08/12/2015.
Today Departmental council meeting was held under the Chair of Secretary (P). 7th CPC related issues are discussed. Both Federations submitted joint Memorandum. The meeting discussed all the matters cadre wise. Secretary responded favorably for our demand. Let us hope for the best.
Click here to see the Joint letter.
Today Evening NJCM meeting was held under the Leadership DR. M. Raghavaiah , FNPO was represented by President Shri T.N.Rahate & SGFNPO. Meeting lasted more than 4hours. Finally it has been decided to give 18 points charters of demand within two days to the Government to consider, if Government not consider our genuine demands before February 2016 it has been decided to go on strike from 1st week of March details of the demands will be posted in our Web shortly.
Today Departmental council meeting was held under the Chair of Secretary (P). 7th CPC related issues are discussed. Both Federations submitted joint Memorandum. The meeting discussed all the matters cadre wise. Secretary responded favorably for our demand. Let us hope for the best.
Click here to see the Joint letter.
Today Evening NJCM meeting was held under the Leadership DR. M. Raghavaiah , FNPO was represented by President Shri T.N.Rahate & SGFNPO. Meeting lasted more than 4hours. Finally it has been decided to give 18 points charters of demand within two days to the Government to consider, if Government not consider our genuine demands before February 2016 it has been decided to go on strike from 1st week of March details of the demands will be posted in our Web shortly.
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL
EMPLOYEES
1st Floor, North Avenue Post office, Building, New Delhi –
110001
FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL
ORGANISATIONS
1-24, Atul Grove Road, New Delhi – 110001
No. JCA/7th
CPC/Modification/2015 Dated – 08.12.2015
To
The
Secretary
Department
of Posts
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001
Madam,
Sub: - Process
to examine the recommendations made in the report of 7th CPC report –
Modifications sought for –
Ref: - Your No.
7-1/2015-PCC dated 26.11.2015.
With reference to your letter No. cited above, we are
submitting a note requesting modifications in the recommendations of the 7th
CPC regarding the demands placed by the staff Side (NFPE & FNPO) in the
Joint Memorandum submitted to the Chairman 7th CPC. A copy of the
Joint memorandum submitted by NFPE & FNPO is enclosed herewith for your
ready reference.
It is requested that the Department may suggest the
empowered committee headed by cabinet Secretary, to accept the modification
suggested by us.
Regarding the issues which are common to all Central
Government Employees, the JCM National Council, Staff Side, will be submitting
a detailed letter to Government seeking modifications. As we are part of the
JCM National Council Staff Side, we fully endorse the view points of the JCM
(NC) staff side on issues which are common to all Central Government employees
including Postal.
Yours faithfully,
(R. N. Parashar) (D.
Theagarajan)
Secretary General Secretary General
NFPE FNPO
(R.
N. Parashar) (D.
Kishan Rao)
General
Secretary General Secretary
AIPEU Group ‘C’ NAPE
Group ‘C’
(R.
Seethalakshmi) (T.
N. Rahate)
General Secretary General
Secretary
AIPEU Postmen, MTS/Group ‘D’ NAPE
Postmen, MTS & Group ‘D’
(Giriraj
Singh) (D.
Theagarajan)
General
Secretary General Secretary
AIRMS
& MMS EU Group ‘C’ R3
-FNPO
Sd/-
(P.
Suresh) (N. Ramappa)
General Secretary General
Secretary
AIRMS & MMS EU MTS & MTS/Group ‘D’ R4 - FNPO
(Pranab
Bhattacharjee) (O.
P. Khanna)
General Secretary General
Secretary
AIPAOEU (Admin Union) AIPAOA
(FNPO)
Sd/-
(T.
Satyanaryana) (G.P. Parate)
General
Secretary
General Secretary
AIPAEA (Postal Accounts)
AIPAOA
(Virendra
Tewary)
General Secretary -------------------
AIPSBCOEA
(S. A.
Rahim) (K. Sivadasan)
Gel
Secretary General Secretary
AICWEA (Civil
Wing) NUCWEA
(P. Pandurangarao) (P. U. Muralidharan)
General Secretary General
Secretary
AIPEU-GDS
(NFPE) NUGDS
MODIFICATIONS SOUGHT FOR ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 7TH CPC
ON VARIOUS CADRES/ISSUES RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
I.
PAY
STRUCTURE
1.
Postal
Assistants and Sorting Assistants
Please refer to Chapter VI & VII of our memorandum
submitted to 7th CPC (Copy enclosed). We have explained in detail
the job evaluation of PA/SA and has demanded enhancement of existing grade pay
of 2400 to 4200 and minimum qualification for direct recruits from class XII to
Graduation. Commission has recommended that there is no justification for the
upgrade sought (Para II.8.24)
Modification sought for: - As the department is implementing the IT
Modernisation project including Core Banking Solution and Core Insurance
Solution, the nature of work of PA/SA cadre has become highly complicated and
high-tech. In addition there are other duties performed by PA/SA cadre which we
have elaborately explained in Chapter VI and VII of our memorandum. As there is
enough justification for upgradation of Grade pay of PA/SA from 2400 to 4200,
we demand the Department to take up the case with Government to grant the
enhanced pay scale, modifying the recommendations of the Pay Commission.
2.
Lower
Selection Grade (LSG), Higher Selection Grade-II (HSG-II) and Higher Selection
Grade-I (HSG-I)
Chapter VIII and IX of the memorandum may please be
referred. Consequent on our demand to upgrade PA/SA grade pay from 2400 to
4200, the grade pay of LSG, HSG-II and HSG-I may be upgraded to 4600, 4800 and
5400. Seventh CPC has rejected our demand with the remark – “There is no
justification for the upgrade sought.” (para 11.8.24).
