AIAPS(GL) HAS TAKEN UP THE CASE OF POSTMASTER CADRE OFFICIALS ARE BARRED IN VARIOUS LDCE EXAMS BY WRONGLY INTERPRETING THE RECRUITMENT RULES!!!

Dear Postmasters,

               AIAPS(GL) has taken up the case with Postal Directorate about wrong interpretation of Postmaster cadre recruitment rules, resulting postmaster cadre officials are barred from appearing in PSS Group B, Inspector Posts examinations. 

               Required directorate draft copy is submitted with this post for the members kind information....

 To,

        The Honorable Secretary Posts,

        Department of Posts,

        Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

        New Delhi – 110001

        Subject: Negative and wrong interpretation of Postmaster cadre recruitment rules attracting numerous court cases while conducting LDCE exams – reg

        Reference : Postmaster Cadre recruitment rules, Postal Directorate letter No.4-17/2008-SPB-II dated at Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi the 22^nd November 2010 Para number 6 (iii)

Preamble:

1. Then Director General Ms.Radhika Doraiswamy madam is introduced Postmaster cadre with 3132 posts to head the key post offices by the professionally skilled managers. In the Postmaster cadre creation introductory paragraph of Postal directorate, it was mentioned that in order to improve/upgrade the functioning of the Post Offices, meet the present day requirement of specialization in Postal office management in the wake of introduction of technology, challenges from market and to increase productivity it has absolutely become essential to ensure that key Post Offices are headed by professional managers. Thus, in order to ensure that professionally qualified, trained and meritorious officials head the key Post Offices, it has been decided to introduce a separate cadre of Postmasters comprising the following grades Postmaster cadre was introduced on 22^nd November 2010.

2. As expected by the postal directorate in the preamble of Postmaster cadre creation recruitment rules, in the wake of technology and changed scenario, Postmaster Grade I/II/III offices are running with professionally skilled incumbents and achieving the allotted BD targets and fetching the revenue to the postal department from each and every corner of India. Postmaster cadre officials are in the good books of the department because of their progressive work and by the way they are professionally managing the key post offices.  We could see their glittering performances virtually through all the MIS of eService sites.

3. Even though Postmaster Cadre officials are gained good faith from all the higher officials unfortunately even after 5 years 10 months from creation of the Postmaster cadre, nothing was given to boost the devoted and promising Postmaster cadre officials till now.

4. In this juncture to add salt to the burning wounds, by the successors of then D.G., Ms.Radhika Doraiswamy madam, Postmaster cadre is being barred from all endeavors like work as instructor Posts, appearing to Inspector Posts exams and now Postmaster cadre is being barred to appear in PSS Group B exams too. 

5. The following two exams are called for in the department of Posts and in both the exams Postmaster cadre officials are in not eligible category.

a.   Inspector of Posts LDCE exams called for vide department directorate letter no F.No. A/34012/09/2016-DE dated at New Delhi, Sansad Marg the 05^th September 2016

b.   PSS Group B LDCE exams called for vide department directorate letter no F.No. A-34012/8/2016-DE Dated at Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg the 07^th October 2016

6. By mentioning the PM Cadre Recruitment rules Para 6(iii) clause “their Further career progression will be in the Postmaster cadre hierarchy” of Postmaster cadre recruitment rules, Postmaster cadre officials are barred to appear in any kind of above examinations and in-service deputation posts. 

7. That clause is negatively interpreted for the Postmaster cadre by the successors of Postal directorate because of the following reasons.

a. Paragraph 6 is speaking about initial constitution by LSG officials so sub paragraph (iii) clause of the above paragraph is also speaking about LSG officials only. While creating the Postmaster cadre, initially LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I officials are allowed to give option to the Postmaster Grade I/II/III respectively as one time measurement. That hierarchy clause is mentioned very next line of opting the postmaster cadre by LSG officials as “in the event of their appointment as Postmaster their further career progressionwill be in the hierarchy of Postmaster cadre only” 

b. In the above clause, it is needless to say here that “THEIR further career progression means”, LSG official’s further progression will be in Postmaster cadre only once opted to the Postmaster cadre and not again the LSG line officials can be interchanged to the previous LSG line and LSG line officials cannot claim again LSG posts like Assistant Postmasters and Deputy Postmasters. 

