Saturday, August 25, 2012

CORRUPTION CASES AGAINST TOP OFFICIALS


As per the information provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), it has registered 97 cases [71 Regular Cases (RCs) and 26 Preliminary Enquiries (PEs)] involving 129 officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above during the last 3 years i.e. 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 (upto 31.7.2012). 15 officers are involved in more than one case.
As on 31.07.2012, out of the aforesaid 71 RCs, Charge sheets have been filed in 30 cases against 31 officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above.
As on 31.7.2012 sanctions for prosecution are pending in 14 CBI cases with respective Central Ministries/Departments against 14 officers of the rank of Joint Secretary & above. 02 officers are common in 02 cases each.
Further, permission under section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, for conducting enquiry/investigation, are pending in respect of 23 officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above.
The Supreme Court of India, vide its judgment dated 18th December, 1997 in the case of Vineet Narain Vs. Union of India, directed that “time limit of three months for grant of sanction for prosecution must be strictly adhered to. However, additional time of one month may be allowed where consultation is required with the Attorney General (AG) or any Law Officer in the AG’s office”.
It is sometime not possible to adhere to this time-limit. The delay which occurs in the sanctioning of prosecution is mostly on account of detailed scrutiny and analysis of voluminous case records and evidence, consultation with Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), State Governments and other agencies, and sometimes non-availability of relevant documentary evidence.
However, in order to check delays in grant of sanction for prosecution, the Department of Personnel & Training has issued guidelines vide its OM No.399/33/2006-AVD-III dated 6th November, 2006 followed by another OM dated 20th December, 2006, providing for a definite time frame at each stage for handling of requests from CBI for prosecution of public servants.
The Group of Ministers on tackling corruption, in its First Report, had also given certain recommendations for speedy disposal of sanction of prosecution cases, which included-taking decision on such cases within 3 months; monitoring of such cases at the level of Secretary of the Ministry/ Department and submission of report to the Cabinet Secretary; and in cases of refusal to accord sanction, submission of a report to the next higher authority within 7 days for information (where competent authority is Minister such report is to be submitted to the Prime Minister). The said recommendation of the GoM has been accepted by Government and instructions have been issued by the Government on 03.05.2012.
As regards permission under section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the Group of Ministers on tackling corruption in its First Report has recommended that the competent authority shall decide the matter within three months with speaking orders and in the event a decision is taken to refuse permission the reasons thereof shall be submitted to the next higher authority within one week for information (where competent authority is Minister, such report is to be submitted to the Prime Minister). This recommendation was accepted by the Government and instructions issued on 26.09.2011.
This was stated by Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension and Prime Minister Office in written reply to a question by Sh. Shadi Lal Batra in the Rajya Sabha today.

IMPLEMENTATION OF RESERVATION POLICY


All establishments of the Government of India are implementing the policy of reservation in services in all Groups including Group ‘B’ and ‘C’.
Number of Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC) and General category candidates appointed by direct recruitment in Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ posts during the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 is given in the following table:

Group B
Group C
2008
2009
2010
2008
2009
2010
SC
340
566
602
8369
10851
9895
ST
112
289
286
4848
6750
6832
OBC
367
1246
1117
13706
20405
17963
General
682
2060
2495
20725
58614
37921

1501
4161
4500
47648
96620
72611
This was stated by Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension and Prime Minister Office in written reply to a question by Sh. Shadi Lal Batra in the Rajya Sabha on 23.08.2012

PROVIDING SOCIAL SECURITY TO CONTRACTUAL LABOUR


                 The Contract Labour are engaged in the industrial sector  by the Government and Private establishments  as per their terms of contract and requirement and   no centralized data is maintained. However, the estimated number of contract labour  engaged by licenced contractors  in central sphere including the industrial sector in  the last three years is as under:
Year
No. of contract labour covered by such licences
2009-10
13.73lakhs
2010-11
14.89 lakhs
2011-12*
13.07 lakhs
* Provisional
                Engagement of  contract labourers is regulated under   the Contract  Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act,  As far as the security  in term of  wages and other service conditions is concerned,  as per the  Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Central Rules, 1971 , the wages of the contract labour shall not be less than the rates prescribed under  Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and in cases where  the contract worker perform  the same or similar kind of work as the workmen directly employed  by the principal employer of the establishment, the wage rates, holidays , hours of work and other conditions of service  shall be the same as applicable to the workmen directly employed by the principal employer doing the same or similar kind of work.    The liability to ensure payment of wages and other benefits is primarily that of the contractor and, in case of default, that of the principal employer. 
                 In the central sphere, the Complaints are received in the field offices of Chief Labour Commissioner(Central) Organization under the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and by   other laws applicable on contract labour which are investigated and action is taken. Social security aspects of contract workers under Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952 and Employees State Insurance Act 1948 are enforced by the Employees Provident Fund organization and Employees State Insurance Corporation respectively provided the establishments in which outsourced workers are working are covered under the said Acts.  Central Government hasalso prohibited employment of contract labour in various establishments in central sphere through 84 Notifications issued from time to time under the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970. To safeguard the interests of the contract labour further in term of wages and social security, a proposal to amend the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 is under consideration of the Government.
                The Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge gave this information in a written reply  in  Rajya Sabha today.

