side may be intimated as to whether the issue has already been referred to DOP&T to enable us to interact with the DOPT through JCM NC Standing Committee Members. |
| Item No. 9 of ATR | Trade Union Victimisation and irrational application of Contributory negligence orders. | (i) Rule 37 transfer from Circle to Circle or inter-division is being resorted to for punishing union office bearers in Circles like Bihar, U.P and Karnataka. Invoking the provisions of Rule 37 in lieu of disciplinary proceedings under relevant statutory rules is unjustified. The specific cases of such Rule 37 transfers ordered by DAP Patna, SPOs Bullandsahar [U.P] and SSPOs Mangalore [Karnataka] may kindly be looked into for reversing the orders.
(ii) Before ordering for Contributory negligence recoveries, all steps shall be taken for bringing the culprit to book and to freeze the assets of the culprit quickly to avoid the culprit siphoning off the misappropriated money. Invariably this is not being done by the investigating officers but concentrating only on fixing contributory negligence on officials including DAP who are working under heavy shortage.
The Directorate guidelines issued vide letter No. 6/8/59-Disc dt. 9.7.1959, 25/49/60-Disc dt.30.11.60 and 15-9/74-1NV dt. 10.2.75, and subsequent orders have been violated and the officials have been proceeded under contributory negligence factor for flimsy reasons and awarded with huge recoveries.
The provisions contained in Rule,106,107, 108 & 111 of Postal Volume III and the provision of honest errors can be condoned contained in Rule 204 A (1) vol II and the provision of Rule 58, Appendix 4 of F.H.B. volume I in dealing of recovery have been totally ignored and sidelined.
The main intention of the Government while deciding the degree of an officer's pecuniary liability, it will be necessary to look not only to the circumstances of the case but also to the financial circumstances of the officer, since it should be recognized that the tendency should not be such as to impair his future efficiency violated has been totally deviated and violated in almost all the cases. There are more than twelve references like this, we made to the Department.
Suitable & proper guidelines is required to arrest the menace of fixing responsibilities on innocent officials under one pretext or the other.
|
| Item No. 13 of ATR | Higher Pay Scale to Head Mail Peons on par with Postmen / Mailguard | By a decision of the P&T Departmental Council JCM in 1978, the P&T Department upgraded the scale of Head Mail Peons on par with Postmen/ Mailguards. The subsequent upgradation of pay scales by 5th and 6th pay commissions by omission did not consider this cadre at all. A decision to upgrade the scales of a cadre on par with another cadre taken by the Government shall be carried forward in subsequent pay revisions also. This is not done. This cadre which is very small in number shall be upgraded at least now. |
| Item No. 14 of ATR | Notional Fixation for Artisan Grade I from 1.1.1996 on par with Railways / Defense. | This common cadre of work shop was given the scale of 4500-7000 in both Railways and Defense w.e.f. 1.1.1996 after the 5th CPC. Only in MMS the scale of 4000-6000 was given to both Artisan Grade I and Grade II due to the amalgamation of 1200-1800 and 1320-2040 scales of pay by 5th CPC. This has to be rectified at least by grant of higher scale notionally w.e.f. 1.1.1996 because a common cadre in Department of Posts cannot be fixed in a different scale of pay in comparison to other departments.
|
| Item No. 12 of Annexure .II – Postal JCA Sectional Charter dated 15.02.2008
| Allot 19% Group B vacancies for General line and permit all Group C officials in Postal, RMS, Admn and Postal A/Cs with minimum 20 years of service to appear the exam by dispensing with present reservation of posts to RMS & Admn staff.
| ATR of Department did not respond to this issue. The NFPE had submitted its proposal as far back as in February 2008 referring the pending item in the Postal Departmental Council JCM and communicating the opinions of the internal staff side discussions.
In 1993, the staff side was asked to surrender 1/3rd of IPO vacancies for direct recruitment to facilitate higher scales of pay to IPO/ASPOs and during the course of discussions it was indicated that in lieu of this the share of General Line in Group B might be improved. Though the share of PA/SA cadre in IPO was reduced by 1/3rd as stated above, the re-apportionment of Group B did not take place.
a) Our proposal is that 62% of Group B vacancies on seniority-cum-fitness and 19% on merit exam basis amongst the IPO line;
b) Remaining 19% of Group B should be for General Line [Postal, RMS, Admn and Postal A/Cs] on competitive examination basis for the officials with 20 years of service. Since it is a tough competitive examination there need not be any restriction that only from LSG and above would be permitted. This condition require to be reconsidered for liberalisation for the following reasons also.
After The fifth commission, the department, unmindful of the amendment of the recruitment rules by due notification with the approval of nodal ministries, has plunged into action to the controversial decision in permitting only those officials holding standard LSG post on regular basis, blocking out all TBOP /BCR officials. Earlier bunch of TBOP, BCR officials passed the Group B examination. As such a sudden switch over to standard LSG criteria has caused a concern.
It is therefore requested to permit all the officials having 20 years of clerical service irrespective of the fact whether they are LSG or TBOP to write the Group B exam.
Justification for including Postal A/Cs in the Group B examination by increasing the percentage to 19% is that the JAO examination meant for Accounts wing had been opened to all officials in the DOP. At present, from JAO to JTS/STS cadres more than 70% posts are enjoyed by DOP officials belonging to other wings (including IPOs/ASPs), than Postal Account and thus the promotional avenue/opportunity of PAO officials has considerably shrunk. Under these circumstances, keeping the PSS Group B examination limited to Postal Assistants and IPOs is highly unjustified and must be opened to all officials of DOP; also reallocation and redistribution of PSS Group B posts to IPOs/ASPs on one hand and to others from DOP on the other hand must be done so that brighter elements shall have better opportunity for the the well being of the Department also.
