ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL
SUPERVISORS (GL)
(Recognized by Govt. of India P & T Board New Delhi
Order No. 13/28/68 SR dated 21.04.1970
CHQ : SRT Nagar P.O
Building (IV floor). Opp. Meghdoot Bhawan, New Delhi-55
PRESIDENT GENERAL SECRETARY TREASURER
K.T.SHESHADRI MANOJ BHARDWAJ VINAY BHATNAGAR
Postmaster Grade I A.P.M S.P.M.DISTT BOARD P.
Egmore,– 600008 (T.N) NOIDA
H.P.O– 201301(U.P) BIJNOR
– 246701(U.P)
Mob:09444625336, Mob:09910889554,
09319317089 Mob : 09837123688
09043927257 Email:gs.aiaps@gmail.com Landline:01342-28268
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Ref: AIAPS/GS/Group C cadre
restructure dated
at New Delhi 11.07.2017
To,
Shri
Charles Lobo,
Chairman,
Cadre
restructure review committee,
Chief
Postmaster General,
Karnataka
Circle 560001
Subject: Constituting of the Committee to review the Cadre Restructuring orders of the Postal Group ‘C’ employees – Request for comments/inputs – reg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference
1:
Postal Directorate letter no 25-4/2012-P.E.I dated at New Delhi the 5th
July 2017.
Reference
2:
Postal Directorate Group – C cadre restructure order No. 25-04/2012-PE-I dated 27th May, 2016.
Reference 3: Postal Directorate - cadre restructure clarifications
order no 25-04/2012-PE-I (Pt.) dated 11th November, 2016.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Respected Sir,
Vide
above Reference 2, huge task is under process in the mode of cadre restructure
and vide above reference 2 of the Postal
Directorate, Entire PA establishment 100089 PA posts were reduced
drastically to 69996 PA posts and remaining posts were upgraded as supervisory
posts w.e.f., 27.05.2016. All postal
circles were directed to initiate immediate action for cadre restructure and to
send the compliance report at the earliest on 27.05.2016 itself.
Since Cadre
restructure is enhanced the supervisory posts in our department to utilize the
human resource rationally, and this association directly serve the needs of the
37431 supervisory officials of our department, this association would like to submit
the following comments/suggestions on the difficulties being faced in
implementation of the said orders dated 27.05.2016 as sought vide above Reference 1 of the postal
directorate.
1. Preamble:
a. Vide DOPT OM number 2/1/87-PP
dated 23/11/1987, every department should review their cadres once in every 5 years.
But unfortunately Group – C cadre was not reviewed for the past prolonged
30 years which was due on 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012.
b. At the same time Group ‘A’ cadres were reviewed
periodically as per the DOPT norms and human resource in Group ‘A’ cadre was
properly rationalized with justified promotional avenues without any
stagnation. The efforts of such should really be appreciable.
c. In this juncture it is the duty of every officials,
administration and service associations to periodically review every cadres to
implement the cadre restructure without any delay and hurdles.
2. Cadre restructure process in various
postal Circles:
a. Some postal circles have identified the newly upgraded
LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I posts and yet to convene the DPC for those posts. Some circles
have completed DPC also. Some Postal Circles are neither identified the newly
upgraded posts nor initiate any process though cadre restructure order mandated
the postal circles to intimate the completion report to the earliest.
b. In this juncture, intermediate to the cadre restructure
process, some service association represented to defer the cadre restructure
till set right the practical difficulties while implementing the C.R.
c. If cadre restructure is deferred intermediately, then it
may create mammoth chaos in our postal department. We would like to bring the
same also for your kind information.
3. Practical difficulties – If the cadre
restructure is NOT implemented immediately:
a.
After cadre restructure, our department PA establishment 100089
posts was drastically reduced as 69996 PA posts and remaining posts were
upgraded as LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I posts. After PA posts were upgraded, those supervisory
posts could not be filled from open market. Now instead of 100089 PA posts,
only 69996 PA posts can be recruited from direct/LGO examinations.
b.
If LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I posts are not identified and promoted by
convening the DPC by the postal circles, then within the 69996 PA posts, they
have to manage additionally 37431 LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I supervisory posts also. It
may create the immense shortage and chaos in our department. Postal department
may become unmanageable.
c.
More over Vide above
reference 2 Para ‘f’ mandates the postal circle that the vacancies arising out of the
restructuring WILL be filled up only from the amongst the official who
fulfill the eligibility criteria laid down in the recruitment rules for
the post to serve the exact purpose of cadre
restructuring without managing those posts again by Postal Assistants. So it
is against to the cadre restructure order too to officiate those posts again by
PA cadre. So it is inevitable to get one time relaxation to the service
conditions to fill all the posts.
d.