Modification sough
for: - Taking into
consideration, the ardous nature of supervisory duties performed by the LSG,
HSG-II and HSG-I officials as explained in chapter VIII and IX of our
memorandum the upgraded pay scale corresponding to grade pay 4600, 4800 and
5400 may be granted to officials promoted to the above supervisory posts.
3.
Postmaster
Cadre:
7th CPC has not considered our demand for
upgradation of grade pay of Postmaster Grade-I, Grade-II and Grade-III to GP
4600, 4800 and 5400 respectively. The Commission has given the following
favourable recommendations regarding the promotional opportunities of
Postmaster Grade officials.
Para -11.8.18-
“Accordingly the commission recommends that while 25% of the posts of Senior
Postmasters may continue to be filled up from Postmaster Grade –III through
seniority based promotions, eligible officers from the Postmaster cadre
(Postmaster Grade II and Postmaster Grade III) may also be permitted to appear
for LDCE alongwith Inspector (Posts) for the balance 75 percent of the Senior
Postmasters posts.”
The above
recommendation of the 7th CPC may be accepted and implemented.
At the same time it may be pointed out that our demand
for permitting Postmaster Grade officials to write Inspector (Posts) and PS
Group-B Examination is not considered by the Pay Commission.
In view of the above, it is requested that the following
legitimate demands of the Postmaster Grade officials may be considered
favourably while implementing the 7th CPC recommendations.
(i)
The Pay scales of Postmasters Grade-I, grade-II
and Grade-III may be upgraded to the pay scales corresponding to the grade pay
4600, 4800 and 5400 respectively. Chapter X of our memorandum may be referred.
(ii) The
recommendation of the pay commission to allow Postmaster Grade-II and Grade-III
officials to write LDCE of Senior Postmaster Post against the 75% quota
vacancies may be accepted.
(iii) The
Postmaster Cadre officials may be permitted to write Inspector (Posts) and PS
Group B examination also.
4.
PO
& RMS Accountants
Our demand for placing the PO & RMS Accountants at
par with Organised Accounts cadre is rejected by the 7th CPC (Para
11.8.30) stating that the proposal is in the nature of cadre restructuring,
which is not in its ambit (Para 11.8.31).
Notwithstanding our claim to treat PO & RMS
Accountants at par with organised Accounts cadre, we have requested the 7th
CPC that PO & RMS Accountants be declared equal to LSG and their pay scale
be fixed to the proposed grade pay of 4600/-. Further promotion to the
Accountant may be under the ratio 50:30:20 in higher grades and granted pay
scales equivalent to grade pay 4800 and 5400. (HSG-II and HSG-I). A separate
channel of promotion for advancement of their carrier should be considered.
(Chapter XI Para 11.7.4 of our memorandum)
Further we have demanded the 7th CPC that
the special allowance granted to PO & RMS Accountants may be counted
towards fixation of pay on promotion with effect from 01.01.1996 and set aside
the anomaly existing (Chapter XI-Para 11.7.5 (i) of our memorandum).
Unfortunately both the above demands has not been
considered at all by the 7th CPC. In view of the above we request
that the following demands of the PO & RMS accountants may be considered
favourably by the Government while implementing the 7th CPC
recommendations.
(i)
PO & RMS Accountants may be granted LSG pay
scale and separate promotional channel at the ration of 50:30:20 (LSG, HSG-II
& HSG-I).
(ii)
The Special allowance drawn by the PO & RMS
Accountants may be counted for pay fixation at the time of promotion.
PO & RMS Accountants Special
Allowance stands abolished by 7th CPC
Your kind
attention is drawn to para 8.2.5 of 7th CPC report under chapter
“Allownaces”, which reads as follows:
Para 8.2.5 –
“Any allowance not included here (and hence not reported to the commission)
shall cease to exist immediately.
In case there is any demand or requirement for continuance of an existing
allowance which has not been deliberated upon or covered in this report, it
should be re-notified by the Ministry concerned after obtaining due approval of
the Ministry of Finance and should be put in the public domain.”
We have gone
through the entire chapter “Allowances” of 7th CPC. There is no
mention about the “PO & RMS Accountants Special allowance” in this chapter
and hence 7th CPC has not deliberated upon it and no recommendation
for enhancement is given. It means that Department of Posts has not reported
this allowances to 7th CPC. Hence as per the recommendation of the
Pay Commission the PO & RMS Accountants Special allowance will stand
abolished immediately. This should not happen under any circumstances. Due to
an omission on the part of the Department of Posts, the PO & RMS
Accountants should not be made to suffer, Hence we request that the Department
should convince the government that PO & RMS Accountant special allowance
is to be continued and also enhanced as per the 7th CPC formula.
5.
System
Administrators:
The recommendations of the 7th CPC on System
Administrators demands is reproduced below:
Para 11.8.52 – the 5th & 6th
CPC have also dealt with this issue and have not recommended separate cadres.
The Commission also see no rational for creation of a separate cadre”.
We have given full justification for our demand for a
separate cadre in Chapter XII of our memorandum submitted to 7th
CPC. Hence it is once again requested to accept the following demands of the
System Administrators:
(i)
All system Administrators may be placed in the
grade pay of 4600 considering ardous nature of their job and requirement of
higher skill and knowledge in Technology.
(ii)
A separate cadre with nomenclature of “System
Assistant” may be created.
(iii)
Their promotional avenues may be fixed in the
ration of 40:40:20. These higher posts at the ratio of 40:40:20 may be decided
considering the number of systems as well as responsibilities they handled
during the course of the day.
6.
Marketing
executives
The recommendation of the 7th CPC is same as
that of System Administrators (Para 11.8.52).
