Government of
India
Ministry of
Communications & I.T.
Department of
Posts
(SR Section)
Dak Bhavan, Sansad
Marg
New Delhi,
No. 8/4/2013-SR dated the 16th September, 2013
Minutes of
the meeting held on 02/08/2013 in the Committee Room, Dak Bhavan under the
chairpersonship of Secretary (Posts) to discuss the issues raised by the
PJCA.
Kindly find enclosed the minutes of the meeting held on 02/08/2013 in the
Committee Room, Dak Bhavan under the chairpersonship of Secretary (Posts) to
discuss the issues raised by the PJCA, for necessary action at your end.
Action Taken Report may be sent to this office at the earliest.
(Arun Malik)
Director (SR)
Official Side:-
1.Shri S.K. Sinha, CGM (MB&O)
2. Ms. Saroj Punhani, JS & FA
3.Shri Alok Saxena, Secretary (PSB)
4. Shri Vasumitra, DDG (PO)
5.Shri V.K. Tiwary, DDG (R&P)
6. Shri Anil Kumar, DDG (Estt)
7.Shri V.P. Singh, DDG(P)
8. Shri Rajneesh Kumar, DDG
(PAF)
9.Shri Rakesh Kumar, Director (Estt)
10.Shri Aman Sharma, OSD to Secretary
(Posts)
11. Shri Raj Kumar, Director
(Staff) 12.Shri V.C. Kajla, Consultant
Staff Side:-
1. Shri
M. Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE 2. Shri D. Theagarajan, Secretary General,
FNPO2. 2. Shri Giri Raj Singh, General Secretary, All India RMS & MMS
Employees Union. 3.Shri I.S. Dabas, General Secretary, A.I. Postal Emp. Union,
Mailguards & Gr. D / MTS.4. Shri P. Suresh, General Secretary, A.I. RMS &
MMS Emp. Union, Mailguards and Grade ‘D’ / MTS.5.Shri T. Satyanarayana, Gen.
Secy. A.I. Postal Accounts Emp. Association.6. Shri T.N. Rahate, Gen. Secy.
National Union of Postal Employees, Post & Gr. D / MTS CHQ.7. Shri P.
Panduranga Rao. 8. Shri Pranab Bhattarcharjee, Gen. Secy. All India Postal
Administrative Offices Emp. Union Gr. C & D.9. Shri R. Siva Narayan.10.
Shri G.P. Muthu Krishnan. 11. Shri O.P. Khanna, Gen. Secretary, A.I. Postal
Administrative Office Association.12. Shri P.K. Gupta. 13. Shri Devender Kumar.
Government of
India
Ministry of
Communications & I.T.
Department of
Posts
(SR Section)
Dak Bhavan,
Sansad Marg
New Delhi,
No. 8/4/2013-SR Dated
the 16th September, 2013
A meeting was held on 02/08/2013 in the Committee Room, Dak Bhavan under the
chairpersonship of Secretary (Posts) to discuss the issues raised by the PJCA
in the Memorandum submitted by them on 01/04/2013. A list of participants
is annexed.
Secretary (PSB) welcomed the participants and thereafter the discussions on the
agenda items commenced. After deliberations the following decisions were
taken:
S.
No.
|
Agenda Item
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Decision taken
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1.
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Issues relating to
Gramin Dak Sevaks
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a. Enhancement of Bonus ceiling –
In the matter of enhancement of
Bonus ceiling to 3500/- of Gramin Dak Sevaks, it was assured that another
attempt will be made to get the approval of the Finance Ministry. It
was informed that the file has already been submitted to Finance Ministry
with the favourable recommendations of the Postal Board and Minister,
Communications.
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The proposal has been approved
by Department of Expenditure on 21/08/2013. The matter is now being
placed before the Cabinet for approval.
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b. Revision of Cash handling norms-
On the issue of withdrawal of
upward change in cash handling norms etc., it was assured that the entire
issue will be re-examined. A DDG level committee was also
constituted. Minister of State for communications has also assured the
staff side that needful will be done in this case.
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Data is being collected from
all circles regarding financial implications in case the cash handling norms
are revised. Circles are being addressed to expedite response.
The proposal will be examined after the requisite data is collected.