CLARIFICATION ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE (HRA) TO THE CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES POSTED AT GREATER NOIDA-REG.

IPO EXAMINATION 2012 (MOST URGENT)

 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhL4uPEwR3I0Yqfdmbal4v6V8kdncxYtp1AsOptJ-2q5wrRFLOQJ_RtKQDh4sRFIuC-1jR1ALGvkgTrSEAAT0MrpuXIxALkoTa3E_B1pP8J1f47ZWvKNawU4N1snmxaQKJQFQJZDxC0MN/s1600/IPO+Examination.BMP
CONDUCTING OF LIMITED DEPARTMENTAL COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION TO THE CADRE OF INSPECTOR POSTS (66.66%) DEPARTMENTAL QUOTA FOR THE YEAR 2012. {RE-SCHEDULED}
  
Sub: Conducting of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for promotion to the cadre of Inspector Posts (66.66%) Departmental quota for the year, 2012.
D.G. Posts No. A-34012/07/2012-DE Dated 22nd August, 2012.
I am directed to invite kind attention to this office letter No. dated 07.06.2012 wherein a notification was issued for Conducting of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for promotion to the cadre of Inspector Posts for the year 2012 on 8th & 9th September 2012.
2.         The Competent Authority has now ordered to re-schedule and hold the above examination on 15th & 16th September, 2012 to the following timings:
Date of examination
Paper Nos.
Time
15th September,2012
Paper-I
10.00 A.M. to 01.00 P.M.
15th September,2012
Paper-II
02.00 P.M. to 05.00 P.M.
16th September,2012
Paper-III
10.00 A.M. to 01.00 P.M.
16th September,2012
Paper-IV
02.00 P.M. to 05.00 P.M
3.         This may be circulated to all concerned. There will be no change in other terms and conditions, issued in this office letter of even no. dated 07.06.2012.
4.         This issues with the approval of Competent Authority.
                                                                        Sd/-
(K. Rameswara Rao)
Assistant Director General(DE

Thursday, August 23, 2012

IMPLEMENTATION OF JUDGEMENT OF DELHI HIGH COURT DATED 29.07.2011 IN WP NO. 3225/2007 IN OA NO. 164/2005 IN THE MATTER OF DHARAM SINGH & OTHERS. Government of India


Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
(Pay Commission Cell)
Dak Bhawan,  Sansad Marg
New Delhi-110001
No. 2-48/2011-PCC                                                                     Dated : 17 Aug 2012
      Chief Postmasters General
      Delhi/Maharashtra/TN/WB Circles
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF JUDGEMENT OF DELHI HIGH COURT DATED 29.07.2011 IN WP NO. 3225/2007 IN OA NO. 164/2005 IN THE MATTER OF DHARAM SINGH & OTHERS.
      In compliance to the judgement of CAT Principal Bench New Delhi dated 20.11.2006 in OA 164/2005 in the matter of Dharam Singh & others based on CAT Principal Bench judgement dated 03.12.1997 in OA 2724/1992 in the matter of Prem Singh & others & upheld by Delhi High Court judgement dated 29.07.2011 in WP No. 3225/2007 treating Packers of Foreign Post as skilled labourers and resultantly allowing the pay scale of Rs. 950-1500 since the date of 4th CPC implementation, the issue of grant of higher pay scale to the Packers working in four Foreign Post Offices located at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai & Kolkata has been considered in this Directorate in consultation with Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
2.      While the judgement dated 03.12.1997 referred to above stands already implemented in respect of the two applicants in OA No. 2724/1992, it has now been decided with concurrence of the Department of Expenditure , Ministry of Finance under UO Note No. F.12 (14)/E.III (B)/2003 dated 14.08.2012 to extend the benefit of pay scale to the applicants in OA 164/2005 and also to the similarly placed Packers of Foreign Post Offices located at Delhi/Mumbai/Chennai /Kolkata working in these offices. {Total 427 in number excluding 02 already allowed the benefit} who were re-designated as Mail Peons vide Department of Posts (Group ‘D’ Posts) Recruitment Rules, 2005 published vide GSR 44 dated 24.01.2005.
3.       Consequently such Packers of all the four Foreign Post Offices (Re-designated as Mail Peon & further re-designated as MTS in Group ‘C’) shall be allowed the pay scale of Rs. 950-1500 in place of Rs. 750-940 effective from 01.01.1986 and further replaced by the pay scale of Rs. 3050-4590 effective from 01.01.1996 and further placed in Rs. 5200-20200(PB-1) with Grade Pay of Rs. 1900 effective from 01.01.2006.
4.      This issues with the approval of the competent authority.
                                                                             Sd/-
(Surender Kumar)
Assistant Director General(GDS/PCC)

