National Federation of Postal Employees

IN ADDITION TO THE RELEASE OFMINUTES OF NOMALY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 17.07.2012 , DOPT HAS ALSO RELEASED THE SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS MADE IN THE MEETING FOR MACPS (MODIFIED ASSURED CAREER PROGRESSION SCHEME) HELD ON 27.07.2012. TEXT OF THE SAME IS REPRODUCED AS FOLLOWS:

Summary Record of discussions of the meeting held on 27th July, 2012 relating to Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS)

In the meeting of the National Anomaly Committee, held on 17/07/2012, it was decided that Joint Secretary (E), DOPT will hold a separate meeting with the Leaders of Staff Side to discuss the issues relating to MACP Scheme which formed Agenda Item No 42 of the National Anomaly Committee. Accordingly a meeting was held on 27/07/2012 in Room No. 190 at North Block, New Delhi. The list of participants of this meeting is at Annexure IV.

Joint Secretary (E) DoPT welcomed the participants and stated that the Joint Committee which was set up by the National Anomaly Committee to discuss the issues relating to Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) met thrice and based on the discussions in those meetings a Report of the Committee was prepared and was placed before the National Anomaly Committee in its meeting held on 5th January, 2012. However due to shortage of time this item could not be discussed fully. In the meeting of the National Anomaly Committee held on 17th July,  2012, the Chairman had desired that since the issues involved in MACP Scheme are complex, another round of consultation through a meeting with the Staff Side under Joint Secretary (E) DoPT may be held soon. This meeting was held in pursuance of that decision. Thereafter the report of the Joint Committee was taken up for discussion.

1. Grant of MACP in the promotional hierarchy:- 

The Staff Side stated that under ACP Scheme, financial upgradation was granted in promotional hierarchy and therefore it had become part of service condition of the employees. Under the MACPS, financial upgradations is permitted in Grade Pay hierarchy only, thereby adversely affecting the service conditions. Therefore, under MACPS also the financial upgradations should be granted in promotional hierarchy.

The Official Side stated that there was no such recommendation of the 6th CPC and in fact the Commission in its report, while discussing this issue, had mentioned that although the ACPS had, by and large, alleviated the problem of stagnation and also allowed higher rate of increments in the higher scale extended under it, it had, however, given rise to other problems. The financial upgradations in that scheme followed the then existing promotional hierarchy which gave rise to uneven benefit to employees falling in the same pay scale since several Organisations adopted different hierarchical pattern. Consequently, employees working in organizations having greater number of intermediate grades suffered because financial upgradation under ACPS placed them in a lower pay scale vis-a-vis similar]) placed employees in another organization that had lesser intermediary grades.

The 6th CPC therefore, recommended a systemic change in the existing scheme of ACPS whereby all employees, irrespective of the hierarchical structure as prevalent in their organization/cadre, would get the same benefit under it.

This was accepted by the Govt with further modification to grant three financial upgradations under the MACPS at intervals of 10, 20 and 30 years of continuous regular service in the immediate next higher grade pay in the hierarchy of the recommended revised pay bands and grade pay as given in Section 1, Part-A of the first schedule of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008. In fact while accepting the recommendations of the 6th CPC on this issue there was no such demand by the Staff Side.

The Staff Side stated that the employees who were in service prior to 1.1.2006 had the right to retain first two financial upgradations in the promotional hierarchy and the Government cannot alter the existing service conditions adversely. The Official Side however stated that since MACPS is in supersession of earlier ACP scheme, this cannot be agreed to.

The Staff Side insisted that at least option be given to individual employees in this regard to facilitate him/her to opt for either ACP or MACP for availing benefit of financial upgradation. The Staff Side was insistent that either MACPS should be in promotional hierarchy or individual options should be given to the employees.

The Official Side stated that it was not possible to agree to individual options and if they have any alternate suggestions, the Staff Side could come back with them. 