We request the Department to consider our demand for higher
pay scale of GP 4600 to Marketing Executives. Justification for our demand is
explained in Chapter XIII of our memorandum submitted to 7th CPC
(copy enclosed).
7.
Postmen:
Recommendations
of 7th CPC regarding the demand of Postmen cadre is reproduced
below:
Para 11.8.28 – They have
demanded that the grade pay of Postman may be enhanced from GP 2000 to GP 2800.
Para 11.8.29 – The Commission
noted that the VI CPC has consciously recommended upgradation of Postman in the
Department of Posts and the analogous post of Mailguard in Railway Mail Service
to their present level. The Commission noted the entry level qualification
prescribed (Class X or ITI for MTS) and also the work content, and is of the
view that there is no justification for further raising the entry grade pay of
Postman.
In Chapter
XIV of our memorandum submitted to 7th CPC we have explained in
detail the justification for our demand for upgradation of pay scale of
Postmen. Unfortunately the Pay commission has not considered it but simply rejected
the demand stating that 6th CPC has already enhanced the pay scale.
We request
the department to consider our justified demand and grant higher pay scale to
Postmen staff.
8.
Mail
Guard:
The request
made by us with regard to Postmen may please be made applicable to Mail Guard
in RMS also as they are treated as analogous posts. Higher pay scale may be
granted to Mail guard also. Please refer to Chapter XIX of our memorandum
submitted to 7th CPC
9.
Sorting/Head
Postmen and Mail/Cash overseers:
Please
refer to Chpater XV of our memorandum submitted to 7th CPC. The 7th
CPC has not at all examined our demand for higher pay scale of GP 4200 to Sorting/Head
Postmen and Mail/Cash overseers, keeping in view the supervisory duties
performed by them, unlike Postmen staff. At present they are placed in GP 2000,
just like Postmen.
We request
the Department to consider our demand for higher pay scale for the above
categories of staff.
10. Multi Tasking staff (MTS):
The recommendation of the 7th Pay
Commission regarding the MTS of Postal Department is furnished below: -
Para
11.8.36 – They have demanded higher GP 2000 for MTS-domestic posts and
GP 2400 for MTS Foreign Posts, stating that the job profiles require greater
skill as compared to MTS of other departments. Higher educational qualification
for entry into MTS-Foreign Posts has also been proposed.
Para 11.8.37 – The Commission is of the view that
given the minimum entry level qualification of class X and the job content of
MTS-domestic posts, the existing GP 1800 appears to be appropriate. In so far
as MTS-Foreign Posts are concerned, it is noted that they have, as packers of
Foreign posts, been treated as skilled workers and accordingly, in the wake of
judgment of High Court of Delhi, they are provided GP 1900. No upgrade is
considered necessary for either MTS-domestic or MTS Foreign Posts.
We have explained the justification for higher pay
scale for MTS domestic and Foreign Posts in our memorandum submitted to 7th
CPC, in Chapter XVI. We request the Department to consider the demand
favourably and necessary modification may be sought for.
11. Postal Assistant (SBCO) Cadre:
The
following is the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission relating
to the demands of PA (SBCO) cadre.
Para 11.8.26 – They have demanded an
increase in the entry grade pay of PA(SBCO) from GP 2400 to GP 4200, on the
grounds that their duties are such that they can not be equated with Postal
Assistant in Postal Circles but more particularly with Audit staff. They have
also demanded 10% of grade pay as cash handling allowance.
Para 11.8.27 – the Commission has noted
that the stipulated entry level qualification and recruitment process of Postal
Assistant (SBCO) is similar to that of direct recruit Postal Assistant in the
Postal Assistant cadre and their promotional channel, is identical. The
Commission is therefore of the view that no upgradation is warranted.
As regards
grant of cash handling allowance the commission is of the view that the spread
of banking and internet based payments coming into vogue, there is no merit in
granting and allowance for handling cash.
In Chapter
XVII of our memorandum submitted to 7th Pay Commission we has
clearly given full justification for our demand to treat the PA (SBCO)
cadre at
par with Audit staff and grant higher entry pay scale of GP 4200. We
reiterate
our demand and request the Department to consider it favourably for
modifications. It may be noted that the Recruitment Rules are not
identical as PA(SBCO) Cadre there is 100% direct recruitment and also
promotional avenues are restricted to SBCO staff only.
We have not
demanded any cash handling allowance for PA (SBCO) cadre.
12. Mail Motor Service (MMS):
(a) MMS Drivers – In Chapter XVIII para 5
of our memorandum submitted to 7th CPC, we have requested that MMS
Drivers shall not be equated with staff car drivers as MMS drivers are driving
heavy duty vehicles in most of the cases. Further they are exchanging valuable
mails such as mail bag, Parcel bag, Cash bag, stamps bag, Speed Post bags etc.
from post offices and handing over the same to RMS under acquitance. They are
responsible for transportation of mail between RMS offices and post offices.
Hence we have demanded upgradation of pay scale of MMS Drivers with GP 2800.
Unfortunately,
the 7th CPC has not examined our demand. Hence we request the
Department to consider the demand favourably.
(b) Despatch Riders (MMS) – The
Recommendation of the 7th CPC is furnish below:
Para 11.8.34 - A demand has been made for merger of the post
of Despatch Riders with MMS Drivers as the nature of their work is similar.
Para
11.8.35 – The Commission is of the view that this is and administrative matter
and it is for the department to take a view.
As 7th
CPC has clearly stated that Postal department can take a decision regarding
merger of Despatch Riders (MMS) with Drivers (MMS), we request the department
to accept our demand and issue orders accordingly.
