WE WISH ALL OFFICERS AND STAFF OF POSTAL CIVIL WING AS WELL AS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2015.  WE MAY REDEDICATE TO THE FULFILLMENT OF ASPIRATION OF THE CITIZENS OF THE INDIAN NATION AND FOR THE NATION BUILDING.  IN THE MEANTIME WE MAY ALSO PLEDGE FOR THE BETTERMENT AND CO-EXISTENCE IN AND AS DEPARTMENT OF POSTAL FAMILY AND ALSO EXTEND OUR  CO-OPERATION TO THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE POSTAL STAFF ESPECIALLY GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR GENUINE CONSIDERATION FOR THEIR BETTER LIVELIHOOD ALONGWITH OUR DEMANDS OF BETTER SERVICE BENEFITS. 

FOR FILING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES STATEMENT DATE EXTENDED UPTO 31.03.2014

REPORT ON HON'BLE SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT

Recovery of excess amount paid to Class-III and Class-IV employees due to employer's mistake is not permissible in law, the Supreme Court has ruled saying that it would cause extremely harsh consequences to them who are totally dependent on their wages to run their family.

The apex court said employees of lower rung service spend their entire earning in the upkeep and welfare of their family, and if such excess payment is allowed to be recovered from them, it would cause them far more hardship, than the reciprocal gains to the employer.

A bench of JS Khehar and Arun Mishra also directed that an employer cannot recover excess amount in case of a retired employee or one who is to retire within one year and where recovery process is initiated five years after excess payment.

"We are therefore satisfied in concluding, that such recovery from employees belonging to the lower rungs (i.e., Class-III and Class-IV - sometimes denoted as Group 'C' and Group 'D') of service, should not be subjected to the ordeal of any recovery, even though they were beneficiaries of receiving higher emoluments, than were due to them. Such recovery would be iniquitous and arbitrary and therefore would also breach the mandate contained in Article 14 of the Constitution," Justice Khehar, who wrote the judgment said.

It said that the employer's right to recover has to compared, with the effect of the recovery on the concerned employee and if the effect of the recovery from the employee would be, more unfair, more wrongful, more improper, and more unwarranted, than the corresponding right of the employer, which would then make it iniquitous and arbitrary, to effect the recovery.

"In such a situation, the employee's right would outbalance, and therefore eclipse, the right of the employer to recover," the bench said.

The bench passed the order on a petition filed by Punjab government challenging Punjab and Haryana high court order restraining it to recover the excess amount paid by mistake to numerous employees over the years.

It said we may, as a ready reference, summarize the following few situations, wherein recoveries by the employers, would be impermissible in law:

(i) Recovery from employees belonging to Class-III and Class-IV service (or Group 'C' and Group 'D' service).

(ii) Recovery from retired employees, or employees who are due to retire within one year, of the order of recovery.

(iii) Recovery from employees, when the excess payment has been made for a period in excess of five years, before the order of recovery is issued.

(iv) Recovery in cases where an employee has wrongfully been required to discharge duties of a higher post, and has been paid accordingly, even though he should have rightfully been required to work against an inferior post.

(v) In any other case, where the Court arrives at the conclusion, that recovery if made from the employee, would be iniquitous or harsh or arbitrary to such an extent, as would far outweigh the equitable balance of the employer's right to recover.

The court said a government employee is primarily dependent on his wages, and such deduction from salary should not be allowed which would make it difficult for the employee to provide for the needs of his family and any recovery must be done within five years.


In this case, the employees were given monetary benefits in excess of their entitlement due to a mistake committed by a concerned competent authority, in determining the emoluments payable to them.