|
| Item No. 15 of Annexure II – 15.02.2008 Postal JCA Charter of Demands | Regularisation of RTP Services and ending the discrimination between APS RTP and other RTPs. | (i) As per the Directorate letter dated 19.4.96, the implementation of the Ernakulam CAT judgment granting the past RTP service as regular service for all purposes was restricted only to the applicants of the O.A. This is against to the decisions of the various judicial pronouncements that the benefits should be extended to the similarly situated persons. (ii) During 1970 to 1974, even the pre training services of certain officials engaged as postal clerk were regularized. The RTPs were trained and utilized full time in the clerical posts to manage all the works of the post office. (iii)The CAT, Chennai held that the services rendered by the ex RTPs at APS shall be counted as qualifying services for all purposes. The Chennai High Court, on appeal by the department has upheld the decision of the CAT in WP no 37117 to 37119 of 2002 and directed the department to extend the benefits. Based on this the service redered by RTP was regularized for several APS RTPs. (iv)In another case, the Apex court under Civil Appeal No.5739 of2005 filed by Sri M. Mathivanan, Postal Asst, Cuddalore division upheld the decision of extending the benefits and dismissed the appeal filed by the department with costs. Several APS RTPS were regularized based on this also. (v) The Directorate has directed the Circle Heads to collect, compile and furnish details of ex-RTPs deputed to APS to consider for extending the benefits to all similarly situated persons. There after there is no action in this regard. (vi) The RTPs working in APS could thus get their period of RTP Service regularised. The same yardstick is denied to those RTPS who were employed in Post offices and RMS all over India. This causes a grave discrimination between the RTPs employed in one place to another. The Staff side requesst for ending this discrimination by ordering regularisation of RTP service for all. This demand is pending over decades and there should not be any discrimination between two equals. It is requested to consider the case and cause appropriate orders for counting the past services of the RTP for all benefits. |
| Item No. 17 of Annexure II - Postal JCA Charter of demands dated 15.02.2008. | Removing the cap of 60 days in the PLB Formula | [i] The recommendation of 6th CPC has not yet been accepted by the Government with regard to performance related etc. Therefore linking the old issue with the concept of 'Performance Related' is not correct. [ii] However if the existing PLB Formula do not contain any CAP then there cannot be any restriction of 60 days. When the Railways can exceed 60 days under their PLB and the Postal also could get above 60 days PLB in the past, why not it continued for subsequent years. If the MOF directed a new formula, then it should have been computed long back and keeping the old formula and not granting according to that formula is breach of contract.
[iii] Revision of PLB was directed by MOF long back but no new formula could be so far finalised. Staff Side request that the same should be done at least now, with the agreement of Staff Side on the new formula, as PLB was a product of Postal Departmental Council JCM. |
| Item No. 18 of Annexure II – Postal JCA Charter of demands dated 15.02.2008 | Fixing time factor for all work to which no norms available. | There are many works for which no norms have been finalised for long time. The Work Study Unit is cited to have taken this task but even after years we are not able to find any time factor coming up. More over staff side should be supplied a copy of intended norms finalised by the WSU before a final decision is taken on the time factor. This is essential because the time factor experimentally circulated with regard to Treasury, GPOs and HPOs, where computerised operations have been going on, are containing unscientific norms in some cases. Similar is the case with arbitrary fixation of norms for CRC etc. |
| Item 7 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Withdraw the orders fixing responsibility on D.D.Os/ APM Accounts for the over payment of Pay and Allowances to Postman on account of Fixation under R. P. Rules. | On 13.1.09 The Secretary (P) assured to reconsider the issue and ensure no recovery on part of APM Accounts & Accountants. The Secretary observed as unfortunate in the case of Rule 14 initiated charges on the date of superannuation of Sri. V. V. Nargida, APM, Accounts Pune city as he did not pay Rs.727671.61 towards contributory factor for excess drawal to postmen on implementation of 5th CPC orders. It is requested to review the same and render justice. |
| Item 8 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Counting of Special Allowance for pay fixation case of PO & RMS Accountants. | The Special Allowance granted to JAO qualified official has been taken for pay fixation benefits on ACP promotion similar application may be extended to PO & RMS qualified Accountants also. |
| Item 10 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Withdraw the condition in tenure posting of Single & Double Handed offices and restriction in posting of SPM due to minor penalties/CR entries which are in violation of provisions of statutory rules of volume IV. | The condition that the SPM working in Single / Double handed offices should not be posted back to the same office during their entire service is against to the statutory rules of Postal manual Volume IV. This has caused serious dislocations in the hill stations and also in the divisions where larger number of singled handed offices available The unwarranted suspicion on all employees will demoralize and demotivate them. The orders may be rescinded. Similarly, the Directorate vide its letter dt. 6.11.06 restricted the officials to be posted as SPM through out their carrier if they are awarded with any one of the minor or major punishments or adverse entries in C. R. This is against to the natural justice and there is every chance of misusing this. After the lapse of punishment, one can write even Group B exam and as such the restriction of posting of SPM is deplorable. This may please be withdrawn. |
| Item 11 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Allowing all TBOP officials to appear for Group B exam to be held in Feb'08 as per original orders and various judicial pronouncements. The cut off date should be extended for the current exam as 01.01.2008. The exam should be conducted after completing the process of notional promotions to LSG In all circles. | After The fifth Pay commission, the department, unmindful of the amendment of the recruitment rules by due notification with the approval of nodal ministries, has plunged into action to the controversial decision in permitting only those officials holding standard LSG post on regular basis, blocking out all TBOP /BCR officials. Earlier bunch of TBOP, BCR officials passed the Group B examination. As such a sudden switch over to standard LSG criteria has caused a concern. It is requested to permit all the officials having 20 years of clerical service irrespective of the fact whether they are LSG or TBOP to write the Group B exam. The physically handicapped officials are now not allowed to write IPO exam even though they could perform the duties either by assistance or by own. Atleast some percentage may be reserved for the prosperous officials who are physically challenged in the I.P.O examination. |
| Item 13 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Revision of FSC to Post offices & Enhancement of honorarium for RD PMC work in Sub offices, Department Exam invigilation work etc. | (i) This is pending over decade. A specific target date may be fixed to finalise the revision. (ii) The revision of honorarium for RD PMC work in SOs, Departmental Exam invigilation work etc – pending for a long. (Justification are furnished in our letter dt. 3.1.09 |