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c. Ensuring no reduction of TRCA under any circumstances –
It was assured by Minister of
State for communications that orders for full protection of TRCA will
be issued. But, in the orders issued by the Directorate, protection is
given for one year only and thereafter if workload is not increased TRCA will
be reduced without any protection. As per the earlier orders protection
was given up to the maximum of the lower TRCA even if workload is
reduced. As per the new order after one year there will be no
protection at all. When workload is reduced due to circumstances beyond
the Control of the GDS, reducing the TRCA is quite unjustified and inhuman.
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The remuneration of the GDS and
the policy relating to the same is reviewed every ten years in consonance
with the Pay Commission by a committee and accepted by the Finance Ministry
and Cabinet for implementation. The policy governing remuneration of
GDS is related to work load. If work load increases TRCA is
enhanced. On a similar analogy if work load reduces, there is an impact
on TRCA. Protection provided for GDS / BPMs for a period of one year is a
welfare oriented instruction guiding GDS to increase his work load during the
one year period. A fresh establishment review will be done for such
post offices at the end of this one year period, which will end in October
this year and a number of such offices identified and a decision will be
taken.
Secretary (Posts) urged the
staff side to convince GDS to make efforts to increase the business which in
turn will enhance the workload with consequent rise in TRCA or maintenance of
TRCA at the same level.
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d. Removal of minimum 50 points
conditions for GDS Compassionate appointment
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The data reveals that present
norms have yielded compassionate engagement to an extent around 30% -
35% of the cases which is much more than the regular departmental employees who
are getting only 5% as per DOPT guidelines based on the Hon’ble Supreme Court
judgement, which have restricted compassionate appointment to a maximum of 5%
of the total appointment in Government service. The point system cannot
be relaxed further to enhance the compassionate appointment cases as it is
presently much more than the Supreme Court judgement norms.
Item closed.
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e. Redeployment of GDS
mailman posts in new areas
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The PJCA has accepted that this
is a dying cadre. Therefore, the work that was hitherto being performed
by GDS MM will be reflected in the future Establishment of Mail as per
justification.
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f. Review of cash
conveyance allowance – Monthly ceiling of Rs.50/- to be removed.
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Details will be ascertained
from circles to know the average expenditure incurred every month by GDS /
BPMs. Proposal will be reviewed thereafter, so as to ensure that they
are adequately compensated to cover cost.
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g. Introduction of Health Scheme
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The proposal for GDS health
insurance scheme is under active consideration by Ministry of Finance,
Department of Expenditure.
On 21/08/2013 Secretary (Posts)
has demi officially addressed Secretary (Expenditure) to expedite the
approval.
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h. Norms for RPLI
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GDS BPMs are already being
given incentive on RPLI @ 10% of the first year premium towards RPLI policies
and 2.5% of the renewal premium income collected by RPLI. No further
revision is necessary at this stage.
Item closed.
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i. Providing norms for cash
remittance from BO to AO & Vice Versa
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The reply sent by Director (SR)
vide letter No.8-4/2013-SR dated 22/04/2013 stands withdrawn.
A committee has been formed to
look into this issue. The proposal “norms for cash remittance from BO
to AO – vice-versa”- will be examined on receipt of report of the committee.
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2.
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Immediate finalization of Cadre
Restructuring:
After the narration discussion
on the problems put forth in the strike charter on 10.01.2012 &
12.01.2012, Secretary, Deptt. of Posts, has assured both orally and also in
the minutes, Inter alia;
“As recorded in the minutes of
the meeting held on 27.12.2011, the proposal is under consideration of a
committee under the Chairpersonship of DDG(P). The Staff side expressed
their concern about the undue delay in finalization of the proposal on which
the Secretary Posts, desired finalization of this process by 31st March,
2012. It was assured that the timelines would be adhered to”. As
regards restructuring of Postal Accounts officials, it was informed
that the proposal was cleared by the JS&FS and stands referred to the
Secretary (Posts). It was also decided to have a separate Committee
under the Chairpersonship of Ms. Sandhya Rani, PMG (BD) Andhra Pradesh Circle
to consider Cadre Restructuring of MMS Staff. The Committee will submit
its report within three months from the date of formation.”
Again in the Minutes of the
discussion held with the staff side on 21.05.2012, it is further assured as
follows:
“It was decided to formulate a
proposal of 30th June 2012 for further examination in consultation with
the nodal Ministries. Regarding cadre restricting of Postal Accounts it
was assured that the matter will be pursued further with Postal Accounts wing
and Establishment Division and the PJCA will be kept appraised of the
progress in the regard.”
