EX-SERVICEMEN RE-EMPLOYED AS POSTAL
ASSISTANTS/SORTING ASSISTANTS – APPLICABILITY OF PARA 16(2) OF CCS (FIXATION OF
PAY OF RE-EMPLOYED PENSIONERS) ORDERS, 1986: DEPARTMENT OF POSTS ORDER
20.01.2026
F. No. 02-61/2024 – PAP
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
Establishment Division
[P.A.P. Section]
*******
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi-110001
Dated:20.01.2026
To
All Heads of Circles,
Subject: Applicability of Para 16(2) of CCS (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed Pensioners) Orders, 1986 to Ex-servicemen re-employed as Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants – reg.
Sir/Madam,
The attention of all Circles is invited to this office letter of even number dated 22.04.2025 (copy enclosed), whereby Circles were advised to maintain status quo in respect of extending the benefit of Para 16(2) of the CCS (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed Pensioners) Orders, 1986 to ex-servicemen re-employed as Postal Assistants / Sorting Assistants, pending clarification from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).
2. The matter was again taken up with DoPT, the nodal Department. DoPT has reiterated that while the provisions of Para 16(2) of the aforesaid Orders are explicit, the posts of Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant are not mentioned therein. DoPT has further advised that the Department of Posts may take an administrative decision in the matter, keeping in view the extant instructions.
3. Accordingly, the issue has been examined in detail, with the following observations:
3.1 Relevant provisions of DoPT O.M. dated 31.07.1986
Paras 4 and 5 of the DoPT O.M. dated 31.07.1986 relate to fixation of pay of ex-servicemen re-employed in posts other than clerks / storemen. Para 16(2) of the said Orders specifically applies to re-employment of ex-servicemen in clerical / storekeeper posts. It is also evident that the posts of Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant are not mentioned in Para 16(2), as has already been clarified by DoPT.
3.2 Cadre distinction and historical position
A comparison of pay scales across successive
Central Pay Commissions, as shown below, clearly establishes that Postal
Assistants / Sorting Assistants have consistently been placed in higher pay
scales than 1/208369/2026 02-61/2024-PAP Lower Division Clerks / Junior Clerks
(now designated as Junior Secretarial Assistants):
|
CPC |
Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant |
Lower Division Clerk/Junior Clerk (Now
called as JSA) |
|
3rd CPC |
260-8-300-EB-8-340-10-360-12-420-EB-12-480 |
210-4-250-EB-5-270 |
|
4th CPC |
975-25-1150-EB-30-1660 |
950-20-1150-EB-25-1400 |
|
5th CPC |
4000-100-6000 |
Rs.3050-75-3950-80-4590 |
|
6th CPC |
Pay Band-I (Rs. 5200- 20200) with GP of
Rs.2400 |
PB-1 (5200-20200) with GP of Rs.1900 |
|
7th CPC |
Level-4 ₹25,500 – ₹81,100 |
Level-2 (19,900- 63,200) |
Further, up to the 4th CPC, the minimum
educational qualification prescribed for LDCs was Matriculation, whereas it was
Intermediate (10+2) for Postal Assistants / Sorting Assistants. The 5th CPC
additionally mandated knowledge of computers for PA/SA. At present, the
prescribed qualification for PA/SA is Graduation, while for JSAs it remains
10+2. The relevant observations of the 5th CPC in this respect is mentioned as
under for reference:
3.3“62.11 The operative category at the clerical level enters as Postal
Assistants, presently in the scale of pay of Rs.975-1660 (erroneously written
as 1540), with minimum qualifications at entry being matriculation with added
value for every additional academic qualification. This category has two-time
bound promotions to the level of Rs.1400-2300 and Rs.1600-2660, on completion
of 16 and 26 years service, respectively. They will now be required to possess
10+2 standard qualifications with knowledge of typing and computers. The
modernization programme launched by the Department itself requires extensive
use of computers and modern instruments hitherto not in vogue. In their joint
memorandum, the demand of the Postal Federations for better pay scales in view
of the arduous duties combined with raising of qualifications and the need for
improvement in the efficiency of postal services, justifies higher pay scales
at entry. We recommend that Postal Assistants at entry may be placed in the
scale of pay of Rs.1320-2040.”
3.3 Historical comparison with similarly
placed cadres and change in nomenclature
(i) DG Posts Letter No. 2-68/61-P&A(P)
dated 10.09.1965 dealt with fixation of pay of ex-combatant clerks retired /
released from the Armed Forces on re-employment as clerks in the P&T
Department in the pay scale of Rs.110-240 (3rd CPC). The relevant portion reads
as under: 1/208369/2026 02-61/2024-PAP
“…The President is pleased to decide that the provisions of the Ministry of Finance O.M. No. F.6(8)-E.III/63 dated 11.04.1965 shall also be applicable to clerks in the scale of pay of Rs.110-240.“
(ii) Vide Directorate Letter No. 7-13/6-PE-I dated 05.09.1979, the designations of various Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ cadres in the Postal Department were revised. The designation of Time Scale Clerks / Time Scale Sorters was changed to Postal Assistants / Sorting Assistants without any change in pay scale, duties, or responsibilities.
(iii) DOPT O.M. No. 16/3/85-Estt. (Pay-l) dated 11.05.1987, issued pursuant to a decision of the National JCM, extended similar pay-fixation benefits to ex-combatant clerks released from the Armed Forces and re-employed as Telegraphists / Telephone Operators in the then Department of Posts & Telecommunications in the pay scale of Rs.260-480 (3rd CPC), revised to Rs.975-1660 (4th CPC). This pay scale was identical to that of Postal Assistants / Sorting Assistants at the relevant time. However, it is noteworthy that despite identical pay scales, the said benefit was not extended to Postal Assistants / Sorting Assistants.
4. Keeping in view the above facts and the historical differences in recruitment channels, different pay scales, prescribed qualifications, and nature of duties between PAs/SAs and LDCs (now JSAs), the DoPT order of 1987 that covers only Telegraphists /Telephone Operators and not the PAS/SAs and the fact that Para 16(2) of the CCS (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed Pensioners) Orders, 1986, does not explicitly cover PA/SA, it has been decided that the benefit of pay fixation under Para 16(2) of the CCS (Fixation of Pay of Re-employed Pensioners) Orders, 1986 cannot be extended to ex-servicemen re-employed as Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants in the Department of Posts.
5. In cases where the benefit has already been extended to ex-servicemen re-employed as PA/SA, no recovery shall be made. However, their pay shall be re-fixed in accordance with Paras 4 and 5 of the DoPT O.M. dated 31.07.1986, after issuing a show-cause notice and disposing of their representation by a reasoned and speaking order. Waiver of recovery, in such cases may be considered on a case-to-case basis in terms of DOPT O.M. No 18/03/2015-Estt. (Pay-l) dated 02.03.2016 read with O.M. No. dated 01(14)/2016-E.II(A) (Part-III) dated 01.04.2024.
This issues with the approval of the
Secretary (Posts). 1/208369/2026
Yours faithfully,
Digitally signed by
Gurvinder Singh
Date: 20-01-2026
11:53:08
(Gurvinder Singh)
Assistant Director General
(GDS/PAP/PCC)
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