c. It is common clause used for all the cadres’ recruitment rules, while opting and switching over to other cadre from their cadre.

d. But nothing was mentioned in the PM Cadre recruitment rules about barring the officials to appear in the Limited Departmental Competitive exams (LDCE) and in-service deputations’ posts.

e. If recruitment rule is mentioned about barring the LDCE examination then not even a single LSG official would have been opted for the Postmaster cadre.

f. Though Postmaster cadre was constituted by carving out certain number of posts from LSG supervisory officials, LSG officials are allowed to appear in the PSS Group B exams but not the Postmaster cadre.

g. LSG supervisory officials are having multiple hierarchy LDCE options, they can write for Inspector exams and then they can write PSS Group B exam. After passing inspector Posts/PSS Group B exams they can opt Senior Postmaster posts (which is in the hierarchy of Postmaster cadre line). But Postmaster cadre officials only cannot be appeared for inspector posts exams and as well as PSS Group B exams by mentioned the hierarchy issues. 

h. IP line officials are also having multiple hierarchy LDCE options, they can write Senior Postmaster LDCE exams (which is in the hierarchy of Postmaster cadre line) and as well as PSS Group B exams but Postmaster cadre officials are only cannot be appeared by mentioning hierarchy issues.

i. So it is clearly showing the step mother treatment towards the promising Postmaster cadre officials and they are being barred to appear any kind of examinations by wrongly interpreted the recruitment rules against to the welfare of Postmaster cadre officials and their future promotional opportunities are badly affected. 

8. Already for the past 4 years, PSS Group B exams were not be conducted because of the various court cases and now again department and staff side are facing the same legal disputes at various CATs because of the then successor’s wrong interpretations of Postmaster Cadre recruitment rules.

9. To outcome from the all the above issues, this association submits the following elaborated details for the benign consideration of the honorable Secretary Posts for early favorable orders please.

10. There are three promotional cadres available after 5 years completion of Postal Assistant service.

i.    Postmaster Cadre

ii.  Lower Selection Grade

iii.Inspector Posts

11. Their number of Posts and method of selection is as follows:

Table 1:

Promotional Posts	Entry level qualification and method of filling	No of Posts allotted	Grade Pay
Postmaster Grade I	While initial constitution opting from existing LSG  and then 100% by promotion from Postal assistants after completing 5 years Postal Assistant service in addition to that Limited Departmental Competitive Examination with merit	2097	Rs.2800
Lower Selection Grade	100% by promotion from Postal assistants after completing 5 years Postal Assistant service	26494	Rs.2800
Inspector of Posts	66.67% through LDCE by 5 years PA service and LSG line supervisory officialscan also write that LDCE exam. 33.33% through Direct recruitment	2187	Rs.4600

Source : Honorable retired Supreme court Justice Shri.A.K. Mathur’s 7^th CPC Para 11.8.22, Para 11.8.16, Para 11.8.21

12. After filling up the above initial constitute of clause posts, Postmaster Cadre/LSG line/Inspector line officials further promotional opportunities are as follows:

13. Postmaster line Supervisory cadre promotional opportunities and posts:

Table 2: 

Promotional Posts in PM Cadre line	Entry level qualification and method of filling	No of Posts allotted	Grade Pay
Postmaster Grade II	100% by promotion from  Postmaster Grade I	511	Rs.4200
Postmaster Grade III	100% by promotion from  Postmaster Grade II	495	Rs.4600
Senior Postmaster	25% of posts only by promotion from Postmaster Grade III	29 (25% of total no 116 Sr.PM posts)	Rs.4800

Source : Honorable retired Supreme court Justice Shri.A.K. Mathur’s 7^th CPC Para 11.8.22, Para 11.8.16, Para 11.8.21

14. LSG line Supervisory cadre promotional opportunities and posts :

Table 3: 

Promotional Posts in LSG Line	Entry level qualification and method of filling	No of Posts allotted	Grade Pay
Higher Selection Grade – II	100% by promotion from  LSG	8579	Rs.4200
Higher Selection Grade – I	100% by promotion from  HSG-II	2123	Rs.4600
Higher Selection Grade –I (NFG)	100% by promotion from  HSG-I	235	Rs.4800
Superintendent of Posts under PSS Group B exams	6% by Limited departmental competitive exams under PSS Group B Examinations	53	Rs.5400 (PB-2)