(C) Artisans: The recommendations of the 7th CPC
is furnished below:
Para
11.8.42 – A demand has been made to upgrade the levels of Artisans at par
with those in Railways and Defence. In their memorandum the staff side has
pointed out that the 5th CPC
had clubbed both pay scales of Artisan Grade-I (1320-2040) and feeder posts of
Artisan Grade-II (1200-1800) into one pay scale of 4000-6000. This anomaly, as
the staff side pointed out was rectified in respect of Artisan staff of
Railways and Defence whereby Artisan Grade-II were placed in the pay scale of
4000-6000 and Artisan Grade-I were placed in the pay scale of 4500-7000.
Accordingly the staff side has urged that
the pay scales as implemented for Artisans of Railways and Defence be given to
Grade-I and Grade-II Artisans of MMS of Department of Posts.
Para 11.8.43 – The Commission has observed
that the 6th CPC has upgraded the post of Artisan Grade-I to GP 2800
as a consequence of which the anomaly in the heirarchial structure of artisans
in the Department of Posts had got resolved. The Commission is of the view that
no anomaly exists in the present pay structure of these posts. The cadre of
artisans in the Department of Posts shall accordingly be extended only
corresponding replacement level of pay.
Notwithstanding the recommendations of the
7th CPC, We request the department to consider and implement the
agreed proposals of the Cadre Review Committee in respect of Artisans of MMS.
(d) Technical supervisors: The recommendations of the 7th CPC
are furnished below:
Para 11.8.46 – A demand has been
submitted to grant higher grade pay to the isolated post of Technical
Supervisors of Mail Motor Service (MMS) to which the entry is presently GP 4200
with minimum qualification of diploma in Mechanical/Automobile Engineering with
two years of experience.
Para 11.8.47- The commission notes that
the existing level of Technical Supervisors in MMS is in line with the 6th
CPC recommendations that posts carrying minimum qualification of Diploma in
Engineering should be placed in GP 4200. Hence they are placed at the
appropriate level and no upgrade recommended.
Notwithstanding
the recommendations of 7th CPC we request the Department to
implement the agreed proposal of Cadre Review Committee in respect of Technical
Supervisors in MMS.
(e) Eventhough
we have explained and submitted our demand regarding the following categories
of MMS staff also to the 7th CPC in Chapter XVIII of our memorandum,
the pay Commission has not examined our demand.
1. Cleaner 6.
Store Officer
2. Charge
hand 7. Foreman
3. Inspector 8. Head Clerks
4. Asst.
Manager 9. Manager
5. Office
Assistant 10. Postal
Machine Assistants (PMA)
(f)
Superintendent Sorting (Gazetted) –There are 4 Posts of
Superintendent Sorting (Gazetted) in the Grade
Pay of Rs.4600/- . This is a
promotional post from HSG-I which is
also in the Grade
Pay of Rs. 4600/- (Non-Gazetted) Promotion to Gazetted
Cadre from non- Gazetted cadre is in
identical Pay Scale. This is an
anomaly. Grade Pay of Superintendent sorting may be upgraded to Rs. 4800/-.
We reiterate
our demand and request department to consider it favourably.
13. Postal Administrative office Staff
Eventhough we has elaborately explained in Chapter XXI
of our memorandum to 7th CPC the demands of the staff working in the
Postal Administrative offices, the 7th Pay Commission has not
examined their grievances. We request the department to examine their demands
and make favourable recommendations to the Government. It may be noted that
they are having separate recruitment rules with 75% direct recruit and 25% by
promotion
14. Postal Civil and Electrical Wing
Eventhough
we have explained in detail in Chapter XXII of our memorandum to 7th
CPC, our demands relating to various cadres of staff working in the Postal
Civil and Electrical Wing, the 7th CPC has not examined any of their
demands. We request the department to examine their demands and make favourable
recommendations to Government.
15. Foreign Post Administration, Returned
Letter offices (RLO) Postal Stores Deport (PSD) and Stamp Depots
In Chapter XXIV, XXV and XXVI of the memorandum
submitted to 7th CPC we have explained and placed the demands of the
Staff working in Foreign Post Administration, RLO, PSD and CSDs. But the 7th
CPC has not analysed or examined any of their demands. We request the
department to consider their demands favourably and recommend to the government
accordingly.
16. Postal Accounts Staff
Cadres
Core
Accounting Cadres: These
cadres are akin to the cadres in the organized accounts Departments like
IA&AD, Railway Accounts, Civil Accounts, Defence Accounts and are deployed
on the core activities of the Postal Accounts Organization.
1. Junior
Accountants:
The V CPC distinguished the UDCs
(designated as Senior Clerks) in the Ministerial cadre of Railways and assigned
higher Pay Scale of 4500-7000 (pre-revised Pay Scale of 1400-2300) on the
consideration that in the cadre of Senior Clerks there was an induction (direct
entry) of 1/3rd by the graduates where as UDCs of CSS & other
offices were promotees from LDCs who were matriculates only. The said
Commission however did not recommend the Pay Scale of 4500-7000 for
Auditors/Accountants in which cadre there was induction of graduates to the
extent of 50% to 80%.
Government of India took note of
this omission of V CPC and upgraded the Pay Scale of Auditors/Accountants to
4500-7000 only notionally with effect from 01.01.1996 and actually with effect
from 19.02.2003. In Para 7.56 of their Report for other posts in IA&AD, the
VI CPC had recommended that,
“The Commission has separately recommended
Parity between Secretariat and Non Secretariat Organizations in Chapter 3.1` of
the Report which will also extend to other posts in IA&AD.”