| Item 14 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Implement the assurance made on 19.04.2007 in fixing incentive to RPLI, IMT, Pass Port applications, NRGEIS, other business activities etc., grant of OTA to operative staff, Engagement of SDPA to manage the shortage etc. Dispensation of Confirmation Exam as agreed upon by amending the PA/SA Recruitment Rules | No details were furnished in the ATR report, the following required immediate consideration. During discussions on 19.4.2007 with the Secretary, it was stated that an internal committee will be appointed to process and decide the quantum of honorarium/ incentive for the new business activities like RPLI, Western Union Money transfer, Processing of Pass port applications, Verification of addresses for cell phones, NRGEIS etc and uniform application of honorarium in all circles for common works. This is yet to be finalized. 2. It was assured to grant OTA to postal operative employees to manage the excess work due to absenteeism and shortage. No orders have been issued so far. 3. It was assured to dispense the confirmation examination and stated it will be included in the proposed recruitment rules for Postal Assistants. 4. Despite clear directions from Directorate to grant incentive to the officials up to the extent of 25% from the additional revenue earned from the business vide letter no 16-16/2007-08/BD &MD/P II dt 13,12.07, no incentive has been fixed for various items of work in many circle. No incentive is paid for NRGEIS work in Rajasthan, Assam, Chattisgarh etc. For acceptance of electricity bills also no incentive is paid in many circles. 5. The compensation for the work done by the staff in connection with enrolment of new voters and selection of voters list has not yet been paid for the work performed during 2006 due to non receipt of amount from the Election commission. 6. Despite clear orders to grant MPCM allowance to the Pas deployed at MPCM counter vide letter no 43-3/93 PMR (Pt II) dated 17,1.94 and subsequent clarifications dated 21.10.97, the MPCM allowance has not been paid many circles like Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand etc. The eligible S.B Allowance for the second posting in the S.B.branch of the qualified officials has not been paid in many divisions like Medak which was brought to your notice with several reminders. |
| Item 15 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Creation of Systems Manager/Administrators Posts & Marketing Executives. Grant of SPL pay and grant of Road mileage Allowance without restrictions. Trainers Allowance for imparting training be paid. Norms be fixed for Systems Administrators uniformly to all Circles; providing mobile phones and Fix duties & responsibilities of their work | While thanking the decision to make separate establishment of systems Administrators and absorb all the existing personnels, and grant of Road mileage Allowance, the following issues may also be sorted out at the earliest. (i) Uniform guidelines on the roles and responsibilities of the Systems Administrators should be issued. (ii) Standard norms should be fixed taking into consideration of Geographical spread out of the division, the number of computerized HOs and SOs and the status of the sub offices concerned. (iii) Since they have to attend any fault then and there throughout the division, they should be granted with Road Mileage allowance without any ceiling. (iv) Mobile phones may be supplied with talk value of Rs.500 per month. (v) Working hours has to be fixed. At least they may be treated as outdoor staff like PRI (P) without insisting attendance by submitting weekly diaries. (vi) For excess work and retention beyond working hours, they should be compensated either in the shape of overtime or incentive. (vii) A panel should be maintained at divisional level and they should be posted as SAs. They should not be reverted back as postal Asst without sound reasons. (viii) Trainers allowance may e granted since they are imparting training on computer to all officials. (ix) A kit bag containing Nut drive set, CD bag, Pen drive, handy vacuum cleaner etc maybe provided. (x) Priority may be extended while granting motor cycle advance treating them as emergent outdoor staff. The following may also be considered. (i) The possession of SQL password may be conferred with the Head of the office after imparting training to overcome the problem of immediate solution of technical problems as this is now vested with the divisional head. (ii) The software must be licensed. In many cases, the higher ups call for reports/ slides prepared through Microsoft office without supplying it ever. This will encourage the software privacy. (iii) The supply of stationeries and accessories like printing papers, ribbon or cartridge etc should be of good quality. (iv) The AMC service has become source of constant trouble. At the time of acceptance of AMC, the experience, establishment and reputation of the company should be given some weight age as the rate quoted. Pecuniary penalties should be awarded to the AMC if they do not abide by the downtime or other clauses of the Govt. The usage, maintenance, operation and replacement of UPS (especially UPS batteries) and departmental Generators should be planned and clear guidelines should be issued. |
| Item 17 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Spot payment of incentive to SPM/BPM for procuring RPLI business, Grant of incentive for schedule work/verification of commission bills in accounts branch. Grant of incentive to SPMs for processing RPLI Proposals. Grant incentive instead of Honorarium for RPLI work in Divisional Offices without RPLI ceiling limit. | There was no mention in the ATR about the grant of incentive to SPMs for processing RPLI proposals and the Grant of incentive instead of Honorarium for RPLI work in divisional office with ceiling limit. |
| Item 18 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Drawal of SB Allowances to all working in SB branches on computers. | No information is furnished in the ATR. With the introduction of total computerization and SB LAN in post offices, any official who had under gone LAN training is ordered to work in SB branch. There is every justification to grant this allowance to the SPMs working in single/double handed offices. It is requested to grant SB Allowance to all posts in SB branch without condition of passing the examination. |
| Item 19 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | Refund of Fee for appearing AMFI (Association of Mutual Fund industry) Exam to all candidates. | The Circles may be given a time limit and the decision may be taken in a time frame. |
| Item 20 of Annexure – I Postal Group 'C' Issues | JAO Qualified be regularized in DOT by agreeing to the proposal for common cadre. | There is a long wait listed candidates possessed the JAO qualification and await for regular absorption over decades. The vacancies in the DOT may be offered to them at least by agreeing for a common cadre. It is our appeal that should be absorbed at once either in the postal or in the Telecom. This may pl be considered. |
| Item No. 2 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | Stop curtailment of deliveries and introduction of single delivery system. | Delivery curtailment and single beat system in metros, major cities and industrial towns is working against the interest of service and staff. Long beats without any scientific distance norms and entrustment of hundreds of speed post articles without proper norms cause deficiency in delivery performance. Expansion areas in Delhi, Gurgaon, Panipat, Noida and all over India, where Mal Culture is increasing there is no proper distance limit assessed but mechanically single beats introduced. Member [D] assured on 13.01.2009 that no mechanical single beat or double beat in all places will be followed. This has to be concretised through proper norms. |
| Item No. 3 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | Stop reducing the clearance of letter boxes. | Reduction of number of clearance of letter boxes is bound to cause delay in clearance and transmission of letters. When the |
| Item No. 4 and 5 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | (1)Revision of norms for Postmen staff (2) Including work load of speed post with proper work norms | Work Study Unit should be given a time frame for finalising the adhoc norms and before operationalising the same, the Staff Side should be given a copy of the same for our analysis and opinion. Work Study Unit also to be asked to divise proper norms for distance factor of beats. There appears to be a very long consumption of time by the Work Study Unit. |
| Item No. 6 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | Filling up of large number of vacancies of Postmen and Group D. | ATR states that Group D posts do not fall under the purview of Screening Committee. If so, why the posts of Group D also not filled up in all circles. Action may be initiated to fill up vacant Group D posts immediately.