GENERAL SECRETARY'S LETTER TO ALL SUPERINTENDING ENGINEERS FOR RECRUITMENT OF DRAUGHTSMAN IN CIVIL WING

We have taken up the matter of recruitment to the post of Junior Draughtsman lying vacant since long with the Directorate and during the discussion it is understood that sanctioned strength of the Draughtsman are still available.  As per the recruitment rules of the Junior Draughtsman these posts should be filled up 90% by direct recruitment and 10% by promotion from the grade of Ferro Printer (now MTS) having 10 years experience by the concerned  Superintending Engineers of the Circle and hence the Directorate is nothing to do with the appointment.  The higher officers of the Directorate has advised us to take up the matter with Superintending Engineers for recruitment/promotion of Draughtsman

Since, the post of the Draughtsman have an important role in the affairs of the Division Offices and due to non-availability of the cadre the ministerial staff are compelled to look after their duties also which is purely technical in nature.  By attending the duties of the draughtsman by the ministerial staff is not at all fair and if any lapse happens from them may lead to a miserable situation in their service career and also lead to financial loss to them

It is, therefore, requested that you kind self may look into the matter and take necessary immediate action to fill up the vacancies of Draughtsman in your circle as per existing recruitment rules which will be helpful to the ministerial staff as well as to the Executive Engineers in their discharging duties.    

BEDU NOT RECOGNISED-CLARIFICATION TO SECRETARY GENERAL

The contents of the letter issued by General Secretary to Superintendting Engineer Electricals for grant of selection grade to Lift Operators.

Kindly refer to Chief Engineer(Civil), Department of Posts, New Delhi’s letter No.3-2/2013-CWP/627 dated 03.06.2013 on the subject cited above wherein the selection grade to Lift Operators was granted to Shri K.L.Tiwari, Lift Operator on the basis of the judgment of the Hon’ble Court and at par with the CPWD on the basis of the Arbitration Award accepted by them.  Since, the same was implemented in our Department also on the basis of the judgment on the petition filed by Shri K.L.Tiwari, Lift Operator we request you to kindly extend the benefits to all of the Lift Operators in your jurisdiction and help them without dragging them to litigation.

AS SCHEDULED THE CADRE RESTRUCTURING COMMITTEE OF CIVIL WING WAS HELD UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SHRI LOKESH MEHTA, S.E.(HQ)(P&A) IN HIS OFFICE AT NEW DELHI ON 18TH DECEMBER. SHRI PARTHA PRATIM GHORAI, PRESIDENT OF OUR UNION AND GENERAL SECRETARY WERE ATTENDED THE MEETING. THE PROPOSAL OF OUR UNION AS CIRCULATED TO ALL UNIT SECRETARIES WERE SUBMITTED AND THE SAME WAS DELIBERATED IN DETAIL AND ACCEPTED THE ITEMS WHICH CAN BE INCLUDED AS PER THE TERMS OF REFERENCE TO THE CADRE RESTRUCTURING COMMITTEE.  HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT HAS DIRECTED TO SUBMIT SOME DATA IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSALS AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE NEXT MEETING.  THE MINUTES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN DUE COURSE ON ISSUE BY THE DEPARTMENT.

No reduction in retirement age

There is no proposal under consideration of Government to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58 years for its employees.

The retirement age for Central Government employees was revised from 58 to 60 years in 1997 on the basis of recommendations of the 5th Central Pay Commission.

The Centre’s total wages and salaries bill for its employees for the year 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 is Rs. 85,963.50 crore, Rs. 92,264.88 crore and Rs. 1,04,759.71 crore, respectively.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Dr. T Subbarami Reddy and Smt. Ambika Soni in Rajya Sabha, today.

No.35034/3/2008-Estt(D) (Vol.II)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

(Department of Personnel and Training)

New Delhi 110001

Dated the 10th December, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme for the Central Government Employee-Clarification regarding.

The undersigned is directed to invite reference to the Para 5 of the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme issued vide the Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum No. 35034/3/2008-Estt.(D) dated May 19, 2009 providing that the recommendations of the Screening Committee shall be placed before the Secretary in cases where the Committee is constituted in the Ministry/Department or before the Head of the organisation/competent authority in other cases for approval.

2. References have been received from various Ministries/Departments with regard to delegation of powers of Secretary to a Joint Secretary level officer as a large number of files on various matters are referred to the Secretary for approval and it is an administrative matter of routine nature which can be disposed of at the level of Joint Secretary.

3. The matter has been considered in this Department and it has been decided that the recommendations of the Screening Committee henceforth be placed before the Appointing Authority of the post in both cases where the Committee is constituted in the Ministry/Department or in other cases for approval with regard to grant of financial upgradation under MACP Scheme.

