Monday, May 30, 2011



No: 4-08/ 2011-SPB-II
Government of India
Ministry of Communications and IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi – 16, Dated 25.05.2011

To,
            All Chief Postmasters General

Sub:     Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for Postmaster Grade – I – Crucial    date for deciding the qualifying service for the Examination – regarding

Sir/ Madam,

            I am directed to refer to Directorate's letter No: A-34012/ 3/ 2011-DE, dated 13.04.2011 regarding conduct of Postmaster Grade I Examination, 2011 to be held on 12.06.2011 for the existing vacancies in Postmaster Grade-I.

2.         Clarification has been sought by certain Circles regarding the crucial date for assessing the eligibility of Postal Assistants for appearing in the Postmaster Grade-I Examination, 2011 to be held on 12.06.2011.

3.         The matter has been examined in the Directorate. As per the Directorate's order No. 13-2/2010-PE.1 dated 25.11.2010, the General line posts would be deemed to have been designated as Postmaster Grade-I, Postmaster Grade-II and Postmaster Grade-III with effect from the dates those are filled up. Therefore it has been decided by the competent authority that the crucial date for assessing the eligibility of the candidates for the purpose of Postmaster Grade-1 Examination 2011, to be filled up on the basis of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination would be the closing date for dispatch of the applications by nodal officers to CMC, ie.18.05.2011. Such Circles, who have prescribed the crucial date other than 18.05.2011, are advised to issue another circular calling for the applications from only such officials, who have become eligible during the period 01.01.2011 to 18.05.2011, by asking them to apply by 2nd June, 2011. Due to paucity of time, the Circles on receipt of applications shall issue hall tickets to the eligible candidates to appear in the examination after consulting the CMC telephonically regarding the Roll Number(s) to be assigned and the venue for examination. It should be immediately followed by a written communication to CMC indicating the names, Roll Numbers so assigned along with a copy of the application submitted by the candidates. In case of any contingency, the Circles may contact DDG(RP) [Tel. No: 23096101]

4.         Further, according to the Dept of Personnel & Training OM No: 22011/3/98-98-Estt. (I) dated 17.09.1998, the crucial date for determining eligibility of officers for promotion in case of financial year-based vacancy year would fall on January 1st immediately preceding such vacancy year, the first of the vacancy year, ie. January 1st itself would be taken as the crucial date irrespective of whether the ACRs are written financial year wise or calendar year wise. As such, the crucial date for determining eligibility of Postal Assistants for appearing in the Postmaster Grade-1 Examination to be conducted in the subsequent years ie during the year 2012 and thereafter would be 1st January of the year, to which the vacancies pertain to.

Yours faithfully,
Sd. B P Sridevi
Director (Staff)



                LUCKNOW: In some good news for government employees, Lucknow's consumer dispute redressal forum has ruled that government employees who take loans from their departments and pay interest on the sum will henceforth be regarded at par with other 'consumers' of the department.
The ruling was made in response to a complaint made by Ahmad Hussain, a retired official of the postal department. During his years at the department, Hussain took a loan of Rs 69,620 for constructing a house.

                The defending party, in this case the Department of Post and its officers, in their counter-affidavit submitted to the forum accepted that Hussain was an employee of the postal department and that he had taken a loan. Officials of DoP also accepted that the complainant had re-paid the loan with an interest amount.

                The forum, in the matter, observed that the complainant is a consumer because he took a loan from his department and paid interest on the same. Granting of a loan to an employee was a service given by the postal department to Hussain.

                Further, by earning interest on the loan amount the department also made profits on the service rendered.

                In such situations, the forum added, despite being an employee of the department, the complainant will also be considered a consumer of the department. Despite the fact that complainant paid back the loan along with an interest, postal department could not return the complainant's document. "This amounts to lack in service," observed the forum. The DoP has now been ordered to not only return Hussain's original documents within a month from getting the certified copy of the forum's order, but also pay him a compensation amount of Rs 5,000 for mental harassment and another Rs 5,000 as litigation cost.