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| Item No. 8 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | Postmen Double duty allowance to be enhanced. | The Postman Double duty allowance may kindly not to be linked with OTA revision, since the Postmen Double duty allowance is not paid on hourly basis like Group D or PA/SA cadre. This is a consolidated allowance for the combination of entire duties of another postman for the whole day. Therefore the Department should take up this issue delinking with the OTA . |
| Item No. 14 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | Arbitrary change of designation of test category Group D posts. | The change of nomenclature of test category Group D as Peon and Mail Peon is arbitrary and do not reflect the actual work profile of these test category of Group D. Peons are synonym to those who work in administrative offices for carrying files from one section to another. More over now the Group D is upgraded into Group C after the VI CPC. Therefore calling as Peons and Mail Peons should be dispensed with. Their nomenclature should be suitable changed. |
| Item No. 15 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | ACP Scheme to wiremen and electrical staff. | No reply was given in the Action Taken Report by the Department. The Staff Side contention is that there is no justification whatsoever to leave out the categories of wiremen and electrical staff from the purview of ACP, since they are not covered under any other scheme of financial upgradation. As in the case of non-test category Group D for whom the TBOP/BCR was not applicable, the Department extended the scheme of ACP earlier. Similarly these categories also should be covered under ACP Scheme and non-grant of ACP is an anomaly that has to be settled. |
| Item No. 16 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | Enhance financial powers of SPOs & SSPOs to sanction NHA to Mail Overseers. | No reply was offered in the ATR by the Department. We request that the financial powers on this count fixed is very low and even bills beyond 500/- are to go above for getting sanctioned, causing much delay. This needs to be revised. |
| Item No. 18 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | Unscientific Time factor for Stamp vendors. | The time factor that has been revised is unilateral and the proposal of the work study unit was not made available to us even to analyse and comment. The norms are so tight in the background of usage of higher denomination currency is under circulation and more time is required to return balance etc. even though there is an argument advanced by the Department that the earlier norms were framed 20 years back. We request for reconsideration of the same to be practical and scientific. |
| Item No. 19 of Annexure – II – Postmen & Group D issues | No transfer of delivery work to RMS | The staff side is amused to see that some times arguments are advanced to reduce the delivery staff that the mails have gone down. Some other time it is argued differently that buld addressees are delivered directly by RMS to reduce the work pressure on Postmen. If the former is true, then no need to take away the delivery work from postmen. If the latter argument is true, then there should not be any reduction of beats and postmen strength. We propose that delivery work should be done only by post office and mail conveyance by RMS. |
| Item No.1 Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Implementation of the Arbitration award on OTA | The Staff Side is aware of the realities that OTA Arbitration Award is not accepted by Government to enhance it. Similarly the non-acceptance of enhancing the eligibility ceiling by DOPT also is before us. The Staff Side is also informed through the ATR that thre are orders for austerity measuers and that the pay commission has recommended abolition of OTA. The Staff Side has only the two following submissions to make:
i) Those who are not eligible for drawal of OTA are not to be brought on OT duty by the Administration and if any officials were ordered to perform OT duty undermining the rules, then the officials who performed OT duty should not be expected to make the sacrifice of foregoing the amount due to them; and
ii) In future unwilling officials should not be forced to perform OT duty in the name of Rules that OT duty once ordered cannot be refused. |
| Item No.2 Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Sanction of Driver posts for long distance schedules. | The Staff Side urges to reconsider the policy of outsourcing the work of drivers totally. Since we have entered the logistics business and it is going to be a growing business, we should have our own logistics fleet of vehicles and drivers in those long distance schedules. Outsourcing and rentals of vehicles might turn out to be more costly than having our own fleet in the final analysis. Employment of casual drivers as a permanent measure should be dispensed with and at least drivers posts should be sanctioned for long distance schedules. |
| Item No.7 Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Norms for CRCs, EPP, Logistics and SPCCs to be scientific basis. Withdraw CRC norms fixed arbitrarily as 900. | The Staff Side would like to see that the Department has some appreciation to the health considerations of staff who work in front of electronic monitors for doing the work. Simply because the system can work faster than humans, the norms cannot be unduly harsh impacting the health. There has to be some minor-breaks to avoid sitting continuously in front of the systems. Therefore the CRC norms for 900 is arbitrary and needs revision.
