Bhubaneswar Division writes to CHQ / NFPE on adjustment of surplus qualified candidates against future vacancies :

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:-      Adjustment of surplus qualified candidates of any departmental examination against  future vacancies – A suggestion regarding

No.          UN-BN / AIPEU-Gr.-C / 08 - 07 / 2011,            Dated at  Bhubaneswar the 25^th  July, 2011

Dear Comrade,

The Postal Directorate vide its  O.M. No. A-34020/01/2007-DE dated 21.07.2011 dropped the Surplus Qualified Inspectors scheme which was introduced during 2007 and above order is effective from the Inspector of Posts Examination 2011 which will be held on 3rd and 4th September 2011. Inviting ambiguity, circulation of such an instruction, creates a lot of confusions in the minds of the staff members.

1.     The vacancies for the IP examination is calculated circle wise since it is a circle cadre post and the number of vacancies is declared officially as per the recruitment rules in force before the IP examination is conducted. Prior to 2007, no such scheme was in existence and as far our knowledge goes, no amendment has been made and no gazette notification has been published by the Department of Posts either revising the Recruitment Rules for IPs or  implementing such a policy for adjustment of surplus qualified I P candidates of one specific circle to other.

As such, it is not understood under what circumstances, the above scheme was introduced and dropped subsequently.

2.     Further we would like to know, if the Department has ever made any discussion with the Staff Side for implementing such a scheme.

a.     If yes,

i.              Why did the Staff Side agree to such an arbitrary decision ? Since there are several other cadres and in each and every cadre, there are surplus candidates available always. As a practice, the surplus qualified candidates for promotion to the cadre of postman (from GDS) and PAs ( from LSOs )  are now being allotted to other Divisions inside the circle itself. Now in the line of the above decision, it is expected that the Department may take a decision soon to drop allotment of surplus qualified G D S and LGOs to the cadre of Postman / MTS and P As which may go against the interest of such candidates.

ii.             Has the Staff Side   made any discussion so far with the Official Side for allotment of surplus qualified candidates in any other cadre like LGOs and IPs ? Illustratively, we may discuss the case of PS Group-B. If LGOs being Divisional cadre and  IPs being circle cadre are being allotted to other Divisions / Circles when found surplus and also are adjusted against future vacancies, why the surplus P S Group-B candidates cannot be adjusted against future vacancies year. The decision of the Department for allotment of surplus qualified candidates should be uniform for all the cadres as far as the Departmental examinations are concerned, may it be LGO, IP or  P S Group-B.

b.    If no,

i.              Why the Staff Side has not yet protested such arbitrary decision of adjustment of surplus qualified candidates against future vacancies since such adjustment is against the interest of large number of highly qualified, meritorious and efficient candidates now in the Department  who have not appeared this time for some unavoidable reasons or other and may appear next time and perform better ?

ii.             Isn’t it unconstitutional to divert the future vacancies for those candidates who fail to qualify according to the vacancy position already declared? Illustratively, it can be stated that 14 surplus qualified IP candidates for the year  2009 of Orissa Circle required to be adjusted against the unfilled vacancies of other circle of the same year were adjusted against the vacancies of the year 2010 for Orissa Circle. These surplus qualified candidates  got the benefit at the cost of the future generation. It is nothing but to rob Peter and pay Paul.

iii.            Isn’t the decision for adjustment of future vacancies with the surplus qualified candidates without any consultation with the Staff Side arbitrary ?

Recalling the issues connected with Fast Track Promotion Scheme introduced during 2002, it would be proper to intimate you that the Staff Side could be able to drop the said scheme since as per views collected through Divisions / Circles, it went against the mass interest of senior officials and such scheme was introduced without proper consultation with the Staff Side.  

As such, now it should be the responsibility of the Staff Side to see whether it is proper to give the benefit to a few surplus qualified candidates in the way of adjustment against future vacancies by squeezing the throat of a large number of highly qualified, meritorious and efficient candidates now in the Department who have not appeared this time for some unavoidable reasons or other and may appear next time and perform better.

Contradictorily, if the above suggestion is found positive and justified, then why not it will be opened for all cadres starting from LGOs to P S Group-B. The proposal of adjusting surplus qualified candidate should either remain open or it should be dropped invariably for all cadres. Since all these are Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations, we should not allow implementation of different policies for different cadres. Or else, let’s suggest for making all the Departmental examinations qualifying instead of competitive.

May I expect your prompt response for information of the members please?

With greetings.

Comradely yours,

( B  SAMAL)

Secretary, AIPEU, Gr.-C

 Bhubaneswar Divisional Branch