The VI CPC, conceding the principle parity
between Field and Secretariat office, had given the following existing and
revised pay structure in Field Organizations vide Table below Para 3.1.14 of VI
CPC Report:
|
Post
|
Present Pay Scale Recommended Pay Scale
|
Recommended
Pay Band Grade Pay
|
|
Head Clerk/Assistant
Steno Gr II &
Equivalent
|
4500-7000 6500-10500
5000-8000
|
PB-2 4200
|
The
term “Equivalent” invariably meant inclusion of Auditors/Accountants in the field
offices of IA&AD and Organized Accounts. This is very lucidly implied from
that fact the nowhere else the VI CPC had recommended the revised Pay Band and
Grade Pay for Auditors/Accountants.
In the light of these,
Auditors/Accountants should have been granted the Grade Pay of 4200 in PB-2 and
not Grade Pay of 2800 in PB-1 by the Government. But it was overlooked.
But the 7CPC has rejected the demand
for GP 4200, PB2 to Auditor/Accountant by inventing a new baseless and
irrational ground that, applicants who are appointed as Accountant and Auditor
in the CGLE examination which conducts the written examination and interview
for recruitments in the grade pay of 4600, 4200 and 2800 appear only written
examination and not interview. This proposition of 7 CPC was not only
irrelevant but also totally wrong. There was no decision of this nature and the
pay scales of Accountant was never determined on this basis more over, the 7CPC
had not also taken into account the fact that continuation and further promotion
in the post of Accountant/ Auditor by the even after their regular appointment
is dependent on the clearing of Departmental Confirmatory Examination within a
period of two years and in four chances. 7CPC seems to be unaware of the fact
that increments shall be available to the Accountants/Auditors only after
qualifying in the Departmental Confirmatory Examination. The C&AG of India
also recommended in its Memorandum submitted to the 7th CPC the same
higher scale for replacement to the cadre of Junior Accountant cadre. This
being the position obtaining in the Organized Accounts Departments, it is requested that the Department of Posts
strongly recommend to the Government for grant of the replacement pay scale of
PB 2 GP 4200 i.e. level 6 pay scale of
Table 5 in Pay Matrix to the Junior Accountants.
2.
Senior Accountants:
7th CPC has
examined the parity of Pay scales with Assistance of CSS elaborately in the
Chapter relating to Ministry of Defence under Organised Accounts Staff heading
In para 11.12.134, 135, 136 and 137. The Commission simply observed that,
“The
Commission, in Chapter 7.1, has already taken a view with regard to pay, level of Assistants of CSS. The
recommendation there in settles the parities as have been sought to be established.”
But in the Para 11.62.17 the 7CPC
contradicted itself by stating that posts belonging to two different services
performing distinct functions cannot be treated at per merely for the reason of
being in identical pay scales at some point of time and therefore, recommended
normal replacement levels for the Senior Auditors/Accountants.
The 7CPC has adopted
the most unscientific method to deal with the pay parity issue with the
Assistants of Central Secretariat. Assistants of Central Secretariat have been
brought down to level 6 in the Pay Matrix and thus settling the parity claims
of others. At the same time the Pay protection is allowed to the Assistants
already in the G.P. of Rs.4600. This method adopted to negate the claims of pay
parity is not rational. Disparity is allowed to continue further by way of Pay
Protection. The Senior Accountants/Auditors are claiming higher-grade pay on
scientific / historical ground. C&AG also recommended the higher Grade Pay
in his Memorandum to 7th CPC. Appreciating all these facts the
Senior Accountants/Auditors / Account Assistants (Railways) should be granted
level 7 in the Pay Matrix by treating the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600 as replacement.
Besides this position
obtaining in the Organized Accounts Departments, it is brought to your kind
notice that the 7th CPC has not paid any attention to the internal
vertical pay relativities in the Department of Posts. IPOs and the Senior
Accountants all along are drawing the grade pay of Rs.4200. But disturbing that
relativity the 7th CPC has recommended higher replacement Grade Pay
of Rs.4600 for IPOs. Hence, there is a need and justification to grant upgraded
replacement for Senior Accountants.
We
therefore, request that the Senior Accountants may kindly be placed in the
replacement pay scale of PB 2 GP 4600 i.e. level 7 pay scale of Table 5.Pay Matrix. The Department is requested to pursue
this issue with the Implementation Cell and render justice to the Senior
Accountant cadre.
3.
Assistant Accounts Officers:
The 7 CPC
vide Para No.11.12.140 made the following recommendations:
“The Commission is therefore of the
view that there is no justification for excluding officers in the Organized
Accounting Departments who are at GP 4800 from this dispensation. It therefore
recommends that all officers in Organized Accounts cadres (in Indian Audit and
Accounts Department, Defence Accounts Department, Indian Civil Accounts
Organization, Railways, Post and Telecommunication) who are in GP4800 should be
upgraded, on completion of four years’ service to GP 5400(PB-2), viz, Pay level
9, in the pay matrix”.
We
therefore, request that this recommendation may kindly be implemented in the
Department of Posts too.
4.
Accounts/Audit/Senior Accounts/Audit Officer:
It does not appear from the
recommendations that the 7 CPC has examined the submissions of the Joint Action
Committee of Accounts and Audit Employees and Officers Organizations to which
this Association is an affiliate, as well as the submissions of the Accounts/
Audit /Sr. Accounts/ Audit Officers organizations. Instead it has expressed its
constraint of granting appropriate pay scales to these officers on the plea
that they shall occupy the space of feeder grades of Group A level, which is
untenable.
This
Association requests therefore to propose to the Implementation Cell that the
Accounts /Sr. Accounts Officers may kindly be placed in the following higher
replacement pay scales
1.
Accounts Officer Gr I GP 6600P B3 level 11
pay scale of Table 5.Pay Matrix
2.