AIPEU GDS (NFPE) MARCHING AHEAD.


Madhya Pradesh Damoh Branch and Rewa Divisional Branch formed. Circle Conference of MP Circle on 23rd September in Sagar Division. Karnataka Circle level Study Camp conducted in HASSAN Division on 19th August-2012. Com. M. Krishnan Secretary General, NFPE inaugurated. Bihar Madhubani Divisional Branch formed. Circle level Committees already formed in Andhra, UP, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Karnataka. Other Circle conventions will be completed before December, 2012: M. Krishnan Secretary General NFPE.

21ST MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (SCOVA) TO BE HELD ON 27TH SEPTEMBER 2012 IN NEW DELHI


Department of Pension and Pension Welfare coming under Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has requested all Pensioners’ Associations to attend the 21st meeting of the standing committee of voluntary agencies (SCOVA) to be held on 27th September 2012 in New Delhi.
It has also called for issues if any to be included in the agenda to be discussed in the meeting.
Only one representative from each organization can attend the meeting.
F. No. 42/45/2012-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi – 11000
Date: 6th August, 2012
To
All the SCOVA members
(As per list attached)
Subject : 21st meeting of the standing committee of voluntary agencies (SCOVA) to be held on 27th September 2012 in New Delhi
Sir,
21st meeting of the Standing committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ welfare will be held on Thursday the 27th September 2012 at 11 AM act Civil Services officers Institute (CSOI) Rendezvous Gr, Floor, F-116, Multi Storey Apartments, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110 001. The meeting will be chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, public Grievances & Pensions.
2.         All Pensioners Associations are request to kindly provide the following requisite information through fax as well as E-mail:-
a)         Please suggest the items / issues, if any, inclusion in the agenda to be discussed for the proposed meeting. Your response in this regard may please be sent to this department so as to reach the undersigned latest by 16th August, 2012 to enable us to finalize the agenda items.
b)         Because of the consideration of space, only one representative of your organization may attend the above said meeting. Conformation of participation and the name of the participant may kindly be intimated in advance to the undersigned by fax/e-mail
3.         Outstation members will be paid TA/DA and local members will be paid conveyance charges in accordance with the rules/instructions
4.         This department looks forward to your participation in the meeting.
Sd/-
(Tripti P. Ghosh)
Director (PP)

NFPE SOUTH ZONE STUDY CAMP AT CHENNAI ON 13th AND 14th OCTOBER, 2012. NFPE South Zone Study Camp will be held at Chennai, T. Nagar on 13th and 14th October, 2012. Delegates from all NFPE Unions from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Circles will participate. NFPE Tamil Nadu Circle Coordinating Committee will function as Reception Committee. Further details will follow. All concerned please note the dates = M. Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE.