Similarly all other items of work, that do not have any norms are only adding to the unscientific workload of officials. Early finalisation of norms is essential. Here again while the norms for all such work like EPP, logistics, Speed Post etc are to be determined in consultation with the Staff Side after the work study unit has done its work. |
| Item No.12 Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Payment of OSA and other benefits to MMS drivers on par with RMS staff, when they are engaged in long distance schedules and allow casual drivers temporarily. | Since the long distance schedules are new introductions for drivers, the payment of OSA on par with other RMS staff should be introduced to them also to compensate the tediousness of long driving and out station halt. |
| Item No.13 Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Grant of four more chances in appearing LGO examinations. | The justification for the Staff Side request is that the existing senior staff should have one or two more go under the liberalised syllabus. This may be considered as a morale booster to the LGO staff, who is also going to work under new technology in future and their career progression efforts should not be curtailed so tightly. After all the department is not going to spend much for allowing some more chances to sit for the examination. |
| Item No.15 of Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Filling up of all posts of Group D from the GDS / TS @ 25% & 75& without any abolition. | The ATR is blank on this issue. The percentage of abolition of posts is maximum in Group D posts due to the fact that Group D is fully considered as direct recruitment vacancies. But the ATR states elsewhere that Screening Committee is not applicable to Group D posts. Still we find that there are no filling up of these vacancies. There are Court judgments to fill up all Group D posts without treating the absorption from GDS as direct recruitment, as the same is done by DPCs. We request that all posts of Group D should be filled up without any abolition. In many divisions, the continued non-absorption is making the GDS go over-aged and become ineligible for absorption.
Secondly, it is observed, that the absorption from TS is hardly resorted to and 25% reservation in Group D is invariably not done in many divisions. This is resulting in total stagnation of TS. |
| Item No. 4 of Annexure – V – Postal Accounts staff issues. | Fill up all vacancies including backlog vacancies in all cadres and provide due share to PAO in ADR Plan 2005 & 2006 | In ADR plan-2005 not even a single post was allotted to PAO at all India level. At present, most of the Circle PAOs are having majority of the man power in the age group of fifty plus. Thus, it is becoming more and more essential to get younger generation to these offices.
Further, the new PAOs like Jammu, Sunder Nagar, Guwahati and Shillong are having only skeleton staff and the allocated staff strength facing the danger of abolition. For these new offices abolition will be seirous matter, hence protective measures must be adopted.
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| Item No. 9 of Annexure – V – Postal Accounts staff issues. | Ensure speedy caste verification of SC/ST at Govt. level and promote officials from due date. | Caste verification in r/o Group C cadres like JA & SA is not forth coming and officials are put to unnecessary hardships in this respect.
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ANNEXURE - 2
DDG [P]
| Sl.No & Place | Particulars of Item | Staff Side submission |
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| Item No. 1 (i) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Recast the notional promotions since1982/1983 onwards and fill up all vacant posts of LSG/HSG II & HSG-I. | Apart from Bihar, Rajasthan, NE, Jharkhand, the Circles like Madhya Pradesh & J K Circles, the process of notional promotions has not been exercised yet. Since the notional promotion is the basis for higher promotion like HSG II & HSG I, the delay is deplorable. Specific target date should be fixed for finalizing the issues to all circles. |
| 1 (ii) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Fill up 2/3rd unfilled LSG vacancies notionally from 7.2.02 to 18.05.2006. | If the unfilled up vacancies under 2/3rd vacancies from 4.1.02 to 18.5.06 were filled up notionally instead of prospective effect in 2007/08, there may be more number officials becoming eligible for HSG II promotion. This may please be considered. |
| 1 (iii) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Relax minimum-qualifying service for HSG II promotion | (i) It was assured during the talks held on 19.4.07 to relax minimum qualifying service for HSG II promotion in order to fill up the HSG II posts in the absence of eligible LSG officials. (ii) Further DOPT vide its OM No, 28036/01/2007-Estt (D) dt 14.11.08 delegated the power of relaxation to concerned Ministries/Department in respect of Group C & D posts. Hence this may please be considered. (iii) Based on the same order cited in Para supra, all the vacant HSG I posts may also be filled up on ad hoc basis by relaxing the conditions further. |
| 1 (iv) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Irregular application of bench mark of current period for notional promotions. | The instructions of DOPT dt. 16.6.2000, that only CRS for the year immediately preceding the years of vacancy/Panel should be considered if DPC are held later then the schedule prescribed in model calendar" has not been taken note in many circles and current bench marks were applied wrongly for the notional promotions. A clarificatory orders may be issued to rectify the mistakes. |
| 1 (v) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Date of LSG Promotion be calculated from the date of issue of orders and not from the date of joining. | The DOP&T guidelines as stated in ATR has not been followed in many circles. In Tamilnadu, the seniority in the LSG promotions were given effect from the date of joining the post. Suitable instructions may be issued to all circles. |
| 1 (vi) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Grant of modification of LSG as one time measure for those aggrieved due to dearth of LSG vacancies/Rule 38 transfers. | (i) Since the LSG notional promotion was granted on notional basis, in some divisions due to more number of LSG posts in existence, the juniors got their LSG promotions. In other divisions due to dearth of LSG Posts, the seniors are deprived of notional promotion (ii) Similarly, Rule 38 transferees could not get their LSG notional promotion due to application of divisional Gradation list. In order to mitigate the genuine grievances of the above said officials in promotional aspects, modification of LSG by granting notional promotion may be explored since the anomaly is prevailing due to various changes made in the procedure of LSG/HSG II recruitment rules. |
| 1 (Vii) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Drawal of pay to senior BCR officials in HSG I posts as the pay scales of HSG II & BCR is one and the same & settlement of earlier officiating cases of Tamilnadu, West Bengal & other Circles as one time measure. | (i) The provision of officiating in higher post and grant of higher pay for the officiating period beyond 14 days is very much in existence in the Department of posts. This was not termed as adhoc promotion. The arrangements were being made for short term arrangements. (ii) Further pay scale of HSG II & BCR is one and the same. BCR officials are holding the pay scale equal to HSG II and when they have been ordered to officiate in HSG I, they are entitled for officiating pay. (iii) In some circles, regular HSG II officials have been ordered to work in HSG I posts without any extra remuneration. (iv) In some circles like Tamilnadu, West Bengal, some senior officials have been ordered to officiate in HSG I posts of more than one year during 2002 to 2005 in the absence of clear cut clarifications and circle heads has already referred the cases to Directorate to regularize the arrangements beyond one year as one time measure which is pending over two years. The due officiating pay had neither drawn nor taken for retirement benefits. (v) 1622 HSG I posts have been upgraded only on matching schemes by axing 680 PA posts and as such the denial of due benefits/higher pay is arbitrary, unjust and against to the canon of natural justice. |