Sr. Accounts Officer GP 7600 PB 3 level 12 pay scale of Table 5.Pay Matrix
Qualification
Pay
The 7 CPC vide Para 8.9.45 recommended
following in respect of Qualification Pay while discussing the Qualification
pay granted to the Railway accounts Staff in
Paras 8.9.43 & 44 respectively :
“Since
the allowance is not indexed to DA, it is recommended to raise it by a factor
of 2.25. The amount will further rise by 25 percent each time DA crosses 50
percent. The nomenclature should be changed to Railway Accounts Examination
Allowance”
This isolated recommendation of clearly
conveys that the 7CPC did not study the memorandums submitted by different
employees Associations of Accounts and audit organizations thoroughly and this
has resulted giving piecemeal recommendations or contradictory recommendations.
Postal Accounts employees also are presently
receiving Qualification Pay on passing the Departmental examination for
promotion from LDC to JA and Direct Recruitment Candidates who passed the
confirmation examination. JAO Part-II exam passed candidates awaiting for
promotion are also eligible for such Qualification Pay. Hence, the above said
recommendation of the 7th CPC should be made applicable in respect
of Postal Accounts also. Hence, it is requested to take up this issue with the
Implementation Cell.
Common
Cadres
1. Multi
Tasking Staff:
This cadre is a common cadre. The minimum pay
proposed by the JCM Staff Side is Rs.26000/-. The 7th CPC has
depressed the minimum pay to Rs. 18000/-. This minimum has to be raised to Rs.
26000. The Staff Side JCM has very clearly brought out the calculations in this
regard. Unless the minimum pay is raised the benefit out of this Pay Commission
will not last long. Hence, it is requested to support the Staff Side views in this
regard and suggest the pay of Rs.26000 at starting level for MTS.
2. Sorter,
LDC and DEO cadres:
This cadre in the Postal Accounts is a dying
cadre. Promotion to this cadre is stopped. This Association has proposed merger
of Sorter, LDC and DEOs in Chennai Office and re-designating the same as
Accounts Assistant. The Grade Pay proposed for such a re-designated cadre is
Rs. 2400/-. The 7th CPC is requested to suggest the replacement for
the said Grade Pay. The proposal in this regard has also been accepted by the
Department of Post. It is worth mentioning that the C&AG in his Memorandum
to the 7th CPC also mooted a similar proposal. Hence, it requested to strongly
propose to the implementation cell to give a replacement pay level of 4 in the
new Pay Matrix to these cadres.
17. Various Posts in Postal Dispensaries:
In Chapter
XXXX of our memorandum submitted to the 7th C PC we have demanded as
follows:
Para
40.1.7 – The conditions of service, nature of duties etc. of the staff working
in the P&T Dispensaries including para-medical staff are identical to those
of the CGHS staff. Hence the avenues of promotions, special pay, patient care
allowance etc. which are now available to CGHS staff should be extended to
P&T Dispensaries staff also.
The 7th CPC has made the
following recommendations in respect of various posts in Postal Dispensaries.
Para 11.8.40 – Higher levels of pay
have been sought for staff Nurses and Para medical staff at par with similar
categories of posts in other departments including CGHS.
Para
11.8.41 – The Commission is in agreement with the views of the 6th
CPC and recommends MMEDIATE MERGER
of the remaining 33 Postal Dispensaries in 10 Postal Circles with CGHS so that
the Postal Dispensary employees get the benefit of CGHS posts. Merging of
Postal Dispensaries with CGHS will also help in better use of infrastructure.
The Commission has separately discussed the issue regarding extension of the
benefit under CGHS to retired Postal employees in Chapter 9.5.
As the 7th
CPC has unambiguously recommended immediate merger of the remaining Postal
Dispensaries with CGHS to facilitate the extension of benefits of CGHS staff to
Postal dispensary staff also, we request the department to implement the above
recommendations without any further delay.
18. Public Relations inspector (PRI (P)),
Caretaker, Gestetner Operator, Development officer (PLI), Welfare Inspector and
Hindi Translator:
Eventhought
we have presented the nature of job and demands of the above categories of
staff before the 7th CPC in Chapter XXX of our memorandum, the 7th
CPC has not examined their case. We request the department to consider their
case favourably and make recommendations accordingly.
19. Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS)
Eventhough
the Government repeatedly refused to include the Gramin Dak Sevaks under the
purview of 7th CPC, the 7th CPC suo-moto reviewed the
case of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) and made the following most damaging and
retrograde recommendations regarding Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Para 11.8.50 - Government of India has
so far held that the GDS is outside the civil services of the Union and shall
not claim to be at par with the Central Government employees. The Supreme Court
Judgment also states that GDS are only holders of civil posts but not civilian
employees. The Commission endorses this view and therefore has no
recommnedations with regard to GDS.
We
strongly disagree with the above observations of the 7th CPC. In
Chapter XXXVIII of our memorandum submitted to 7th CPC, we have
explained all the legal points regarding grant of Civil Servant status to GDS.
We furnish
below, the observation made in the fourth CPC Report by Hon’ble Justice (Retd.)