Source: The Times of India

Saturday, May 28, 2011

National Pension Scheme (NPS) gives mixed bag of returns

In a year when Employees’ Provident Fund gave a 9.5 per cent return and an over 8 per cent inflation rate ate into much of people’s income, the New Pension Scheme gave a mixed bag of results. Rising interest rates and volatile stock markets have impacted its returns in 2010-11 but, since inception, the NPS has managed to do better.
The performance review of fund managers for 2010-11 by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority has revealed that NPS for private citizens has managed to give higher returns than NPS for government employees.
Central government employees in NPS earned a return of 8.05 per cent to 8.45 per cent, much below the weighted average of 9.7 per cent in 2009-10. While UTI gave the highest return of 8.45 per cent, SBI gave the lowest return of 8.05 per cent. However, returns for state government employees in NPS was much higher, which ranged between 11.34 per cent and 9.88 per cent.
“It is about timing your investments as well as exposure to instruments,” said a PFRDA official. Central government employees who joined the service after 2004 are mandated to be part of NPS, which allows up to 15 per cent of the total corpus to be invested in equities, while the rest in corporate debt and government securities.
Private citizens, who were allowed to join the scheme from May 2009 can invest 50 per cent of their portfolio in equities and the rest in government securities and corporate bonds via one of the six fund managers — UTI Retirement Solutions, SBI, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Reliance Capital, IDFC AMC and Kotak Mahindra AMC.

Courtesy:- Indian Express 28.5.2011

Thursday, May 26, 2011

HONOURABLE CAT ERNAKULAM HAS ORDERED NO RECOVERY FROM DCRG
TO VIEW THE WHOLE ORDER PLEASE SEE THE "COURT JUDGMENTS" PAGE.

HISTORIC JUDGMENT ON TBOP, BCR GETS DILUTED IN SUPREME COURT

TBOP is equal to LSG and BCR is equal to HSG-II. The historic Judgement pronounced by Chennai CAT and uphold by High Court, Chennai has been diluted after the Supreme Court dismissed the SLP filed by the Department with the observation that the officials had been retired from service. Our general secretary is the main instrumental for filing and processing the case of Com. Perumal up to Supreme Court.
However we could not get the desired results. The Directorate copy of the letter No. 93-12/2004-SPB –II dt. 23.05.2011 is furnished in the below link for the consumption of all viewers.

HISTORIC JUDGMENT ON TBOP, BCR GETS DILUTED IN SUPREME COURT

TBOP is equal to LSG and BCR is equal to HSG-II. The historic Judgement pronounced by Chennai CAT and uphold by High Court, Chennai has been diluted after the Supreme Court dismissed the SLP filed by the Department with the observation that the officials had been retired from service. Our general secretary is the main instrumental for filing and processing the case of Com. Perumal up to Supreme Court.
However we could not get the desired results. The Directorate copy of the letter No. 93-12/2004-SPB –II dt. 23.05.2011 is furnished in the below link for the consumption of all viewers.

Friday, May 20, 2011

NFPE
national federation of postal employees
ist floor, north avenue post office, new delhi – 110001

urgent circular



get ready for immediate strike if situation warrants


STRIKE DATE WILL BE ADVANCED IF DEPARTMENT GO AHEAD WITH
IMPLEMENTATION OF MCKINSEY REFORMS:
FIVE LAKHS POSTAL EMPLOYEES OF INDIA POST
IN ONE VOICE DECLARE:
 NO MORE CLOSURE AND MERGER OF POST OFFICES
 NO MORE CLOSURE AND MERGER OF SORTING SECTIONS AND RMS OFFICES
 NO MORE CURTAILMENT OF DELIVERIES AND POSTMEN BEATS
 NO MORE FIRST CLASS MAIL HUBS AND DELIVERY HUBS
 NO MORE FRANCHISE (PRIVATE) POST OFFICES AND POST SHOPPE.
 NO MORE OUTSOURCING AND CONTRACTORISATION OF POSTAL FUNCTIONS