| 1 (viii) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Fill up all the vacancies by relaxing the minimum qualified service for HSG-II and HSG-I promotion. | Since the DOPT vide its OM dt. 14.11.08 has delegated the power of ad hoc appointment up to the period of three years to the concerned department, all the posts may be filled up by relaxing the conditions. |
| 1 (ix) of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Anomaly in the preparation of PA Gradation list. Date of confirmation should not be taken now and Date of appointment be taken for construing seniority. Fixing seniority based on the date of confirmation is unconstitutional and discriminatory. | In many divisions, the confirmation was not exercised for many years after the introduction of TBOP, and only Divisional Gradation list was maintained. When a new Circle gradation list is now prepared, it should be on the basis of present rulings and since the confirmation was delinked from seniority, this should not be insisted. It is requested to reconsider the issue once again based on the Apex court judgment and the recent pronouncement of the CAT, Bangalore. |
| 2 of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Withdraw the draconian orders contained in the Dte letter No. 22-5/95- PE.I dated 21.05.07 denying BCR benefits to those declining LSG promotion. Several officials were arbitrarily, unjustified denied the due BCR Promotions | (i) The issue was taken by this union too many times. We record our concern that in the ATR, it was mentioned that the representation of other unions alone was considered and modified to that extent. (ii) TBOP& BCR are not termed as ACP promotions and the guidelines on ACP should not be applied in this case. (iii) TBOP, BCR & regular promotions are two distinct matters and TBOP/BCR has implemented on matching savings. It is requested to review and withdraw the orders |
| 3 of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Filling up the APM Accounts LSG, HSG-II posts as per 1976 LSG Accountants Recruitment Rules. | A time schedule should be made to sort out the long pending issue. This should not be protracted further. The modalities in resolving the issue may please be briefed. |
| 4 of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Filling up Residual vacancies since 1999-2000 onwards without any further delay; and return the deputationists from CO/RO to manage the acute shortage of staff in divisions. | (i) A kind attention to invited to the discussions had on 13.1.09. Two instructions of the Directorate were handed over. Unless suitable clarifications is issued both by the staff & establishment divisions, the issue will not be sorted out. Vacancy position & follow up action of each circle if appraised will resolve the problem once for all. (ii) Since there is acute shortage in operative side, the deputationists may be returned back forthwith. |
| 5 of Annexure –I of Postal Group C issues | Immediate withdrawal of orders discriminating regular and FTP LSG and posting them in Delivery offices. | (i) The discrimination among the LSG as regular & FTP is deplorable. (ii) This will demotivate the supervisory officials. (iii) Causing frequent disturbance to FTP officials is also a concern. This discrimination should be ended by withdrawing all the orders. |
| Item 3 of Annexure of IV – Administrative Staff issues | Hold the LGO exam for Administrative Group D also under the liberalised syllabus | Regarding revision of syllabus, it was assured by the administration, that syllabus for the Administrative Group D also will be undertaken in consultation with the Staff Side. While the syllabus seems to have been finalised for the operative LGO staff, the same is yet to be completed for the Group D in admn offices. This task may be quickly undertaken to avoid the admn Group deprived of the chance of taking the exam under a liberalised syllabus. |
| Item 7 of Annexure of IV – Administrative Staff issues | Implement the order of TBOP/BCR of 1998 (not 1968) to the eligible CO Staff of Karnataka and Orissa Circle. | The Department should consider the fact that out of 22 circles, the officials of only two circles viz Karnataka and Orissa are deprived of the benefit. Recently the Orissa Court case also favours the officials. In this background, the staff side requests that the officials of these two circles be extended the benefit to eliminate existing discrimination. |
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ANNEXURE - 3
DDG [PAF]
| Sl.No & Place | Particulars of Item | Staff Side submission |
| Item No. 7 of ATR | Finalize cadre review for all cadres. | AIPAEA has submitted its proposal for Re-structuring of cadres in PAO vide letter No.: AIPAEA /CHQ/Restructuring proposal/1365-1425 Dt 24-11-2008 to the Secy (Posts) and endorsed to JS & FA, DDG (PAF) and others. As a part of Organized Account wing, PAO staff got the benfit of Restructuring in the year 1987 (22 years back) for the Core Accounting cadres like JA/SA and above; whereas the lower cadres like Sorters, LDCs and DEOs (in Chennai) did not get any benefit despite a Restructuring Committee was constituted during 1998 and recommendations made to the benefit of them. But due to Indefinite Strike during 1998, organized by Federations, these recommendations were also got clubbed with strike charter of demands; Dutta Committee accepted these recommendations and recommended to the Department; during year 2000, without going into the merit of the recommendeations of Restructuring Committee, the GOM for reasons known to Admninstration clubed them with strike charter and rejected them!
6th CPC has distanced itself from cadre re-structuring and has repeatedly insisted for functional justification for any Re-structuring in this era of modernization; also for multi-skill to officials.
Taking all these things into account, the Apex Joint Action Council of Accounts & Audit Organizatios held discussions and formulated the basis for Restructing in Organized Accounts wings and IA & AD. On that basis, and also to suit the specific requirements in the Deptt. of Posts this proposal for Restructuring has been evolved alongwith other affiliates of NFPE.
During our earlier meetings with the then and present Secretaries (Posts) and subsequent with the Member (P), we were advised to submit detailed proposals to facilitate examining our demands. Hence this proposal has been submitted to the Secretary on 24-11-2008.
In the formal meeting with the Secretary (Posts) on 13-01-2009, with regard to Postal Account issues, the Secretary (Posts) advised us to have detailed discussion with DDG (PAF) and there from to submit the final product to the Secretary (Posts) for further action. |
| 18 of ATR | Ensure integration of all Accounting streams in DOP under PA Wing. | By bringing the PO & RMs Accountants under PA wing as a part of Organized Accounts set up apart from their career advancements enhanced, much of the duplication of works can be arrested and more officials at PAO can be entrusted to the duty of Internal Audit. The Internal Audit party's frequency has to be increased and the scope enlarged. The necessity for frequent Internal Auditing is on the increase in view of huge volume of transactios taking place in the POS & Premium Product Centres; also to arrest frauds which are on the increase in field units.