Recently some postal divisions, circulated the RT circulars by
calling willingness to the newly upgraded LSG/HSG II posts from PA officials. It
is totally against to the gazette notified LSG/HSG-II recruitment rules. After those
PA posts are upgraded as supervisory posts, those circle cadre posts should be
filled up by the circle head only as per the relevant recruitment rules.
e.
By mentioning the meager promotional opportunities in Group-C
cadre, we had claimed MACPs and now promotional opportunities are widen by the
cadre restructure. So it is not at all ethical to claim the pay benefits once again
for this cadre restructuring promotions, which was already given without any promotional
cadre responsibilities under MACPs.
f.
After prolonged 30 years from the DOPT guidelines, after PA posts
were reduced drastically and upgraded as Supervisory posts, we cannot defer the
cadre restructure single minute.
g.
As per the CR bilateral agreement, after this Group –C cadre
restructure, Postmaster cadre, PA CO/RO, SBCO, RMS wing restructure also have
to be done. Delaying Group – C cadre
restructure will delay further cadres restructure also. We have to still travel
a long way to complete the other cadre’s restructure also as per the bilateral
agreement.
4. Grave injustice triggered out on the
Postmaster cadre officials because of only implementing the Group C cadre
restructure against to the CR bilateral agreement.
I. In the
Postmaster cadre creation introductory paragraph of Postal directorate, it was
mentioned that in order to improve/upgrade the functioning of the Post Offices,
meet the present day requirement of specialization in Postal office management
in the wake of introduction of technology, challenges from market and to
increase productivity it has absolutely
become essential to ensure that key Post Offices are headed by professional
managers. Thus, in order to ensure
that professionally qualified, trained and meritorious officials head the key
Post Offices, it has been decided to introduce a separate cadre of Postmasters comprising
the following grades Postmaster cadre was introduced on 22nd
November 2010.
II. As expected in
the PM Cadre recruitment rules, whatever may be the products/schemes introduced
in our department like SGB, APY, PLI/RPLI, SB/SC revenue, IT modernization
projects Postmaster Cadre offices are standing top and achieving the allotted
targets from every corner of India including office administration, Record
maintenance -. We can see Postmaster
Cadre offices glittering performances virtually through MIS sites.
III. For such
promising Postmaster cadre officials, Vide Para
‘F’ of Cadre restructure bilateral agreement dated 28.04.2014 with department and staff side, it was
assured that after implementation of
cadre restructure in group-C, Postmaster cadre related cadre restructure also
would have been examined in the light
of the same.
IV. But contrary to
the assurance made in the bilateral agreement to implement the Postmaster Cadre
restructure after this Group C cadre restructure order, now vide Postal directorate reply letter no
25-01/2016-PE-1dated at Dak Bhawan the 10th March 2017, it was replied
that Postmaster cadre restructure will be
considered only after completion of cadre restructuring of other cadres as
recommended by the cadre restructuring committee on its recommendations.
V. SBCO/RMS cadres
are not directly in Group C – Postal operative wing. But Postmaster Grade I is
one of the Group C operative cadre, and remaining PM Grade II/III cadres also
in the operative side. If only Group C postal wing posts are upgraded and
enhanced except Postmaster cadre then it is directly creating total imbalance
in the postal operative side.
VI) Before Group C Cadre restructure, as
per the hierarchy Postmaster Grade I officials had supervised the Postal
Assistants, Postmaster Grade II officials had supervised the Pre-CR LSG
officials and Postal Assistants and Postmaster Grade III officials had supervised
the PRE-CR HSG II/LSG/PA officials. But Vide
Tamilnadu Circle cadre restructure order No: ESB/15-Cadre Gr
C/2016/LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I dated at Chennai 600002 the 28.02.2017,
a) Treasurer posts
are upgraded as LSG posts under Postmaster Grade I offices. As per the CR
bilateral agreement, In the light of the same with Group C cadre restructure,
if Postmaster Cadre restructure was not done by upgrading the PM Grade I posts
at par with HSG II, then PM Grade I (LSG) has to supervise the Treasurer (LSG)
posts which may create severe hierarchy clashes between those two posts. How
could a LSG (PM Grade I) can supervise another LSG official under his/her unit?