5 PROMOTIONS { EDITORIAL POSTAL LIFE – AUGUST - 2012}




In 1978, while entering in its Silver Jubilee Year, the NFPTE had organised its P&T Convention at Patna. The demand of “3 Promotions at 10, 20 and 25 years” for P&T employees was coined in that National Convention. This demand was necessitated by the fact that most of the P&T employees were retiring without even getting a single promotion in their long career in those days. The Clerical employees retired without even becoming LSG and the Postmen were retiring without even promoted as Sorting Postman or Head Postman / Mail Overseer Postman, the only hierarchical promotion available at that time. After much negotiations and struggles, ultimately the Government agreed two promotions and introduced TBOP and BCR Promotions on completion of 16 and 26 years. All P&T employees were thereafter ensured of at least two promotions. But the movement had paid some price including major punishments to cadres to win the demand of two promotions.
The introduction of TBOP and BCR promotions caused the hierarchical promotion of Sorting Postman / Mail Overseer Postman etc irrelevant as most of the Postmen staff attained TBOP and BCR promotion before getting the only regular promotion available. The Department also discontinued constituting the DPC to promote Postmen staff. Similar was the case with the Group ‘D’ staff also, in whose case the promotion to Jamedar Group ‘D’ was discontinued. Even though the Department had subsequently declared unilaterally that the TBOP/BCR is not a promotion but only a scheme of financial upgradation like ACP Scheme, the regular hierarchical  promotional ladder was not restored or updated to ensure regular promotion to Postman and Group ‘D’ cadres. However, the TBOP, BCR ensured two automatic upgradations financially.
Discriminatingly during the same time, the Officialdom did not satisfy itself with the available two or three promotions in its career but went ahead with repeated cadre restructuring schemes to ensure at least five promotions for the cadre of Officers! We see that an IPS Officer entering as SSPOs [Junior Time Scale Officer] in the Postal Department is ensured of five promotions at least in his career as Senior Time Scale, DPS, PMG, Chief PMG, Board Member and Director General. In Departments like Income Tax a Class I officer who enters as  Assistant Commissioner as an IRS Officer goes ahead with the promotions like Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Additional Commissioner, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Board Member in CBDT and Chairman of CBDT. This is the case with all departments. The Government never cared for the promotional avenues of Group C and D employees while going on improving the career advancement of top officers.
The 6th Pay Commission also not cared much for ending the discrimination between the employees and officers in the central services. It simply recommended for only improving the periodicity of ACP financial upgradation from 12 and 24 years into 10 and 20 years through MACP. After much discussion in the JCM Standing Committee, the Government made only a marginal improvement by granting the third upgradation on completion of 30 years but created a lot of anomalies including taking away the benefit of parity with hierarchical promotions. The increase in number of up gradations to three necessitated us to switch over from TBOP/BCR system to MACP Scheme though we knew that under MACP the Promotees will not be granted equal number of up gradations like a direct recruitment. We however embraced the MACP for its benefits with the idea to focus the discrimination and set right it through our organisational efforts. Now, with the historic judgment of Jodhpur CAT, we have brighter chances of set righting the anomaly. But even that will not bring parity with the Officers, who are ensured of at least five promotions.
It is in this background that the NFPE raised it in the National Secretariat of the Confederation of CG Employees and the Confederation expanded its Charter of Demands into 15 Points by including the demand of Grant of 5 Promotions to all employees in their career on par with the Officers. This is a very important demand with far reaching implications in advancing the status of the Group C employees including the Postman and MTS.  The demand attains much more importance in the background of our cadre restructuring issue stagnating without any noticeable progress and at the initial level of discussions only. Proper popularisation of this new demand of 5 Promotions among all our membership is absolutely essential to create necessary tempo as we know very well that only when a new idea grips the minds of the employees it becomes a material force. We broke the stalemate in 1980s by strongly agitating for 2 Promotions. Let us now embrace the new demand of 5 Promotions and make it a reality soon. But everything depends on the rank and file organisation, which alone can succeed not only in popularising the new demand but also rousing the employees to agitate for the 15 Points charter of Confederation that focuses on 7th CPC, 50% merger of DA and grant of 5 Promotions etc. Time has come to end the discrimination between top officers and the bottom employees on number of promotions to advance the career prospects.

WHY HBA IS BETTER THAN HOUSE LOAN GRANTED BY PSU BANKS?