SBCO, a part of erstwhile P&T Audit had been transferred to DOP in the early sixtees to have control over SB transactions in DOP. During the courses of time, this Organization lost it control and has become sub-servient to Administration. The purpose of this organization, Control or Audit of SB works, stands compromised; also their career advancements.
Thus by bringing all Accounting streams in DOP under PA wing (a) duplication of works minimized (b) Internal Auditing strengthened (c) rampant frauds in r/o Cash Certificates, MO frauds, issuing of fraudulent cheques, SB transactions at field units detected and arrested at early stage (d) Accounting and Internal Auditing in DOP becoming inclusive and effective, also (e) better career advancement to all hither to deprived sections in all Accounting streams in DOP.
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| 19 of ATR | Restoration of 3 year periodicity for promotion from Jr.Accountant | DOP&T has raised quaries in r/o. 20:80 scheme etc. and on discussion with those authorities it was made clear by them that DOP is empowered to make required amendments in RRs of cadres coming under it explaining the reasons for such amendments. The reasons are as follows:
'In the RR for the posts of Sr. Acctt., the provision for 3 years service as Jr. Acctt. was kept in view of the fact that unlike the pyramidical structure with fewer promotion posts in comparision to feeder posts there was a situation in which promotion posts of Sr. Acctt. was four times the feeder cadre of Sr. Acctt., as a result of re-structuring. If the provision of six years was kept, same structure would not be maintained. Therefore, the amendment made in the R.R. on the general guidelines given by D.O.P&T has to be reversed. Besides this, since the re-structuring was done on the pattern obtained in Audit stream (IA&AD), the same pattern of 3 years service shall continue'.
It is therefore requested the DOP to explain the above requirements and allow the 3 years requirement to promotion to Sr. Acctt. being restored.
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| Item No.3 of Annexure – I – April 2007 Postal JCA issues.
| Outsourcing of PAO functions etc. | ATR of Department omitted this issue for a reply. For the last two decades PA wing is witnessing near total ban on recruitment forcing its Circle PAOs to reel under heavy shortage and thereby causing huge accumulation of arrears. While the sale of Cash Certificates were increasing in geometrical proportion the arrears also galloped at the same speed as the authorities closed their eyes to the requirements of additional staff in PAOs. When manpower shortage becomes acute it is but natural that work suffers and arrear accumulates and all these facts are well known to our authorities at DAPs, Circle Heads and therefrom to Directorate as clear as day light; periodical report on staff strength / staff shortage/justified staff strength sent to Directorate with a request to augment manpower and until then to pay incentives to clear the ever increasing arrears. Nothing moved the authorities to bring back normaly / avoidable arrears until multi-crore frauds be took in cash certificates at avarious HPOs and went unnoticed or remained undetected. Despite staff side protests, data entry work in respect of CC issue journal outsourced for a lump sum amount in each circle. For this purpose lakhs and lakhs of rupees have bee allotted and spent without much fruitful results. They have done the work of Issue Posting haphazardly and also left out much items, either as unposted or wrongly posted. Now PAO officials are forced to check them 100% (which makes the entire process of out sourcing a mockery), with humanly impossible outturn fixed and harassed ultimately punished with Dies-non.
Had a fraction of amount spent on outsourcing been given as incentives / enhanced honorarium to PAO staff, the work would have been completed with accuracy and accountability without duplicating the checking process. Willing officials from various sections of PAO and also retired PAO officials could have been drafted for this purpose.
At this juncture, forcing the PAO officials to check these outsourced works with unreasonable outturn fixed arbitrarily without any works study and issue certificates to the effect of having checked them is highly draconian and authoritarian, viz. finding an easy way to target PAO officials and make them accountable for all the frauds committed at field level and also the works done by private agents for a hefty sum. Hence PAO officials should not be required to issue the certificate of checking the outsourced works.
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| 7 of Annexure I – April 2007 Postal JCA Demands | Encashment of all pending OTA / TA/ Medical / RPLI bills / commission. | The information furnished in the ATR is not reflecting the true picture. It is shocking as to how the Budget section can take such a position when crores of rupees pending bills are there in many circles. The letter which was sent by AIPEU Group 'C' union on 26.6.08 in which details were furnished on the pendency of personal claims in respect of some circles obtained under RTI Act. This will reveal the truth. Unless, a special sanction is sought to clear the pending bills, the issue will remain as unsettled. |
| Item No.16 of Annexure –II – Postal JCA Sectional Charter dated 15.02.2008. | Create avenues of promotion to all J AO qualified officials and approve the proposal for common cadre with DOT. | The required Ministerial approval for the process of merger of DOT & PAO has already been obtained and even their Recruitment Rules for the proposed merged cadres have been approved by the nodal Ministry, DOP&T. Now the process has been held up at the Secretary (Posts) level for more than 1 year for the overt reason of staff shortage in DOP though the actual cause being cadre controlling after the proposed amalgamation of the DOP & DOT Accounts cadres.
Proposed amalgamation of Group 'B' cadres of DOP & DOT would solve some serious problems of both departments and also provides opportunites to the employees of both the departments for their career progression as under:-
(a) For DOP:- About 500 employees of DOP who had qualified JAO examination and waiting for more than 17 years would get promoted immediately and also it would open a permanent chain of promotional avenue for its employees.
Again the resultant vacancies, It would facilitate DOP to induct more qualified younger generation having proficiency in computer & IT which is the need of the day in the changed scenario.
In the event of merger, it would bestow greater flexibility to the administration to fill up the JTS / STS 'A' posts for utilizing these officers for new services to enable revenue generation for the department.
Apart from these benefits to DOP, viewing from the angle of costing also, merger is highly profitable to DOP: allowing these qualified officials to DOT, mostly in their fifty plus with comparatively higher wages as well as higher terminal benefits can be set off to the liability account of Department of Telecom, and in their place highly competitive younger generation with ample knowledge in computer and IT, for a comparatively lesser remuneration and liability can be recruited to the Department of Posts; crores of rupees saved every month to DOP!
