Divisional Union writes to CHQ / NFPE with suggestion for determination of eligibility of existing LSG / HSG-II officials for promotion to HSG-II / HSG-I cadre :

NFPE assures :

“Suggestions will be given attention in the Meeting of Cadre Restructuring Committee.”

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION GROUP – C

( Federated with National Federation of Postal Employees, New Delhi )

BHUBANESWAR DIVISIONAL BRANCH

BHUBANESWAR – 751 007

To

1.     Com. K V Sridharan

General Secretary, AIPEU, Group-C, CHQ

Dada Ghosh Bhawan,2151/1, New Patel Nagar, New Delhi -8

2.     Com. M Krishna

Secretary General, N F P E

North Avenue P O Building, New Delhi – 110 001

Sub:-    Determination of eligibility of existing LSG / HSG-II officials for promotion to HSG-II/HSG-I cadre – A suggestion regarding

No.       UN-BN / AIPEU-Gr.-C /  02 - 08 / 2011,                      Dated at  Bhubaneswar the 8^th August, 2011

Dear Comrade,

This has a reference to Para – 5 Directorate’s letter No. 4-17/2008/SPB.II, dated 07.02.2011 where in  it has been specified that the existing Recruitment Rules to HSG-II and HSG-I are under revision on the same lines as prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for various Grades of Postmasters. It is worth mentioning here that as per Para 5 (IV) and (V) of Directorate’s letter No. 4-17/2008-SPB.II, dated 22.11.2010, the minimum qualifying service prescribed for promotion of Postmaster Grade – I to Grade – II is 6 years ( including regular service in LSG, if any )  and the same from Grade – II to Grade – III is 5 years ( including regular service in HSG-II, if any )  which is more than that provided in the existing Recruitment Rules to HSG-II and HSG-I.

Further,  while issuing clarificatory orders on Postmaster Cadre, the Directorate in its letter No. 4-17/2008/SPB.II, dated 07.02.2011 has instructed at Para 10 of the said letter that no DPC will be convened till such time the revised Recruitment Rules for HSG-I are notified.

In addition, as admitted by the Directorate in its letter No. 4-17/2008/SPB.II, dated 07.02.2011, many Circles  have not been convening DPC meetings year wise for promotion to LSG and HSG-II as result of which the Circle Heads were directed in the said letter to complete the DPC process by 28.02.2011.

Now question arises that the officials who are just offered LSG / HSG-II promotion during February, 2011  by the above order will certainly rank junior to those who have earlier been promoted and accordingly while considering promotion to Postmaster Grade – II or Grade – III, such officials will also rank junior even in the higher grades since regular service in LSG / HSG-II as the case may be will be taken into consideration. Thus while a consolidated gradation list of Postmaster Grade – III will be prepared on all India basis for promotion to the vacancies lying in 25% Senior Postmaster quota, these officials loosing seniority for no fault of their own,  will certainly be deprived of the benefit.  This is one aspect.

Analyzing the other aspect of the ruling for the General Line HSG-I officials, it is expected  that the existing 3 years of qualifying service for promotion of LSG officials to HSG-II and HSG-II officials to HSG-I may be changed to 6 years and 5 years respectively as indicated in Para – 5 Directorate’s letter No. 4-17/2008/SPB.II, dated 07.02.2011.

It will be relevant to inform you that when notional promotion was given massively during 2002 at the time of introduction of Fast Track promotion Scheme, many senior officials from Accounts line left with longer period of service were promoted to LSG who were given regular promotion to HSG-II subsequently and now most of them are continuing in HSG-I on ad-hoc basis including a large number of Fast Track officials also. Had the DPC been convened periodically in due time as per rules, such officials might have been promoted to regular HSG-I. But as the things are going on with frequent extension of adhoc arrangements in HSG-I cadre, latest being vide letter No. 4-16/2002-SPB.II, dated 01.08.2011, these officials may suffer and may not get their due promotion after rendering 3 years of regular service in HSG-II cadre in accordance with the instructions earlier issued by the Department vide letter No. 22-1/89/PE.I ( Vol. II), dated 18.04.2002 and further clarified in letter No. 4-16/2002-SPB.II, dated 12.11.2002.

Thus, to give proper  justice to all the LSG, HSG-II and HSG-I officials, both the Recruitment Rules for Postmaster cadre ( already issued ) and  the one proposed for HSG-I need to be changed / modified. We would like to suggest as follows:

1.     The proposed Recruitment Rules for HSG-I should have prospective effect after giving full justice to the existing HSG-II officials.

2.     Those HSG-II officials who have either completed 3 years of regular service or who would have completed 3 years of regular service had regular DPC meetings been convened in time, should be given HSG-I promotion on regular basis. For this purpose, Circle Heads should be instructed by the Directorate to ascertain the date of eligibility of such officials for promotion to LSG or HSG-II and count their seniority accordingly to promote them to HSG-II or HSG-I as the case may be. The official should not suffer for the fault of the administration by not convening DPC meetings in time.

3.     Similarly, while promoting the Postmaster Grade – I to Grade – II or Grade – II to Grade – III, the date of eligibility of such officials for promotion to LSG or HSG-II should be taken into consideration and accordingly the length of service they have rendered in LSG / HSG-II cadre should be determined. It should not matter whether the Circle Heads have convened the DPC meetings or not.

Since the  Postmaster cadre has not yet been completely constituted and revision of Recruitment Rules for HSG-I is under process, perhaps, this is the right time to appraise the Department  for doing needful well in advance.

With greetings.

Comradely yours,

( B  SAMAL)

Secretary, AIPEU, Gr.-C

 Bhubaneswar Divisional Branch