2. Date of effect of MACP Scheme: 

The Staff Side stated that those employees who retired during the period between  1.1.2006  and 31.8.2008 could not get the benefit of MACPS and therefore the MACPS should be made effective from 1.1.2006. It was pointed out by the Official Side that during the  5th  CPC also the ACPS was made effective from a later date.

The Staff Side suggested that in respect of those who had retired/died prior to 1.9.2008, the MACP scheme could be made effective from 1.1.2006. It was pointed out that there is also the issue of some of the employees, who got the benefit of ACPS during this intervening period, may be adversely affected because of this demand.

Thus the staff Side was advised to reconsider their demand for giving effect to the MACP Scheme w.e.f. 01.01.2006.

3. Counting of 50% of service rendered by Temporary Status Casual Labour for reckoning 10/20/30 years under MACP Scheme:

It was reiterated by the Official Side that as per para 5 (v) of Appendix pertaining to Casual Labourers (Grant of Temporary Status and Regularization) Scheme, 50% of the service rendered under temporary status is to be counted only for the purpose of retirement benefits after their regularization. Since under MACPS only continuous regular service is taken into account for allowing 1st, 2nd and 3rd financial upgradations on completion of 10, 20 & 30 years of continuous regular service respectively, the demand of the Staff Side cannot be accepted for MACPS.

It was decided that this issue may be taken up by the Staff Side in National Council separately.

4. Treatment of employees selected under LDCE/GDCE Scheme: 

It was decided that treatment of such cases would be on the lines as was under the ACP Scheme and Ministry of Railways would examine the matter accordingly

5. Promotion in the identical Grade Pay: 

The Official Side stated that they will issue instructions for granting one increment for fixation of Pay in cases of promotion to the same Grade Pay if they were granted such a benefit post 5th CPC also. Such a dispensation would then apply while considering financial upgradation under MACPS.

6. Financial Upgradation under MACPs, in the case of staff who joined another unit/organisation on request:

The Staff Side pointed out that OM dated 01/11/2010 should be suitably amplified/amended covering the staff that was transferred on request on reversion to the Unit/Organisation so that the total service rendered in the previous Unit/Organisation, ignoring the past promotion, may be counted for MACPs.

The Official Side agreed to issue necessary clarificatory instructions in this regard. The Staff Side also pointed out that in certain offices the promotion in the original Unit/Organisation from which an employee got reverted/transferred to the lower post, was also being counted against MACPS which is not warranted.

The Official Side agreed to look into this issue. 

7. Extension of benefit of MACPS to an employee appointed in Grade where direct recruitment element is there while ignoring service and promotion rendered prior to his appointment in that post: 

The Official Side reiterated that suitable clarifications bearing No.5 in OM dated 09/09/2012 have already been issued and matter stands resolved.

8. Stepping up of Pay of Senior incumbents at par with Junior incumbents as a consequence of ACP/MACPs 

It was stated by the Official Side that stepping up of pay in the pay band or grade pay with regard to junior getting more pay than the senior on account of pay fixation under the MACP Scheme can be considered as a special dispensation and suitable clarificatory instructions will be considered to deal with such situations.

The Staff Side also raised the issue of injustice being meted out particularly in the Accounts Department of Indian Railways wherein the incumbents who cleared the Appendix examination are drawing less pay as compared to those who could not qualify the said examination and got the benefit of MACPs. The Staff Side stated that this led to de-motivation among qualified staff and urged for rectifying such an anomaly.

It was agreed to examine this separately and Ministry of Railways was advised to send the proposal in question. 

9. Benchmark for MACP 

It was decided that suitable instructions will be issued to specifically clarify that wherever promotions are given on non-selection basis (ie seniority cum fitness), the prescribed benchmark, as mentioned in para 17 of Annexure I of MACPS dated 19.5.2009, will not be applicable and the benchmark for promotion will apply for the purpose of MACPS.