4. Ministries/Departments are requested to bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned including their attached and subordinate offices.

sd/-

(Mukta Goel)

Director(E-I)

DECIDE TO ORGANISE INDEFINITE STRIKE

As per the decision of the JCM National Council Staff Side, a massive National convention of all Central Government Employees including Railways, Defence and Confederation was held at MPCU Shah Auditorium, New Delhi on 11.12.2014. About 800 delegates from various parts of the country participated. Convention was presided by Com. Rakhal Das Gupta (AIRF) Shri Guman Singh (NFIR) Com. S. N. Pathak (AIDEF) Shri Ashik Singh (INDWF) Com. K. K. N. Kutty (Confederation), Com. GiriraJ Singh (NFPE) and Shri Devendera Kumar (FNPO). Com. M. Raghavaiah, Leader, JCM NC Staff Side & General Secretary, NFIR delivered his opening address. Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary, JCM NC Staff Side & General Secretary, AIRF presented the draft declaration and also addressed the delegates. In addition to the leaders mentioned above Com. S. K. Vyas (Advisor, Confederation) Com. C. Sree Kumar (Secretary General , AIDEF) Shri. R. Srinivasan (Secretary General, INDWF) Com. M. Krishnan (Secretary General, Confederation), Com. R. N. Parashar (Secretary General, NFPE) also addressed the convention. Com. K. K. N. Kutty, president, Confederation summed up the deliberations. The declaration presented was adopted unanimously with certain modifications. The charter of demands and programme of action was also approved by the convention unanimously.

CONTENTS OF GENERAL SECRETARY'S MAIL TO SECRETARY GENERAL, FNPO REGARDING JCM IN CIVIL WING

"Since there is no JCM Machinery is functioning in the Civil Wing Circle Level or at the level of Chief Engineer we are not able to raise our issues in the Civil Wing.  Once the JCM is constituted in the Civil Wing Circles and at the level of Chief Engineer in the Directorate, we can also get it included the matters in the agenda of Directorate level JCM being attended by you and thereafter in the National JCM also.  I have taken up the matter with the Chief Engineer to start up the JCM Machinery in the Civil Wing also and to held periodical meetings with the recognised unions in Circle Level and National Level but no response.  As far as I am concerned,  it is my experience that the office of the Chief Engineer is not at all responding to any correspondences either addressed to the Secretary, Department of Posts which normally reach to the Civil Wing Secretariat or addressed to Chief Engineer.  Hence, it is my humble request that during the present JCM meeting the above matter may kindly be discussed either by including in the agenda or out of agenda."

What we anticipated is happening now.

Task force reports on postal is moving towards ulterior move to Corporatization and Privatization. 

The committee wants to close letter mail unit once for all committee did not   recommend any reserve area for letters like developed countries  .

Our federation views will be posted shortly 

PAYMENT OF GRATUITY TO MINORS - COPY OF ORDERS

THE PHOTOS OF PARLIAMENT MARCH

The initiative of India Post to connect Post Offices through Core Banking Solution will shake the banking industry shortly.  Even though Post offices are doing Small saving activities as an agent of Ministry of Finance, they have the potential in terms of deposit backings, wide network across the country and strong employee support to shake the industry.

Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) which is called as Poor’s Bank has the major share of Deposits in India compared to any other banks.  Since India Post is a government Institution working without profit motive, getting the exact figures of deposits and number of account was difficult compared to full-fledged banks with corporate entity.  So till now the actual figure were unknown to everyone.

Now the scenario has been changed when Post Offices started getting migrated to Core Banking Solution.  When a Post Office gets migrated, the exact figures of number of accounts and total deposit amount will be generated.  Through this figures everyone can see the strength of Post Office Saving Bank in India.

India Post successfully migrated its first office to Core Banking in December 2013. Like any others big public sector and private sector banks, India Post is using Finacle, the leading Core Banking Solution from Infosys for their banking renovation.  Now India Post is near to reach its first milestone of 1000 CBS Post Offices in India and expecting this by December 2014. Till 27.11.2014 total of 961 Post offices have been migrated to CBS platform.

