AIAPS had submitted the letter to the directorate to resolve the cadre specific glaring anomalies arising out of 7th CPC implementation in respect to the Postmaster Grade I, II, III and Sr.PMs

Ref: AIAPS/GS/anomaly/15-16 dated at New Delhi: 01st May 2017

To,
The Honorable Chairman,
National Anomaly Committee,
Department of Personnel and Training - JCA section
North Block New Delhi 110001

Subject: Request to resolve the cadre specific glaring anomalies arising out of 7th CPC implementation in respect to the Postmaster Grade I, II, III and Senior Postmaster cadres at Department of Posts - reg
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Reference: This association even letter number AIAPS/GS/anomaly/15-16 dated at New Delhi the 01st October 2016 with the following reminder requests even dated 03.11.2016, 05.12.2016 and 07.02.2017
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Respected sir,

A kind reference is invited to the above references, vide above references this association is requested the departmental and as well as national anomaly committees to resolve the Postmaster Cadre specific glaring anomalies by upgrading the grade pay of Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Sr. Postmaster posts to Rs.4200/Rs.4600/Rs.4800/Rs.5400 grade pays respectively with full justification for such one level stepped up pay.

In addition to above references this association would like to bring the following two grave issues about the inevitable situation to upgrade the pay of Postmaster cadre for your benign consideration and early favorable orders please.


1. Wake of TBOP/BCR, MACP 1/2/3 and conflicts raising with Postmaster cadre pay fixation:
a. After 5th Pay commission, TBOP and BCR was introduced and one can get the next scales of pay by 16 years and 26 years respectively in the Postal Department.

b. So conflict was raised in the LSG recruitment rules 1976, which mandated 26 years of PA service to get the next scale of pay by promotion. So by the LSG recruitment rules amendment 2002, required feeder cadre Postal assistant service to promote as LSG cadre was reduced to 16 years from existing 26 years.

c. After 6th Pay commission, MACP 1/2/3 was introduced during 2008 as a result one can get the next scales of pay by 10/20/30 years respectively in the postal department.

d. So again conflict was raised in the LSG recruitment rules amendment 2002, which mandated 16 years of PA service to get the next scale of pay by promotion which was automatically obtained under MACP 1 well advance by 10 years. So again LSG recruitment rules were amended on 02.01.2012, and required feeder cadre Postal Assistant service to promote as LSG cadre was further reduced to 5 years from existing 16 years.
e. In this juncture during 2010, Postmaster cadre was introduced, comprises Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Senior Postmaster posts by carving out certain percentage of existing LSG/HSG II/HSG I/25% Sr.PM posts respectively to manage the key post offices by the well qualified and trained officials.

f. For that LSG carved out Postmaster cadre, qualifying service was fixed as 5 years Postal Assistant service and in addition to that feeder cadre Postal assistants have to clear the LDC exams with merit.

g. Because of the wake of MACPs and after amending the LSG recruitment rules on 02.01.2012, now grave conflict is again raised in Postmaster cadre recruitment rules also, which mandated passing LDC exams with merit in addition to 5 years PA service to qualify for the next level 5 pay matrix pay, where as in LSG recruitment rules, 5 years PA service itself enough to get the eligibility for the same level-5 pay matrix pay.

h. So without appearing and passing the Postmaster cadre heavy syllabus LDC exams, after 5 years feeder cadre Postal Assistant service one can be eligible to the LSG posts (Level 5 of Pay matrix). After the wake up of MACPs and LSG recruitment rules amendments, it is must situation to give one stepped up level 6/7/8/9 pay to Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Senior Postmaster posts than MACP 1/LSG by giving weightage to passing the LDC exams with merit. The same was represented to the 7th Pay commission to step up one level pay, but unfortunately honorable 7th CPC chairman neither rejected the plea nor given justification for the present level 5 pay.