Supreme Court, Shri. P. N. Singhal, who was the Chairman of the fourth Central
Pay Commission, regarding the status of GDS:
“A letter
was received from the Ministry of Communications (P&T Board) for exclusion
of the Extra Departmental Employees (Now called GDS), numbering about three
lakhs, from the purview of our inquiry. It was stated that the system of
Extra-Departmental Agents was peculiar to the P&T organsation and was
designed to extend postal facilities in rural and backward areas where opening
of regular departmental post offices was not justified due to inadequate
workload. The remuneration and conditions of service of Extra Departmental
Agents were also different from those of regular employees. The third pay
commission accepted the view that the Extra-Departmental agents were not holders of civil posts
and decided to exclude them from its purview. The matter is, however, beyond
controversy after the decision of the Supreme Court in Gokulnandas’ case where
it has been declared that the Extra Departmental Agents is not a casual
workers, but “holds” a post under the administrative control of the state” and
that while such a post is outside the regular civil services, there is no doubt
that it a post under the “state”. In
view of this pronouncement, we are unable to accept the contention that Extra-
Departmental employees were outside the purview of the terms of our commission”
From the above observation it is clear that fourth CPC was in conclusion that
the ED Agents (now GDS) are Civil Servants and therefore they are to be brought
under the purview of Pay Commission.
Now the
recommendations made by Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, Chairman 7th
CPC, who is also a Retired Justice of the Supreme Court is quite contradictory
to the observation made by Justice (Retd) Supreme Court Shri P. N. Singhal,
chairman, Fourth CPC.
Further
Justice Charanjit Talwar Committee headed by Retired Justice Shri Charanjit
Talwar of Delhi High Court, who was the Chairman of the One-man Committee which
examined the wages and Service Conditions of Gramin Dak Sevaks (then EDAs) has
made the following recommendations in its report submitted to Government.
“Extra
Departmental Agents have to be included within the overall class of Civil
Servants being holders of civil posts. They can be grouped as “additional” to
the departmental employees, but they cannot be classified as a class apart from
the Civil Servants. At any rate they cannot be classified with the sole object
of not granting them benefits which accrue to departmental
employee………………………………. The plea taken by the Department before the second and
third Pay Commissions and also before various learned Tribunals that ED Agents
are a class apart is entirely misconceived. It is violative of Article 14 and
16 of the constitution…………. They have
been held by the Supreme Court to be Civil Servants. Therefore, these employees
are required in future to be included within the purview of the Pay
Commission…………. It is therefore recommended that whenever it is required to
review the service conditions and wage structure of the employees of the
Department of Posts, ED Agents be bracketed along with the departmental
employees. There is no need to set up a separate committee or commission for ED
Agents.”
Here again
the recommendations made by Chairman 7th CPC is contradictory to the
recommendations of another Judge Shri. Charanjit Talwar.
Thus it
can be safely concluded that the 7th CPC has not examined the case
of GDS in a fair and judicial manner, but simply repeated the often – repeated
arguments of the Postal Board and Government of India to deny Justice to the
three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks.
We urge
upon the Government of India and Departmental of Post to reject the retrograde
recommendations of the 7th CPC relating to GDS and treat the GDS as
Civil Servants and extend all the benefits of the departmental employees on
pro-rata basis to Gramin Dak Sevaks also.
20. Implement Cadre restructuring Agreement
of Group ‘C’ employees of Department of Posts before the implementation of 7th
CPC Recommendations.
The 7th
Pay Commission made the following observation regarding Cadre Review.
Para 1.26
– A serious grievance has been made by all services that Cadre Review have not
been taken place for years together, which has resulted in great anguish and
frustration among the services. Though it is essentially an administrative
matter, it has serious impact on the status and emoluments of employees. On
account of delay in Cadre Reviews, many Central Services lag behind and that
give rise to frustration and ultimately affects governance.”
The above observations
are cent percent true in the case of Group ‘C’ employees of the Department of
Posts. Not even a single cadre review has been conducted in the Department of
Posts in respect of Group ‘C’ employees. Finally, after much pressure from the
staff side and after giving notice for an Indefinite strike, a Cadre
Restructuring Committee for Group ‘C’ was constituted in the year 2010. The
Committee after protracted negotiations, finally signed an agreed proposal in
the month of April 2013. Before that three separate Cadre Restructuring
Committees constituted for Mail Motor Service (MMS) , Postal Accounts and Civil
wing have also concluded their business and agreement was signed by both
Department and staff side. Eventhough two years are over after signing the
agreement (four years after constituting the committees) till this day the Cadre
Restructuring Committees proposal are not implemented, thereby delaying and
denying the Group C employees their legitimate career improvement.
We
strongly protest the undue delay in implementing the Cadre Restructuring
agreements and demand the Department to take immediate necessary action to
implement the proposals before implementation of 7th CPC
recommendations.
21. Filling up of Vacant Posts.
The 7th CPC has made the following
shocking revelations in its report regarding unfilled posts remaining vacant in
the Postal Department.
Para 11.8.3 – In the Postal Department there are
59817 vacant posts (Group A-131, Group B-3029 and Group C – 56657)
It may be seen that out of 59817 posts 56657 posts are
lying vacant in Group ‘C’ cadre. That means about 30% posts are vacant and the
existing employees are compelled to shoulder the additional work of this 30%
vacant posts also. Not only that, the efficiency of the Postal Department
including delivery work and counter work are badly affected due to non-filing
up of vacant posts.
As there
is no ban on filling up of vacant posts from 2010 onwards, the Postal Board cannot
absolve itself from its failure to fill up the vacant posts.
We urge
upon the Postal Board to take immediate action, on war-footing, to fill up all
the posts lying vacant in the Postal Department.
(Please refer Chapter XXVIII of our
memorandum submitted to 7th CPC also.)
22. Modified Assured Progression Scheme
(MACP)
Referring our demand for five Assured Carreer
Progression the 7th CPC has made the following recommendations
relating to MACP.
Para 5.1.44 – There is no justification for
increasing the frequency of MACP and it will continue to be administered as
10,20,30 years as before. In the new pay matrix, the employee will move to the
immediate next level in the hierarchy. Fixation of pay will follow the same
principle as that for a regular promotion in the pay matrix.
