Subject:- Minutes of the meeting taken by Secretary (P) with Postal Joint Council of Action on 21.05.2012 at 11 hrs. in Dak Bhawan.
D.G. Posts No. 8/15/2011-SR (ATR) Dated: - thMay, 2012
Please find enclosed minutes of the meeting taken by Secretary (P) with Postal Joint Council of Action on 21.05.2012 at 11 hrs. in Dak Bhawan.
2. It is requested to take necessary follow up action urgently under intimation to SR Section.
(Subhash Chander)
Director (SR & Legal)
To
1. CGM (PLI)/ CGM(BD&M)/ CGM (MB & O)/ DDG(Estt.)/ DDG(P)/
DDG(RB)/ DDG(E&MM)/ DDG(FS)/ DDG(PAF)/ DDG(R&P)/
CE(Civil)
2. PPS to Secretary (Posts) / Sr.PPS/PPS to Member (P)/
Member(O)/ Member(Plg.)/ Member(Tech.)/ JSFA
3. Shri M. Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE
4. Shri D. Theagarajan, Secretary General, FNPO
5. General Secretaries of the Unions constituent to the PJCA
MINUTES OF THE MEETING DATED 21.05.2012 TAKEN BY SECRETARY (POSTS) WITH POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION (PJCA) COMPRISING OF NFPE, FNPO AND ITS AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS.
Secretary (Posts) took a meeting with PJCA on 21.05.2012 to take stock of the follow up action in regard to the discussions held in the meetings dated 10.01.2012 and 12.01.2012.
The gist of discussions, ad seriatim, is as follows:
1. Separate orders communicating the decision that no mail office will be closed for next three years and no dislocation of staff to places outside headquarters.
Instructions issued vide letter No.28-8/2011-D dated 14.05.2012. Further discussions in this regard to be held with Member (Operations) on 29.05.2012 (AN).
2. Orders communicating the decisions about no closure/merger of post offices if no simultaneous relocation is possible.
As discussed, a copy of the instructions issued vide letter No.40-6/2011-Plg (A) dated 21.2.2012 has been made available to PJCA.
3. Revision of wages of casual labourers and absorption.
A comprehensive proposal in the matter of casual labourers will be formulated by 30th June 2012.
4. Revised recruitment rules for group-D & postman as agreed and syllabus for group-D examination (25% from GDS) & Postmen/Mailguard.
Revised rules of recruitment for group-D and Postmen will be notified shortly.
5. Revision of cash handling norms to GDS & ensuring no reduction of TRCA under any circumstances and enhancing the Bonus ceiling to 3500/- & revise the cash allowance to BPM at the rate of Rs.50/- per trip instead of month.
The issue regarding non reduction of TRCA is under active consideration of the Department. The issue of bonus ceiling in respect of GDS has not found favour with the Ministry of Finance. The revision of cash allowance of BPM is being processed.
6. Orders revising the instructions liberalizing the powers to the divisional heads instead of circle heads in case of tenure posting to C and B class offices.
The order will be issued shortly.
7. Reiteration of earlier instructions on the grant of special pay to unqualified Accountants & Counting of Special Allowance for pay fixation without filing SLP against Bangalore High Court judgment.
In the wake of advice of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, there is no alternative but to file an SLP in the Apex Court.
8. Circulation of clarification given to Punjab Circle to the remaining circles also in respect of protection of pay of defunct PO & RMS Accountants.
The Integrated Finance Wing (IFW) has sought some further inputs on the issue and action is being taken thereon. Once it is cleared by the IFW, it will be circulates to all heads of circles.
9. Orders on forcible allotment of staff quarters to the town SOs SPMs as post attached quarters.
Instructions have been issued vide letter No.18-9/2010-Bldg. dated 10.5.2012.
10. Non supply of balance statement of NPS to the official as on 31.3.2012.
The PJCA was informed that the statement of transactions of the subscriber for the period from 1.4.2010 to 30.6.2011 had already been dispatched to the subscribers in the form approved by PFRDA by NSDL, Mumbai vide letter dated 19.9.2011 and information in this regard was sent to all Directors of Accounts (Postal) vide letter dated 18.11.2011. The contention of the PJCA was that no such statement was received by the subscribers till date. The matter will be checked up with Postal Accounts Wing again and further clarification in this regard will be sent to the PJCA shortly.
11. Enhancement of financial powers to LSG, HSG II and HSG I.
The proposal is under examination in consultation with the Integrated Finance Wing.
12. Enhancing the honorarium of invigilators engaged in departmental examinations.
The rates for honorarium for invigilators were revised vide letter dated 26.4.2011.
13. Allowing the physically handicapped candidates for appearing in IPO examinations.
The issue is under active consideration in consultation with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
14. Orders on drawal of Cash handling allowance to Treasurers, Accountants irrespective of their position in MACP.
The PJCA was informed that a reference in this regard had been made to the Department of Personnel and Training. However, their contention was that it being a case of financial upgradation, the proposal should not have been referred to the DOPT. The position will be checked up for further course of action.