IT IS A FACT THAT AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF SIXTH PAY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS HOUSE BUILDING ADVANCE (CALLED AS HBA) GRANTED BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO ITS EMPLOYEES LOST ITS CHARM AS IT IS NO LONGER A HOUSE LOAN COMMENSURATE WITH THE PRESENT COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
The very term “pay in pay band” put in the place of “Basic Pay” after 6cpc implementation has made most of the damage as it has reduced the eligible amount of HBA. Alternatively, Pay in Pay band plus Grade pay should have been taken for calculation of eligible amount of HBA, as Pay in pay band + Grade pay form the Basic Pay of an employee after 6CPC for all purposes (For example DA, HRA, NPA etc are calculated only based on pay in pay band + grade pay).
So, it is a common grievance of all Central Government Employees that HBA should be based pay in band and Grade Pay.
The remaining damage for reduction of eligible amount of HBA are done by the conditions after 6CPC that Maximum ceiling of HBA is Rs.7.5 lakhs and that number of times of pay in pay band taken for calculating eligible HBA amount is 34 times only.
Why HBA is better than House Loan granted by PSU banks?
The very reason for which a Central Government Employee wanted to go for HBA rather than house loan granted by all PSU Banks and financial Institutions is the rate of interest charged for House Loan. While House Building Advance Scheme of Central Government charges interest ranging from 6.5% to 9.5% from the year 2003 depending on HBA amount sanctioned, PSU banks or financial institutions charge not less than 10.5 % presently. The other major benefit in the House Building Advance Scheme is the Quantum of monthly recovery. While PSU Banks recovers part of Principal and Interest at the same time on monthly basis which is called as EMI, HBA Scheme allows for recovery of principal amount only, for a period up to 180 months and interest thereafter for a period not exceeding 60 months. So, the quantum of monthly recovery amount for a particular loan amount under HBA scheme would be very lesser than EMI charged for same Loan amount taken from PSU banks.
We hope Government would come up with suitable amendments to rectify this common grievance of central government employees soon.
In fact, as per 6CPC recommendations the existing HBA scheme should be replaced with a New HBA Scheme as per which Government should tie up with leading PSU Banks for grant of housing loan at competitive rates to Central Government Employees and out of the interest charged by the banks for the housing loan, 2% of the interest should be subsidized by the Central Government (In the case of employees with disability the interest subsidy will be 4%).
However, this new HBA scheme is yet take off and in the mean time Ministry of Urban Development has issued Office Memorandum No: I-17011/11(4)/2008-H.III dated 27.11.2008 for revision in house building advance in which Maximum ceiling for cost of construction, HBA amount ceiling and number of times of pay in pay band to calculate eligible HBA have been revised to Rs.30 lakhs, Rs.7.5 lakhs and 34 times of pay in pay band respectively.
***********************
Minister of State for Railways Mr.Bharatsinh Solanki has informed in the Rajya Sabha that already notifications for filling up 1,90,000 vacancies in Indian Railways have been issued by Ministry of Railways recently. The full text of this Rajya Sabha Q&A published in Rajya Sabha Website is as follows.
Rajya Sabha Q&A on filling up 1.90 lakhs vacancies in Indian Railways

Minister of State for Railways Mr.Bharatsinh Solanki has informed in the Rajya Sabha that already notifications for filling up 1,90,000 vacancies in Indian Railways have been issued by Ministry of Railways recently. The full text of this Rajya Sabha Q&A published in Rajya Sabha Website is as follows.


Rajya Sabha Q&A on filling up 1.90 lakhs vacancies in Indian Railways
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF  RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-894 by SHRI SABIR ALI
(a) the details of safety related vacancies in Railways as on 30 June, 2012 and since when these have been lying vacant; and
(b) the steps being taken to fill up the existing vacancies on priority basis?
ANSWERED ON-17.08.2012 by MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)
(a) The number of vacancies in safety category posts as on 01.04.2012 is 149271 (provisional). Arising and filling of vacancies is a continuous process. Vacancies arise due to normal retirement, voluntary retirements, deaths, promotions, creation of posts, etc.
(b) The policy of the Railway Administration is to fill up available vacancies promptly as per laid down procedures. Notifications for filling up of about 1,90,000 posts, including safety category posts have already been issued.
**********************************************************************
UTILIZATION OF POSTAL NETWORK
WAGE DISBURSAL SCHEME UNDER MGNREGS
   Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was notified in the remaining 274 districts of India from 1st April, 2008. The Act is now effective in the entire rural areas of the country covering 638 districts and has been renamed “The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)”. The objective of the Act is to provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
            The scheme of disbursement of NREGS wages through post offices is operational in 19 postal Circles of the country (except Delhi, J&K and Tamilnadu Circles). Till 31st March, 2012, 5.59 crore MGNREGS accounts have been opened in post offices and wages amounting to Rs. 7,860 crore have been disbursed to MGNREGS beneficiaries during 2011-12 through 98,491 post offices across the country.
Main Features of Payment of Wages through Post Offices
*Payment to be made through Savings Bank accounts of post offices (zero balance workers wage account).
*Disbursement of wages within the prescribed time frame.
*Provision for advance deposit of one month’s wage in the Head Post office of the District Headquarter.
*Co-ordination meetings between Department and State Government authorities.
* Data Collection for Rural Consumer Price Index
            A mechanism has been worked out to calculate and disseminate the consumer price index with the help of data being collected for 1,181 villages through selected post offices throughout the country. The first set of consumer price indices was brought out in February 2011. India Post is thus playing a crucial role in providing Infrastructural support to enable the concerned government departments to design and implement policies to improve the well being of all the citizens of India.
Mail Network Optimization Project
            Department of Post had initiated Mail Network Optimization Project in March 2010 with a view to streamline mail operations and to improve the quality of mail related services offered to the people. It involved optimization of the erstwhile mail network, standardization of processes and development of an effective performance monitoring system. As part of this project, the operational network for Speed Post and other categories of mail has been restructured leading to optimized network and simplified operations.
            Speed Post is a premium product offered by the Department with time bound delivery and tracking facility.  As part of the project, a major emphasis has been laid on providing complete tracking information for Speed Post items on the website (www.indiapost.gov.in) for the benefit of the people using Speed Post. As a result, in the last two years, the number of items having complete tracking information on the website has gone up from 63 lakhs to 2.78 Crores per month.  Speed Post transit has improved by more than a day on an average across the network.
            A comprehensive online monitoring system for Speed Post operations has been developed and performance of operational units is monitored in terms of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on a day-to-day basis.
(PIB Features.)
Courtesy: http://pib.nic.in