In
addition the commission has made the following retrograde recommendations also:
Para
5.1.45 – The commission recommends that the bench mark in the interest of
improving performance level, be enhanced from “good” to “very good”. In
addition introduction of more stringent criteria such as clearing of
departmental examination or mandatory training before grant of MACP can also be
considered.
We strongly oppose the above two conditions (i.e.
“very good” benchmark and Examination) proposed by the 7th CPC. We
request the Department and Government of India to reject the above two
retrograde conditions recommended by 7th CPC.
Further
the following demands submitted by us to the 7th CPC in Chapter XX
of our memorandum has not been considered by the 7th CPC. We request
the department to consider the demands and recommend to the Government for
acceptance.
(a)
As there is only limited chance for regular
promotions in Postal Department, there should be five financial upgradaiton on
completion of 8 years, 7 years, 6 years, 5 years and four years. (during a span
of 30 years of service) in the departmental promotional hierarchy (and not the
next pay scale in the hierarchy.)
(b)
The period of service worked as “Reserved
Trained Pool” (RTP) candidate and also 50% of the Temporary Status/Casual labourers
service and pre-appointment Training period may be counted as regular service
for grant of MACP
(c)
Whenever Departmental Examination oriented
promotions are granted, the service rendered by such employees in the lower
post must be ignored and such promotion shall be treated as first (fresh
appointment in that cadre and fresh MACP promotion shall commence from the date
of such promotion. The CAT Jodhpur Bench and Rajasthan High Court has upheld
the above position. Hence it is requested that the promotion earned through
departmental examination should not be counted towards MACP and all promotees
may be granted eligible 3rd MACP.
(d)
Stepping up of pay with that of junior may be
permitted in MACP also.
(e)
Bench marks should be abolished.
(f)
If regular promotion and the MACP upgradation
are in the identical pay two increment fixation benefit should be granted.
23. Special
Pay, Allowances and incentives:
Please
refer to chapter XXXI and XXXII of our memorandum submitted to 7th
CPC. The following allowances may be retained and enhanced as demanded by us in
the memorandum
(a)
Cash handling allowance to Treasurers/Cashiers –
Also Same amount may be granted to Treasures and Cashier.
(b)
Cash handling allowance to SPMs in A class post
offices.
(c)
Cash handling allowance to single/double handed
post offices.
(d)
Split duty allowance.
(e)
Outstation Allowance.
(f)
Fixed Monetary Compensation and double duty
allowance to Postmen in lieu of OTA. If the recommendations of pay Commission
is accepted the existing compensation will be reduced.
(g)
Savings Bank Allowance.
(h)
Incentive to Staff working on AMPC.
(i)
Overtime allowance to be granted with reference
to the revised pay.
(j) Family Planning Allowance may be retained and
enhanced.
(k) Dress
allowance- the higher slab of 10000/- may be granted and Postal Department’s name may also be included
in the list of departments eligible for dress allowance.
(l) Incentives for sports persons may be
retained.
The
recommendation of the 7th CPC to abolish Cash handling allowance,
Savings Bank Allowance, Overtime Allowance etc. may be rejected and continued
grant of such allowances at enhanced rate may be ensured.
24. Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to
Postal Employees.
Please refer to chapter XXXXI of our memorandum
submitted to 7th CPC. The artificial cap of 60 days imposed by
Finance Ministry on PLB to Postal employees may be removed and maximum eligible
Bonus as per PLB formula may be granted.
25. Counting of Past Services of RTP
Please refer to chapter XXVII of our memorandum
submitted to 7th CPC. We once again request to render justice to the
deserving genuine case of Erst-while Reserved Trained Pool (RTP) official of
the Postal department atleast by counting their RTP services as qualifying
service for all purposes including MACP promotion and pensionary benefits.
26. Women Employees
(a) Child Care Leave: The recommendation of
the 7th CPC to restrict the Pay and allowances for the 2nd
year of child care leave to 80% may be rejected and status-quo may be
maintained. Chapter XXXIX of our memorandum submitted to 7th CPC may
be referred and our deamands in respect of women employees may be considered
favourably and recommended for acceptance of the Government.
27. Leave Reserve
Our demand to increase leave reserve percentage of
Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant and Postmen to 20% may be considered
favourably. Refer chapter XXXIII of our memorandum. Similarly various issues
which merit consideration submitted by us to 7th CPC in chapter
XXXIV of our memorandum may be considered favourably.
28. Charge Allowance to Postmasters
Our demand for grant of charge allowance to Postmaster
(see chapter XXXV of our memorandum may be considered favourably.
29. Holidays, Casual Leave
The following demands may be considered
favourably
(a)
Closure of all RMS offices on sundays and
holidays.
(b)
Enhance casual leave to 15 days.
(c)
Grant Holiday for May Day (1st May).
30. Casual, Part-Time, Contingent Employees
Please
refer to chapter XXXXII of our memorandum submitted to 7th CPC.
Following demands may be considered favourbaly for implementation.
(a)
Department should evolve a scheme by which all
casual, contingent and daily-rated workers are regularized with all the
concomitant benefit available for regular Government employees.
(b)
Pending finalistaion of such a scheme for
regularization, the non-regular employees (Part Time, Casual and Contingent
employees) must be paid pro-rata wages at par with the similarly placed regular
employees on the principle of equal pay for equal work.
31. Stenographers
(a) We demand that parity
with CSSS pay scales may be granted to the Stenographers working in Postal Department also as they are
also selected through Staff Selection Commission.
(b) Cadre Restructuring
Proposals in respect of Stenographers of the Postal department may be
implemented before implementation of 7th CPC recommendations.
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