A person seeing just one branch (Treasury branch) was awarded with Rs.2800
(Level 5) Grade pay, whereas Postmaster Grade I officials have to manage the
entire post office which may have nearly 3 to 10 PAs, 5 to 25 Postmen, MTS, GDS
officials under his/her unit with just same Rs.2800 (level-5) pay scale, is
totally injustice to the Postmaster Grade I officials.
b) ASPM posts are
upgraded as HSG II posts under Postmaster Grade II offices. In the light of the
same If Postmaster Cadre restructure was not done by upgrading the PM Grade II
posts at par with HSG I, then present PM Grade II (HSG II) has to supervise the
same cadre ASPM (HSG II) posts which may create severe hierarchy clashes
between those two posts. How could a HSG II (PM Grade II) can supervise another
HSG II official under his/her unit? A person is just supervising one branch
(Counter or Delivery branch) was awarded with Rs.4200 (Level 6) Pay scale,
whereas Postmaster Grade II officials have to manage the entire HSG II post
office which may have nearly 10 to 20 PAs, 10 to 30 Postmen, MTS, GDS officials
under his/her unit with just same Rs.4200 (level-6) pay scale, is totally
injustice to the Postmaster Grade II officials.
c) HSG II and HSG I posts are now merged
and upgraded as HSG I posts under Postmaster Grade III offices. In the light of
the same If Postmaster Cadre restructure was not done by upgrading the PM Grade
III posts at par with HSG I(NFG), then present PM Grade III (HSG I) officials
has to supervise the Deputy PM(HSG I) posts which may create severe hierarchy
clashes between those two posts. How could a HSG I (PM Grade III) can supervise
another HSG I official under his/her unit? A HSG I-Deputy PM is just
supervising one branch (Counter or Delivery branch) was awarded with Rs.4600
(Level 7) Pay scale, whereas Postmaster Grade III officials have to manage the
entire HSG I post office which may have nearly 20 to 30 PAs, 30 to 50 Postmen,
MTS, GDS officials under his/her unit with just same Rs.4600 (level-6) pay
scale, is totally injustice to the Postmaster Grade III officials.
VII.
Even after 14 months, many postal circles are not completed the Cadre
restructure as per the Postal Directorate orders dated 27.05.2016. In this
juncture, as per the Postal directorate
reply letter no 25-01/2016-PE-1dated at Dak Bhawan the 10th March
2017, if Postmaster cadre officials are requested to wait till remaining
cadres restructures, for such prolonged time, Postmaster cadre officials could
not bear these kind of severe financial losses and hierarchy discriminations.
VIII. So this
association requests the honorable Secretary Posts, to expedite the Postmaster
Cadre restructure on war foot basis to implement along with this Group C cadre
restructure, till implementing the
Postmaster cadre restructure, same pay Rs.4200(level-6)/ Rs.4600(level-7)/
Rs.4800(Level-8)/ Rs.5400(level-9) may kindly be given to same work nature
entrusted to Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Sr.Postmaster officials at par with HSG
II/HSG I/HSG I(NFG) respectively because of the following rock-solid
justifications.
a.
In
addition to 5 years Postal Assistants to get the LSG promotion as per the LSG
recruitment rules, Postmaster Grade I officials have to clear the heavy
syllabus LDC PM Grade I examinations. So they should be treated at par with HSG
II posts straight away by relaxing the service conditions because of their
meritorious nature.
b.
Even
a lower cadre triple handed ‘A’ class post offices are upgraded to Rs.4200
where as higher Cadre Postmaster Grade I – LSG offices are still working with
Rs.2800 Grade pay scale which is adding salt to the burning wounds of
postmasters. During Postmaster Cadre restructure, if ‘A’ Class offices are not
identified for Postmaster Grade I posts, then Postmaster Grade I shall be
eligible for Rs.4600 Grade pay since PM Grade I officials are supervising all
the branches, offices, staff management whereas Post restructure LSG officials(HSG
II after CR) are just supervising the single branch.
c.
More
over as per the tamilnadu circle cadre restructure orders, A person just seeing
the single treasury branch was awarded with Rs.2800 grade pay scale, whereas Postmaster Grade I officials have to manage
the entire Pre-CR LSG class offices(now HSG II status) having 10 to 30
officials establishment including sub appointing administrative nature duties.
d.
Because
of the minimum number of Postmaster cadre posts, Postmaster Grade officials are
stagnated like anything and during their rotational transfers and promotions, Even
Seniors have to migrate to faraway places from their family. Without equal
justified pay, Postmaster cadre morale will be totally spoiled.
e.