India Post is planning to include 25000 plus Post Offices in Core Banking network with in few years.  By this mission all the departmental Post Offices will come under this CBS category Post Offices.  Now itself all these offices are computerised and they are doing banking transactions using Sanchay Post software. Even if we take number as 25000, the figure is not at all a small one when compared to other big nationalised banks.

As per the Annual Report 2013-14 State Bank of India has only 16069 branches including 15869 domestic branches and 190 foreign branches. If we include the branches of Associate banks too, a count of about 5700 more branches will be added to this list.  Even after adding the associate banks to this list SBI have only 21769 branches across the world.  The second largest public sector bank is Punjab National Bank.  They are following far behind with only 6206 branches (6201 domestic branches and 5 foreign branches)

If we take the amount of deposit as criteria, India Post will again be the number one in the industry.  Only 961 Post Offices have been migrated to Core Banking till 27.11.2014, but the value of deposits in these migrated offices crossed Rs. 87204 Crores.  Total of 5.51 Crores account have been migrated to this new platform.   This is from only nearly 4% of total Post Offices to be migrated to Core Banking.  If we take the proportionate figure, deposits will surely cross 20 Lakh Cores rupees after migration of all computerised Post Offices.  State Bank of India have only deposit of rupees 13.94 Lakh Crores as per annual report 2013-14.  Number of branches and total deposit value of major nationalised banks are shown below for comparative analysis.

SL NO	Name of Banks	No. of CBS branches (as on 31.03.2014)	Total Deposit ( in Crores)
1	India Post (POSB)	*25000	*22,68,574
2	State Bank of India	16069	13,94,409
3	Punjab National Bank	6206	4,51,397
4	Bank of Baroda	5062	5,68,894
5	Canara Bank	4755	4,20,723
6	Bank of India	4671	4,78,695
7	Central Bank of India	4336	2,40,069
8	Syndicate Bank	3251	2,12,343

                       

                     * Expected numbers after migration

Commercial banks are attracting customers by giving value added services like ATM, Debit/Credit cards, Internet Banking, mobile banking, etc. Now most of the people are depending banks for such needs. In order to compete with commercial banks or for attracting new customers or giving more value to their account holders, India Post started various value added services like Internet Banking, ATM, etc. Now the ATM facility is introduced in limited areas but the Department of Post is planning to install 2800 ATMs by the end of 2015.

By the end of 2015 CBS network of India Post may be connected to other banking networks and thereby a Post Office customer can make use of all the facilities (except loans) now a commercial bank customer can enjoy.  If the value added services of India Post is a success, surely it will lose the customers of commercial banks. And in such circumstances people in the rural areas will not approach Banks, normally located in urban or semi-urban areas for transacting in SB accounts.  Now Savings Bank account in Post Office are not attractive only because of lack of availability of value added services like ATM, Debit cards, net banking,etc.  Now Department of Post is taking all efforts to fill this gap occurred in the past. 

Finally expecting that today’s technological renovation of India Post will surely shake Indian Banking industry in near future in various ways.  Let us wait and see.

No. 31011/ 7/ 2014-Estt.(A-IV)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Personnel and Training

North Block, New Delhi-110 001

Dated: 28th November, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 —Relaxation to travel by private airlines to visit J&K.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry’s O.M. No. 31011/3/2014- Estt.(A-IV) dated 26th September, 2014. It has been decided that the Government servants while availing Leave Travel Concession (LTC) to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under the special dispensation scheme allowed by the aforesaid O.M. may also travel by private airlines subject to the following conditions:-

(i) Officers entitled to travel by air may also travel by private airlines from their headquarters;

(ii) Officers not entitled to travel by air may be permitted to travel by private airlines between Delhi /Amritsar and any place in J&K.

2. Air travel by private airlines is to be performed in Economy Class only an at LTC- 80 fare of Air India or less.

3. Air Tickets to be purchased directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company’, ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tours’ and ‘IRCTC’ (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/6/2002-Est (A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted.

4. All other conditions prescribed in this Ministry’s Q.M. No. 31011/3/2014-Estt(A- IV) dated 26.09.2014 would continue to apply.

5. The order will remain in force for a period of one year from the date of issue of this order.

(B. Bandyopadhyay)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

COPY OF LETTER RECEIVED FROM DIRECTORATE