15. Finalisation of cadre review proposals before 31.3.2012.
It was decided to formulate a proposal by 30th June 2012 for further examination in consultation with the nodal ministries.
16. Payment of incentive instead of honorarium for attending the PLI/RPLI work at divisional offices after decentralization.
The issue of payment of incentive is under process and PLI Directorate is being asked to get it expedited.
17. Orders for repatriation of officials deputed for PLI/RPLI work to CO/RO to their home divisions.
Suitable instructions in this regard have already been issued to heads of circles. However, the view point of the PJCA was that instead of only forwarding the minutes of the meeting, the PLI Directorate should have issued detailed instructions clearly spelling out the course of action to be taken by the heads of circles in this regard as well as in regard to decentralization of PLI, RPLI work. PLI Dte. will be asked to do the needful.
18. Allowing the Postmaster’s cadre officials to appear for IPO/PSS Group-B examination.
The issued was discussed at length and it was decided to review it after some time keeping in view the merits and demerits of the proposal as well as the response of the officials opting for Postmasters cadre.
19. Orders permitting the Postmaster cadre officials to officiate in HSG-I vacancies.
The issue was discussed at length and it was decided to review it after some time keeping in view the merits and demerits of the proposal as well as the response of the officials opting for Postmasters cadre.
20. D.O letter from Member (P) to all circle heads to fill up all posts of Sorting Postmen, Mail Overseer, Cash Overseer & Head Postmen.
Instructions were issued vide Member (P)’s D.O. letter No. 37-4/2012/SPB-I dated 19.4.2012.
21. Allowing MTS to decline promotion to postmen cadre under seniority quota without losing MACP promotion.
Suitable instructions in this regard will be issued shortly.
22. Reiteration of instruction for rotational transfer for SBCO staff by notifying cluster of divisions.
Instructions issued vide letter No. 141-91/2012-SPB-II dated 2.4.2012.
23. Issue instructions to all for ensuring filling up of all sanctioned LR posts.
It was decided to examine the matter in consultation with all heads of circles with an idea to have a clear picture of sanctioned LR posts, in the first instance.
24. Prompt grant of child care leave – issue of instructions.
Instructions reiterated vide letter No. 51-3/2011/SPB-2 dated 10.5.2012.
25. Clarifications to be issued on MACP as agreed upon on the following:
(i) MACP will not be deferred on the ground of contemplated disciplinary/vigilance proceedings.
(ii) Instructions on review of ACRs/APARs by scrutiny committees.
(iii) Recovery orders by DA(P) in the matter of pay fixation on MACP in case of MTS.
(i) Cases relating to declining promotion prior to issue of MACP order (prior to 2009).
Suitable instructions regarding (i) above are under issue. Instructions regarding (ii) have already been issued. The issues raised at serial number (iii) (iv) are under examination. The PJCA requested for issue of an early order in respect of cases where the officials declined promotion prior to issue of MACP order in 2009.
26. Issuing clear instructions to all CPMGs that in the city areas where RO/COs are situated decentralization of RPLI/PLI should not be done to city Postal Divisions, instead the work will be done by RO/CO staff as done before.
The PLI Directorate will be asked to issue detailed instructions in the matter of decentralization of PLI/RPLI instead of merely forwarding the minutes of the meeting.
27. Issuing orders on the items finalized by the Postmen committee and also follow up action on certain items to be referred to work study unit.
A committee constituted to consider the issues relating to Postmen has already submitted the report. The recommendations of the committee are under process.
28. Cadre-structuring and settlement of Group-D and Sorter anomaly issues relating to Postal Accounts.
The matter will be pursued further with Postal Accounts Wing and Establishment Division and the PJCA will be kept apprised of the progress in this regard.
29. Follow up action on civil wing employees issues.
The recruitment rules are presently pending with Ministry of Law and Justice. Will be notified immediately after it is cleared and further action to fill up the posts will be taken.
30. Examination of CRC & EPP norms.
It was decided to have a meeting with Member (Operations) on 29.5.2012 (AN) to discuss the norms.
Before concluding the deliberations, Secretary (Posts) brought to the notice of the PJCA about the serious problem which Department is facing in the form of abstraction of articles from Postal parcels and regarding delayed dispatch, mis-sorting & delivery of Speed Post articles. The PJCA was informed that lot of complaints have come from Hon’ble Members of Parliament also through news papers alleging abstraction of articles by Postal employees which is adversely affecting the image of the Department, besides affecting parcel post traffic. Secretary (Posts) desired all members of PJCA may advise the employees of the Department to desist from adopting such anti departmental activities, which are detrimental to both the Department as well as its employees during course of their meetings/conferences and consultations etc.
The meeting ended with vote of thanks to the Chair.