Source : Honorable retired Supreme court Justice Shri.A.K. Mathur’s 7^th CPC Para 11.8.22, Para 11.8.16, Para 11.8.21

15. Inspector line cadre promotional opportunities and posts :

Table 4: 

Promotional Posts in IP Line	Entry level qualification and method of filling	No of Posts allotted	Grade Pay
Asst Superintendent of Posts	100% by promotion from Inspector of Posts cadre	1824	Rs.4800
Superintendent of Posts	75% by promotion from ASP posts 19% Limited Departmental competitive Exams from IP/Asp posts	657 166	Rs. 5400 (PB-2)
Senior Postmaster	75% by promotion from 6 years service completed IP cadre through LDCE	87	Rs. 5400 (PB-2)
Senior Superintendent of Posts	75% by promotion from ASP Cadre	50	Rs.5400 (PB-3)

Source : Honorable retired Supreme court Justice Shri.A.K. Mathur’s 7^th CPC Para 11.8.22, Para 11.8.16, Para 11.8.21

16. Vide above figures, though Senior Postmaster posts are purely in the hierarchy of Postmaster cadre line, LSG and Inspector Posts officials are not restricted with hierarchy issues and shared/interchanged/promoted in Senior Postmaster cadre by appearing in PSS Group B exams and Senior Postmaster exams. But Postmaster Cadre officials are only not allowed to appear in PSS Group B exams is very against to the natural justice and inequality among cadres.

17. Though qualification for appearing the Inspector Posts and as well as Postmaster cadre exams are one and the same which is 5 years completion of Postal Assistant service. But Postmaster Cadre officials are not allowed to appear Inspector Posts exams is very against to the natural justice and inequality among cadres.

18. Here is the comparative study of PSS Group B posts allotted between Postmaster Supervisory Cadre and LSG supervisory cadre, Inspector posts cadre are as follows

Table 5:

Total IP ASP cadre Posts	PSS Group B allotted to IP line	Total LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I/HSG-I(NFG) posts	PSS Group allotted to LSG line	No of Postmaster Cadre posts	PSS Group B Posts allotted to the Postmasters
4011	823	37431	53	3103	Nil

Conclusion:

          19. After creation of the Postmaster cadre only, Postal department is running in progressive manner and gaining good faith and revenue from the public. In this juncture in return to that, if the department is denied the equal opportunities to appear in any kind of examinations and in-service deputation posts at Par with LSG supervisory officials/Inspector posts official which is like cutting the thumb of “AKalaivan” in hindu myth after knowing he was being excellence in all fields to suppress him.

          20. Postmaster cadre is vindictively treated by the then higher officials and in no way they cannot justify the act of doing so. 

21. So this association requests the present honorable Secretary Posts to kindly pass the orders to all the postal circles for the following prayers and render justice against the inequality and as well as natural injustice escalated against Postmaster cadre officials.

Prayer :

1.   Since Postmaster cadre is carved out from LSG line posts, as like LSG officials Postmaster Grade I/II/III officials may also kindly be allowed by the department to appear in 6% LDCE quota of LSG officials after completion of 5 years LSG cum Postmaster cadre service, since the Postmaster cadre recruitment rule is negatively interpreted against to the constitution of India by creating inequality among identical LSG and Postmaster cadre officials and against to the natural justice.

2.   Since Postmaster cadre is carved out from LSG line posts, as like LSG officials Postmaster Grade I/II/III officials are also may kindly be allowed to appear in the Inspector Posts exams by the Department of Posts.

3.   Since Postmaster cadre posts are carved out only from LSG posts, all the career opportunities given to LSG officials like Instructor Posts, and officiating as Inspector posts etc., may kindly be given to the Postmaster cadre officials.

Thanking you.

28.10.2016

Noida                                                                        Yours faithfully

    (Manoj Bhardwaj)

Copy to,

        1. The ADG (SPN), Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001 for requesting necessary early action please.

        2. The ADG(DE), Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001 for requesting necessary early action please.

 Recuruitment Rule concerned para copy is as follows