SAVING BANK ORDER NO. 10

SLP FILED IN HON. SUPREME COURT AGAINST KARNATAKA HIGH COURT DECISION ON FIXATION OF PAY ON PROMOTION TO PO & RMS ACCOUNTANTS DISMISSED.


Despite our request not to file any SLP on the High Court Karnataka decision on fixation of pay of PO & RMS accountants on promotion, the Department has filed SLP in the Supreme Court as per the opinion of the Ministry of Finance. Now the Supreme Court has dismissed the SLP. Now the Department has no option except implement the Karnataka CAT and High Court decision. The Department should come forward to implement the decision to all the similarly situated persons.
Kudos to Karnataka Comrades.
The Supreme Court has fined Rs. 50000/- to Department
A  remarkable and marvelous decision.
ITEM NO.9                                         COURT NO.5                                   SECTION IVA
S U P R E M E   C O U R T   O F    I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Civil)....../2012 CC 10080/2012
(From the judgement and order dated 18/11/2010 in WP No.7593/2003, of The HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE)
CHIEF POST MASTER GEN.KARNATAKA CIR.& ORS                            Petitioner(s)
                                                              VERSUS
S.MOHANKUMAR                                                                                     Respondent(s)
(With appln(s) for c/delay in filing SLP)
Date: 05/07/2012    This Petition was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
          HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G.S. SINGHVI
          HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA
For Petitioner(s)       Mr.   R.P. Bhatt, Sr. Adv.
                                     Mr.   Ashok K. Srivastava, Adv.
                                     Ms.   B Sunita Rao, Adv.
                                    Mr.   B. Krishna Prasad,Adv.(Not present)
For Respondent(s)
            UP ON hearing counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
              This petition filed for setting aside order dated 18.11.2010 passed by the Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court is accompanied by an application for condonation of 445 days delay.
            We have heard Shri. R. P. Bhatt, learned senior counsel representing the petitioners and carefully perused the averments contained  in the application filed under Section 5 of the Limitation Act and are convinced that there is no valid ground to accept the explanation offered by the petitioners for delayed filing of the special leave petition.
         We are further of the view that the Bangalore Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal did not commit any error by quashing the action taken by the petitioners to re-fix the respondent's pay on the recommendations of the Vth Pay Commission and the High Court rightly declined to entertain the petitioners' challenge to the order of the Tribunal.
         Learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioners could not put forward any tangible argument to support re-fixation of the respondent's pay in the light of the recommendations of the Vth Pay Commission. Therefore, we do not find any valid ground to interfere with the impugned order.
         The special leave petition is accordingly dismissed on the ground of delay and also on merits.
         For filing a frivolous petition like the present one, the petitioners are saddled with costs of rupees fifty thousand which shall be deposited by them with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within a period of eight weeks from today. It will be open to the Central Government to recover the amount of costs from the officers responsible for taking wholly arbitrary and unjustified action for re-fixing the respondent's pay.
(Parveen Kr.Chawla)                                                                                    
Court Master                                                                                           
(Phoolan Wati Arora)           
Court Master