As
per the honorable Supreme Court verdicts, same pay should be given to the
Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Sr. Postmaster officials at Par with HSG II/HSG I/HSG
I(NFG)/PS Group B posts respectively till implementing the Postmaster Cadre
restructure w.e.f., 27.05.2016(as on CR orders) since both general line and
postmaster cadres are identical cadres with identical work nature.
5. Practical difficulties arising out of
cadre restructure orders in Group C postal wing reported by some service associations
and proposed solutions:
I.
Major Issue is Massive transfers during cadre restructure
promotions.
Proposed solution: The significant issue arising
out of cadre restructure order is vast transfer orders to other divisions from
official’s working divisions. For that as per the recent postal directorate order no 137-15/2014-SPB-II dated at Dak Bhawan New
Delhi the 21.04.2017 , DPC should be
convened in the descending order viz., HSG-I(NFG), HSG-I, HSG-II and further to
LSG posts. Further to avoid massive transfers from their divisions, after
LSG promotions they may kindly be given with HSG II/HSG I posts officiating
chances available in their working divisions immediately till filling up HSG
II/HSG I posts regularly.
II.
Vast number of HSG II/HSG I posts will not be filled immediately
since wanting of 6 and 5 years’ service completed LSG and HSG II officials
respectively.
Proposed solution: As per the clarification serial no 5 of the above mentioned reference 3 of the
Postal Directorate, cadre
restructuring should be effected first to take precedence to resolve the
further issues like amending the recruitment rules, relaxing the service
conditions etc., In the same manner without implementing the cadre restructure
we cannot take-up the subjects like extending the tenure of the treasury posts.
III.
HSG I (NFG) posts are restricted to 235 posts against to the
bilateral agreement.
Proposed solution : As per the CR bilateral agreement dated
28.04.2014, without restricting no of HSG-I (NFG) posts, all the HSG-I officials
served with 2 years’ service may kindly be upgraded to Rs.4800/- grade pay
scale – level 8 of pay matrix irrespective of no of HSGI(NFG) posts.
IV.
Request was made to convert the LSG/HSG-II posts as divisional
cadre by some service associations.
Proposed solution: If LSG/HSG II posts are
converted as divisional cadres, then one division junior would become senior
and another division senior would become junior in promotional cadres. So it is
not feasible to convert those posts as divisional cadre. In the same way, if
any official is NOT willing for the shifting if any during promotions, he/she
may kindly be allowed for decline such promotion. After debarment period, they
may opt further choice of promotions.
V.
Acute shortage will arise in the Postal Assistant cadre on the
outset of Cadre restructure.
Proposed Solution: To rationalize the cadres with
minimum officiating chances, cadre restructure order was released. So as per
the available norms at present LSG posts only can be filled to the maximum.
Nearly 90% of the HSG II + HSG I posts (8579+2123=10702) could not be filled
because of wanting of 6/5 years’ service completed LSG/HSG II officials
respectively. To avoid the mammoth shortage in Postal Assistants cadre because
of officiating those posts by PAs in newly created HSG II/HSG I posts,
immediate one time relaxation service conditions may kindly be obtained on war
foot basis, to fill all the HSG II/HSG I posts.
Further
LSG/HSG II Recruitment rules may kindly be amended by reducing the required service
conditions to 3/2 years respectively to get HSG II/HSG I posts and further 2 years’
service to get HSG-I(NFG) posts. Timeframe may kindly be fixed to get such
relaxations and till then, only to the minimum period officiating/adhoc chances
may kindly be given to the LSG and PA officials to serve the exact purpose of
cadre restructuring.
VI.
Conflicts between IT modernization pre-requisites and Cadre
restructure orders:
Proposed Solution: We are
in a massive transition period under IT modernization project also, so as per
the finacle checker norms, for upgrading the single handed posts to double
handed posts, earliest CSI/RICT project
implementations may kindly be done to the earliest to calculate the work
load to convert those as double handed offices.
6. Conclusion:
I. Finally, as mentioned already, as per the existing DOPT
norms, every department should review their cadres and without periodical
reviews, we may not expect the better human resource management, if every cadre
is acutely stagnated.
II. After
entire PA establishment posts of our department was drastically reduced and
upgraded as supervisory posts, it is very risky to defer the cadre
restructure even a single minute in the intermediate stage.
III. Postmaster
Cadre restructure process may kindly be expedited on war foot basis as per the
bilateral agreement in the light of the same with Group C wing, by enhancing
the number of Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Sr.Postmaster posts and upgrading their
grade pay to Rs.4200/4600/4800/5400 respectively as per the below table please.