(b) For DOT: Acute shortage of manpower that was caused in DOT by permanent absorption of officials in BSNL would be eliminated.
DOT would get experienced accounts personnel of DOP having ample practical experience in DOT and well conversant with the rules and regulations attained by virtue of their experience on deputation with the DOT for several years, besides their own domain experience.
It would facilitate filling up of the JTS; also STS Gr. 'A' posts for which the Sr. AO/JTS Gr'A' being fedder cadre of both the Departments.
(c) For Employees, advantages would be multi pronged as under: More than 500 officials who had cleared their JAO Part II examination and desperately waiting for promotion would immediately be absorbed.
The career prospects of all Employees beginning with Gr 'C' & 'D' would be amazing viz: from JAO/AAO , AO/ Sr.AO to JTS/STS.
It would be a great motivational factor resulting in increased productivity.
In the event of the merger not taking place the DOT would be finding it very difficult to run the show as the deputationists from Postal side who have completed their deputation period are likely to be repatriated very soon. Consequently, ti would trigger chain reversion to the lower cadre in Postal side, besides causing frustration & dislocation.
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| Item No. 3 of Annexure – V – Postal Accounts Staff issues. | Withdraw charge sheets and suspension in connection with CC works. | Authorities at various levels take shelter in pointing out PAO officials and save their tainted skins. Their failure to discharge their duties / foresee such possibilities of frauds should be treated as major offence irrespective of their status being DAP, SP/SSP and DPS/PMG; assets freezed and effective assessments made so that real culprits booked.
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ANNEXURE - 4
Senior DDG [Mail Management]
| Sl.No & Place | Particulars of Item | Staff Side submission |
| 9 of Annexure II | Fill up all vacant posts of MMS Drivers and Technical Staff; Impart necessary computer training to handle new generation power vehicles. | [i] Staff Side request a total reconsideration of the policy of outsourcing of drivers / technical staffs etc in the background of anticipated growth of logistics in India requires our own big fleet of logistics vehicles and drivers.
[ii] The existing Drivers and technical staff who are to handle the existing new generation power vehicles require computer training for improving their efficiency of maintenance of such vehicles. This has not been addressed so far effectively. |
| Item No.4 Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Discontinue the new bag account numbering system. | The staff side appreciates the position taken by the Department as stated in the ATR that a re-look in the system is necessary. The experience of the software being tested may be shared with us and before going for implementation of another bag numbering system, the staff side should be taken into confidence for our views and suggestions. Until the new system is perfected, the new bag numbering system introduced should not be insisted upon and preferably that may be suspended. |
| Item No.6 Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Compilation of fresh statistics to assess the mail offices having less than 10000 mails and ensuring one mail office in each revenue state/ district and no merger of mail office with Pos. | The Staff Side had agreed to the merger of mail offices with less than 10000 mails with neighbouring RMS offices, taking into account of all the factors mentioned in the ATR. However, after achieved that level of mergers, extending it to offices with more than 10000 mails by some Circle Administration is breach of agreement. Our contention that at least one mail office in each revenue State, if not revenue district, is most essential as otherwise some States won't have even one single RMS office. There are ample opportunities with marketing techniques to improve the traffic collectively, but merger of more offices is counter productive. |
| Item No.8 Annexure – III R3 and R4 issues | Computer training to the technical staff to deal with modern power vehicles. | The ATR omitted this point. We request that such a training to the existing staff is essential as part of improving their skills to cope up with the technology. |
ANNEXURE - 5
DDG [Training]
| Sl.No & Place | Particulars of Item | Staff Side submission |
| 6 of Annexure II | Increase the chances to 10 for appearing LGO Exam | Followed by the decision to liberalize the syllabus to LGO examination during the April 2007 talks, it was requested that additional chances to appear will be justified for appearing the exam under liberalised syllabus for facilitating those who have exhausted all 6 chances. Favourable consideration was assured. We now request for reconsideration of this issue and additional chances be granted. |
| Item No. 1 of Annexure – V – Postal Accounts Staff issues. | Review result of JAO Part II examination in respect of SC & ST candidates held in July 1997 and other Departmental Examinations of SC/ST candidates held during 23rd July 1997 to 2 October 2000 by resorting the privilege of awarding in grace marking during that period. | Review of JAO Part II result in r/o. SC/ST for the period 22/07/1997 to 02/10/2000 had not been conceded to by the DOP&T citing the Hon'ble Supreme Court judgement. Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgement can be implemented to those vacancies arising subsequent to its pronouncement and cannot have jurisdiction over past vacancies. JAO part II exam was initially scheduled to be held exclusively for SC/ST official in the year 1995, but was not held due to Hon'ble Court's stay order and subsequently made open for all category officials in the year 1997. Thus, these oppressed officials again got duped with the sublities of legality etc.
Hence it is demanded that the vacancies of SC/ST category may be apportioned year wise and the benefit of review may be restored to the extent of vacancies available during those period other than the period from 22.07.97 to 02.10.2000 to be judicious and rendering of social justice.
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ANNEXURE – 6
DDG [Estates]
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| Item No. 5 of Annexure – V – Postal Accounts staff issues. | Provide departmental buildings to all PAOs | In ADR plan-2005 not even a single post was allotted to PAO at all India level. At present, most of the Circle PAOs are having majority of the man power in the age group of fifty plus. Thus, it is becoming more and more essential to get younger generation to these offices.
Further, the new PAOs like Jammu, Sunder Nagar, Guwahati and Shillong are having only skeleton staff and the allocated staff strength facing the danger of abolition. For these new offices abolition will be seirous matter, hence protective measures must be adopted.
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K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE
1 comment:
Dear Comred,
We know that N.F.P.E submitted it's proposal and this a good news to all G.D.S that what is want by the Federation. But Comred we want that one of representative of Federation will be take sit at the time when postal board go for the same.
Comredly Yours
722101 W.B.
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