AND ALSO WE DEMAND

 IMMEDIATE SETTLEMENT OF LONG PENDING SECTIONAL DEMANDS OF ALL CADRES OF POSTAL AND RMS EMPLOYEES INCLUDING GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS AND CASUAL LABOURERS.
INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 2011 JULY 5TH
 IN 1946 JULY ENTIRE P&T EMPLOYEES WENT ON INDEFINITE STRIKE AGAINST THE BRITISH IMPERIALISM

IN 2011 JULY ENTIRE POSTAL EMPLOYEES ARE GOING AHEAD FOR ANOTHER INDEFINITE

STRIKE AGAINST THE IMPERIALIST GLOBALIZATION POLICIES AND THE US-BASED MCKINSEY REFORMS IN INDIA POST

WE DON'T WANT THE FOREIGN CONSULTANT TO DECIDE OUR FATE

MCKINSEY IS FOR PRIVATISATION OF INDIA POST

WE SHALL OPPOSE IT LOCK STOCK AND BARREL

WE ARE READY TO SACRIFICE TO SAVE INDIA POST

PREPARE FOR A DETERMINED AND UNCOMPROMISING STRUGGLE

MAKE THE MAY 25TH DHARNA PROGRAMME A GRAND SUCCESS.

ORGANISE CIRCLE LEVEL JOINT CONVENTIONS OF NFPE & FNPO

PARTICIPATE IN THE JUNE 19TH ALL INDIA JOINT CONVENTION AT CHENNAI.

Dear Comrades,

            We are in receipt of encouraging reports from various circles and Divisions about the mobilisation by grass root level workers and leaders for the total participation of employees in the indefinite strike from 5th July 2011 as per the call of Central Joint Council of Action (NFPE, FNPO & GDS Unions)

          Department's move for implementing the Mckinsey Consultancy's disastrous recommendations has resulted in allround protest and stiff resistance from employees especially in Chennai and Hyderabad. Chennai Postmen staff has went on three day's strike and successfully resisted the Mckinsey reforms and halted it. Andhra comrades are conducting continuous agitational and campaign programmes throughout the Circle against the unilateral implementation of Mckinsey reforms. "Mckinsey Go Back" has become the slogan of the fighting comrades.

       Postal Board is trying to go ahead with the Mckinsey reforms. Speed post hubs have resulted in erosion of public faith in the efficiency of this premium services. Now the department want to implement hubs for first class ordinary mails and registered articles. Total number of sorting offices will be reduced to 77. Further Chief PMGs have already sent proposals to Directorate for closure / merger of thousands of Post offices in urban areas. Privatisation and contractorisation of the Mail Motor Service (MMS) is also on the anvil. Opening of Franchise Post offices (Private Post offices) in a new name called "Post shoppe" and outsourcing of many other postal functions are also under serious consideration. Orders are already issued abolishing the sorting postman cadre altogether.

       Gramin Dak Sevaks are facing the worst attack they have ever faced after independence of the country. Bonus has been reduced. Norms for cash handling and stamp sale drastically reduced. Norms for calculating the workload and allowances of Branch Postmasters have been curtailed resulting in reduction of allowances. Compassionate appointments limited to 10%. 25% of the Postmen vacancies are given to outsiders. And as a last blow, the GDS Conduct and Employment Rules has been changed and instead of "Employment" the word "Engagement" has been substituted. "Appointing authority" is changed as "Recruiting Authority", thus permanently blocking the chances of GDS to be treated as Civil Servants. All the adverse recommendations of Nataraja Moorthy Committee are implemented one by one. The revision of wages of casual labours w.e.f. 01.01.2006 is still pending and the orders for outsourcing their work is not yet withdrawn.

       Many sectional demands listed in the 25 point charter of demands are yet to be settled. Cadre restructuring of all cadres, Decentralization of PLI and RPLI, Filling up of vacancies, Revision of OSA and OTA rates, Non implementation of JCM (Departmental Council) assurances, Non-settlement of demands raised in the Postman Committee, issues of MTS, parity in pay-scale and promotion to MMS Drivers, SBCO and Civil Wing issues, problems of Postal Accounts Staff, counting of services of ex-RTP staff, Discrimination towards PO and RMS Accountants Cadre, MACP anomalies, review of Postmaster cadre orders etc. are agitating the minds of the employees for the last more than one year.