10. Grant of ACP benefit to Artisan Staff of Ministry of Defence:

The Staff Side insisted that based on Fast Track Committee recommendations, the then existing Highly Skilled grade (in the Pre revised pay scale of Rs 4000-6000) was split equally in the ratio of 50:50 and redesignated as Highly Skilled Grade II (GP 2400) and Highly Skilled Grade I (GP 2800) with effect from 1.1.2006.

The Staff Side stated that such placement of employees in Highly Skilled Grade I (GP 2800) with effect from 1.1.2006 to 14.6.2010 cannot be treated as promotion for the purpose of grant of financial upgradation under MACP Scheme.
The Official Side stated that on the issue of Artisan Staff of the Ministry of Defence, the matter has already been examined on file and Ministry of Defence has been advised accordingly.

The Staff Side insisted that this should be reconsidered so that placements in higher Grade may not be taken as promotion for the purpose of grant of financial upgradation under MACP.
The Official Side stated that this has repercussions on the employees working in Railways and therefore it is not amenable to acceptance.

(11).  The rest of the items of the Report of the Joint Committee, as indicated below, were closed as appropriate action had been taken with respect to the issues raised therein.

(1) Applicability of MACPS to Group D employees who have been placed in the grade pay of Rs.1800/- in PB-i.

(2) Grant of financial up gradation under old ACP Scheme between 1.1.2006 and 31.8.2008

(3) Counting of services rendered prior to re-appointment for the purpose of MACP.

(4) Accounting of services rendered before Removal/Dismissal from service and subsequent reinstatement in service for the purpose of MACP Scheme

(5) Counting of service rendered in State Govt/PSUs etc.

(6) Regulation of Probation period under MACPS

(7) Application of MACPS to the Surplus Staff Re-deployed to lower posts in other Cadres/Organisations.

(8) Entitlement of the privileges after financial upgradation under MACP Scheme

(9) Extension of ACP/MACP Scheme to Staff Car Drivers /Civilian Motor Drivers/MT Drivers/Fire Engine Drivers etc.

(10) Pay Fixation on promotion subsequent to grant Of MACPs

(11) Notional Classification for CGE1S consequent upon MACPs.

(12) The Staff Side raised the following issues though they were not part of the MACP Joint Committee Report.

Employees who got one pro motion prior to 01/09/2008 and completed over two decades of service without benefit of promotion and are denied third ACP under MACPs: 

The Staff Side raised this issue and insisted that in such cases, third MACP should be straight away given to staff from the date subsequent to the date of completion of two decades of service after promotion. After discussions, the Official Side while appreciating the position stated that this is a peculiar situation and agreed to consider this issue on the basis of a reference to be made by the Ministry of Railways in this regard.

Modification of recruitment rules particularly in Railways and upgradation granted by abolition of Pay Scale-Implementation of MACPs 

Though this was not a part of the MACP Report, the Staff Side raised this issue in the meeting and explained that in the Railways, the lower pay scales were abolished and posts were upgraded to higher pay scales with revision of recruitment qualification and designation. In such cases the Staff Side insisted that entry Grade Pay as a result of upgradation consequent upon abolition of lower Pay Scales should be taken into consideration for reckoning 10/20/30 years of service for granting MACP.

The Official Side decided that the Railway Board may send an appropriate proposal to the DoP&T in consultation with the Staff Side. 

13.  The Official Side reiterated that MACP Scheme is a fall-back option and the Ministries have to conduct Cadre Restructuring in right earnest for ensuring that promotional avenues are available to the staff within a reasonable time frame. It was agreed that Ministry of Finance would issue instructions to all Ministries/Departments/Cadre authorities to undertake Cadre restructuring of Group B & Group C formations in a time bound manner.

The Staff Side pointed out that the Ministry of Railways is citing the instructions of Ministry of Finance issued some years back that only one third of the Cadre could be disturbed, for revising the percentages for the purpose of Cadre restructuring, the Official Side stated that this would be examined and if required, necessary clarificatory instructions will be issued to the Ministry of Railways so that the Cadre Restructuring could be carried out.