Postmaster Grade I
|
Postmaster Grade II
|
Postmaster Grade
III
|
Senior Postmaster
|
|||||
Before cadre
restructure
|
After Cadre
restructure
|
Before cadre
restructure
|
After Cadre
restructure
|
Before cadre
restructure
|
After Cadre
restructure
|
Before cadre
restructure
|
After Cadre
restructure
|
|
2097
|
2097+2860
=4957
|
511
|
511+708
=1219
|
495
|
495+78
=573
|
29
|
29+141=
170
|
|
* 1/3
Posts of 8579 HSG-II posts may additionally be carved out for PM Grade I
* 1/3
Posts of 2123 HSG-I posts may additionally be out for PM Grade II
* 1/3
Posts of 235 HSG-I (NFG) posts may additionally be carved out for PM Grade III
* Previously 141 operative head post
offices are manned by the administrative cadre (IP/ASP) officials. But those
posts are now purely allotted to the General line officials. Since those posts
are already having one or two HSG-I deputy postmasters, that office in-charge
post should be higher than the HSG-I deputy postmasters i.e., as Senior
Postmaster rank. Since those Sr.PM posts are purely in the hierarchy of
Postmaster Cadre, those all the re-designating head post offices posts may
kindly be allotted to Postmaster Cadre.
Matching savings
for Postmaster Cadre restructure proposal:
6%
posts in operative cadre and 20% posts in supervisory cadre were reduced as a
matching savings when TBOP, BCR scheme was in force. The TBOP/BCR scheme has
been scrapped on introduction of MACP scheme. Directorate has issued orders for
restoration of justified posts vide directorate order number 25-5/2010-PE I dated 19.7.2010 without
6% and 20% cut. But no posts are sanctioned or restored. The cut still remains.
If at all any matching savings is required, the above fact may be taken into
account and the posts yet to be restored may be adjusted as matching savings.
IV. Till such Postmaster Cadre
restructure as per the bilateral agreement, to squash the hierarchical
decimations, and financial grave losses, as per the honorable supreme court
verdicts, same pay may kindly be given to same work nature Postmaster Grade
I/II/III/Sr. Postmaster officials at par with HSG II/HSG I/HSG I (NFG) posts pay
matrix level 6/7/8/9 pay w.e.f 27.05.2016. Regarding Postmaster Cadre
restructure as per the bilateral agreement, this association had already
submitted the numerous letters and reminders vide This association
letter even no AIAPS/GS/CHQ Corr/15-16 dated at New Delhi the 18th
June 2016 and fresh proposal even dated 01st October 2016,
with the reminder requests even
dated 03rd November 2016, 05th December 2016 and 07th
Feb 2017
V. To
avoid the mass dislocations in the Group C wing, DPC may kindly be convened in
the descending order viz., HSG I/HSG II/LSG, and after such promotions,
officiating chances may kindly be given to the newly promoted LSG/HSG II
officials to officiate in the HSG II/HSG I posts to accommodate most of them in
their own postal divisions. It may not attract much financial expenditure to
the department since most of the officials are already got their HSG II/HSG I
equivalent pay under MACPs.
VI. Obtaining
one time service condition relaxation from the DOPT is must and inevitable
since, if newly created 10702 HSG II/HSG I posts are officiated from the LSG
and PA cadres, then mammoth shortage will arise in Postal Assistant cadre. It
is pertinent to mention here that, if higher posts are officiated for the long
period without getting one time service condition relaxation, then acute
shortage will arise in the lower cadre and department may become unmanageable.
VII. So
as per the above proposed solutions, prayers, conclusions Group C Cadre
restructure may kindly be implemented and as assured in the CR bilateral
agreement, till such Postmaster Cadre restructure on war foot basis in the light
of the same with Group C Cadre restructure by enhancing the number of PM cadre
posts and upgrading the equivalent pay, to squash the hierarchy
discriminations, and financial losses, as per the honorable Supreme court
verdicts, Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Sr. Postmaster Cadre officials may kindly
be given with equivalent pay for equivalent work at par with HSG II/HSG I/HSG I
(NFG)/PS Group B officials w.e.f., 27.05.2016(as on CR orders) to render
justice to the entire officials of our esteemed department.
VIII. A line in
reply and an informal meeting in this regard with this recognized service
association representatives would be highly solicited.
With much anticipation and profound
regards.
\sd\
(MANOJ
BHARDWAJ)
Copy
to - as requested vide above reference 1 of the postal directorate :
for necessary earliest action in this regard please.
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