       Comrades, the very existence of Postal Department as a Government Services and its five lakhs employees is under threat from the Government. This is a question of "DO or DIE". We have to face the challenge. We shall fight it out with all forces at our command. We are confident that we can stop this onslaught.

       Let us prepare ourselves for a massive breakdown from 5th July 2011, which alone can compel the Government to come forward and settle the genuine demands of the Postal workers.

Will greetings,
                                                      Fraternally yours,

                                                            M.Krishnan
                                           Secretary General, NFPE
                                                    Mob: 09447068125
                                       
After the total failure of Speed Post Hub Experiment.....
McKInsey Model Hubs for first class mails also!!!
NUMBER OF SORTING OFFICERS WILL BE REDUCED TO 77.
Proposed set of level-1 Sorting Centres for First Class Mail
(Ordinary & Registered)

S.No..
Circle
Sorting hubs
1.
Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad
2.
Andhra Pradesh
Kurnool
3.
Andhra Pradesh
Tirupati
4.
Andhra Pradesh
Vijayawada
5.
Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam
6.
Assam
Guwahati
7.
Bihar
Bhagalpur
8.
Bihar
Muzaffarpur
9.
Bihar
Patna
10.
Chattisgarh
Bilaspur
11.
Chattisgarh
Raipur
12.
Delhi
Delhi
13.
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
14.
Gujarat
Anand
15.
Gujarat
Rajkot
16.
Gujarat
Surat
17.
Gujarat
Vadodara
18.
Haryana
Ambala
19.
Haryana
Gargaon
20.
Himachal Pradesh
Pathankot
21.
Himachal Pradesh
Shimla
22.
J & K
Jammu
23.
J & K
J &K Srinagar
24.
Jharkhand
Dhanbad
25.
Jharkhand
Jamshedpur
26.
Jharkhand
Ranchi
27.
Karnataka
Bangalore
28.
Karnataka
Karnataka Belgaum
29.
Karnataka
Hubli
30.
Karnataka
Mangalore
31.
Karnataka
Mysore
32.
Kerala
Kochi
33.
Kerala
Kottayam
34.
Kerala
Kozhikkode
35.
Kerala
Thiruvalla
36.
Kerala
Trichur
37.
Kerala
Trivandrum
38.
Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal
39.
Madhya Pradesh
Gwalior
40.
Madhya Pradesh
Indore
41.
Maharashtra
Aurangabad
42.
Maharashtra
Mumbai
43.
Maharashtra
Nagpur
44.
Maharashtra
Panaji
45.
Maharashtra
Pune
46.
Maharashtra
Satara
47.
North East
Dimapur
48.
Orissa
Bhubaneswar
49.
Orissa
Cuttak
50.
Orissa
Sambalpur
51.
Punjab
Chandigargh
52.
Punjab
Jalandhar
53.
Punjab
Ludhiana
54.
Rajasthan
Ajmer
55.
Rajasthan
Jaipur
56.
Rajasthan
Jodhpur
57.
Tamilnadu
Chennai
58.
Tamilnadu
Coimbatore
59.
Tamilnadu
Erode
60.
Tamilnadu
Madurai
61.
Tamilnadu
Salem
62.
Tamilnadu
Tirunelveli
63.
Tamilnadu
Trichy
64.
Tamilnadu
Villupuram
65.
Uttar Pradesh
Agra
66.
Uttar Pradesh
Allahabad
67.
Uttar Pradesh
Ghaziabad
68.
Uttar Pradesh
Kanpur
69.
Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow
70.
Uttar Pradesh
Moradabad
71.
Uttar Pradesh
Saharanpur
72.
Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi
73.
Uttaranchal
Dehradun
74.
West Bengal
Burdwan
75.
West Bengal
Howrah
76.
West Bengal
Kolkata
77.
West Bengal
Siliguri.

       
              Source: Mail Network Optimisation Project.0