2. Bunching Effect to the Postmasters, who have attained level 5 pay by the virtue of LDC examination:
a. In addition to the above grave anomalies, some Postmasters are refused to sanction the bunching effect pay benefits, though vide M.o.F, D.o.E OM no 1-6/2016-IC dated at New Delhi the 7th September 2016 order, it was ordered to give one vertical level stepped up pay to seniors, if seniors had more than 3% basic difference with juniors in the pre-revised pay and fallen with the same pay of juniors after revision of pay.

b. So vide above mentioned department of expenditure OM order of Para 1, it was mentioned that where in revision of pay, the pay of Government servants drawing pay at two or more stages in pre-revised pay band and Grade pay or scale as the case may be, get fixed at same cell in the applicable Level in the new Pay matrix one additional increment shall be given for every two stages of bunched.

c. It was directed to give one bunching effect to the seniors, if the pre-revised pay had atleast 3% basic pay difference between the senior and juniors. During 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 years Postmaster Grade examinations, some 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 years batch Postal Assistant officials have passed the Postmaster Grade I examinations and their grade pay upgraded to Rs.2800 (Level 5) by the virtue of PM Grade I LDC exams.

d. But after 2006 batch Postal Assistants were upgraded to Level-5 by the virtue of MACP1 during 2016, MACP 1 2006 PA and, LDC exam batch 2011 batch PMs are getting fixed with the same pay in the same level though 2011 PM batch are 5 years senior in Rs.5200-20200+G.P Rs.2800 pay scale.

e. Though 2011 PM batch officials are 5 years senior in that pre-revised pay scale Rs.5200-20200+Rs.2800, and had more than 6% basic pay difference in the pre-revised pay scale than juniors, some Postmaster Grade officers are refused to given with bunching effect and some postmasters are informed with clarification was sough in this regard. One illustration table is produced for the kind information.

Table 1:
Sl. No Detail 2011 Postmaster batch 2006 PA batch Difference
1 Date of fixation of pay scale 5200-20200+ Rs. 2800 Grade pay scale 15.09.2011 by the virtue of PM cadre LDC exam 16.07.2016 by the virtue of MACP 1 2011 PM batch officers are 5 years senior in that pay scale.
2 As on 31.12.2015 pre revised pay Rs.13810 Rs.12970 Rs.840.

3 Pay difference percentage More than 6.47% 
4 After revised pay rules dated 25th July 2016, revised Basic pay fixed as on 31.07.16 Rs.37000 Rs.37000 Though 2011 batch PMs are 5 years senior in that pre-revised pay scale, both are fixed with same pay, constitutes bunching effect to 2011 PM batch officers.
f. The same case may be applicable to 2012, 2013, 2014 Postmaster cadre batch officers also. But by mentioning the following reasons some postmasters are refused to give the bunching effect benefits.

g. “Comparison cannot be made with Postal Assistants and Postmasters.” But above M.o.F. D.o.E OM mandates to give the bunching effect two or more stages in pre-revised pay band and Grade pay or scale as the case may be.

h. That means to distinguish the higher and lower cadres and to distinguish the senior and junior that D.o.E OM was circulated. Even after that bunching effect is also being refused to Postmasters.

Conclusion:

a. NO weightage was given to the Postmasters for passing the LDC exams with merit in addition to 5 years PA service and treated at Par with LSG cadre, whereas 5 years PA service is enough to get LSG cadre.

b. Because of not upgrading the grade pay of Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Sr.Postmaster posts, even lower cadre Postal Assistants and higher cadre Postmaster Cadre are getting the same pay in new pay matrix which is totally prejudice.

c. Above all Department of Posts also suggested to the empowered committee to give one stepped up grade pay to Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Sr.PM posts.

On this revolutionary May Day, this service association request the chairman to resolve the cadre specific glaring anomalies by giving one stepped up grade pay Rs.4200/Rs.4600/Rs.4800/Rs.5400 to Postmaster Grade I/II/III/Sr.PM respectively w.e.f., 01.01.2016 and render justice.

Thanking you. Yours faithfully

(MANOJ BHARDWAJ)

Copy to,
1. The Honorable Secretary Posts, Departmental Anomaly committee, Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110001.
2. The ADG (GDS/PCC), Department of Posts, Dak Bhavan, New Delhi 110001 for kind information.