Again during the JCM,
Departmental Council standing Committee meeting held on 18.12.2012 and
JCM(DC) Meeting held on 28.12.2012 it was assured as follows:
“It was informed that the
report of the committee is under consideration. Proposal will be
formulated by the Department. However, one round of talks with JCM
Members will be held before the proposal is firmed up.”
At one stage, the staff side
has made it clear that if the Department goes on dragging the cadre
restructuring issue indefinitely, the staff side will be forced to
non-cooperate with the IT Modernization project.
It was repeatedly assured that
the cadre restructuring will not be linked with the IT Modernization
Project. But still the proposals are not finalized. No meeting of
the Cadre Restructuring Committee by the Postal Board was held during the
last one year. The undue and unwarranted delay is causing concern and
also strong resentment among the employees.
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The Cadre Restructuring
Committee is being reconstituted.
Current Status / Postscript
The Cadre Restructuring
Committee has been reconstituted under the Chairmanship of DDG (P).
Sandhya Rani Committee report
on organizational restructure of MMS is under consideration.
The report of “cadre
restructuring of Postal Accounts” has been approved by FA and has been
referred to Ministry of Finance.
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3.
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Revision of wages of casual
labourers and their absorption:
In the minutes of the
discussion held with the staff side on 10.01.2012 & 12.01.2012, the
Secretary (Posts) has assured as follows:
“The Staff side was appraised
that a Committee had been constituted under the Chairpersonship of CPMG Assam
circle to look into the issues pertaining to Casual Labourers and it is
likely to submit its report shortly. The Staff side expressed its concern
over the delay in the decision. Regarding the union’s request for
revised minimum wages w.e.f. 01.01.2006, the matter will be examined on
priority.”
Again in the minutes of the
discussion held on 21.05.2012, it was further assured that_________“A Comprehensive
proposal on the matter of Casual labourers will be formulated by 30th June,
2012”.
In spite of these repeated
assurances the payment of pro-rate wages to the law-paid casual laborers
w.e.f. 01.01.2006 has not taken place causing inordinate delay in payment of
minimum wages to those poor employees.
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The committee of field officers
under the chairmanship of Shri Vishvapavan Pati, PMG, Hyderabad Region has
been constituted to suggest the manner in which the report of the Monojit
Kumar Committee can be implemented. On receipt of findings of this
committee, final view will be taken in consultation with nodal Departments.
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4.
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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. Follow up action on certain
in item of the Postmen Committee constituted by the Postal Board is yet to be
completed, i.e.: maximum beat length, unscientific resorting to single
Postmen beats, Double duty, correction in the definition of the Congested
area etc.
b. In spite of clear orders
issued by the Directorate for filling up of Postmen & MTS Vacancies for
the year 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012, in certain circles (Eg. Andhra Pradesh)
the examination for promotion to Postmen and MTS is not yet completed.
|
A separate meeting has been
convened on 02/08/2013 under the chairmanship of Member (P), with
Secretaries General of NFPE & FNPO and General Secretaries of Postmen
unions and separate minutes issued.
All Circles have initiated
action for announcing vacancy of postmen and action for filling up the posts
is ongoing.
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5.
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Abnormal delay in notifying
HSG-I Recruitment Rules
The finalization of revised
HSG-I Recruitment rules is being delayed on one pretext or the other.
This is pending over five years. 100% of HSG I Posts are lying vacant
and are being managed by officiating arrangements without any financial
benefits. Due to the delay in finalizing HSG I Recruitment Rules,
Carving out of Postmaster Grade III is also delayed. It is most
unfortunate that orders have been issued by the Directorate not to fill up
the HSG I Vacancies as per the old r3ecruitment rules. At least this
would have been caused to fill up the vacancies.
It has defeated the very
purpose of matching savings offered to the extent of 680 PA Posts for
availing HSG I Promotion and it is highly deplorable. Necessary action
may please be taken to finalise the HSG-I Recruitment Rules or at least to
fill all the vacant posts forthwith besides carving out of Postmaster Grade
III Posts as per the existing HSG I Recruitment Rules.
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In view of the observations of
UPSC, file regarding RRs for HSG I has been referred back to DOPT. The
vacancies are being filled by the circles as per provisions of the existing
Rules by convening DPC meetings.
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6.
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Abnormal delay in filling up of
vacant LSG, HSG II and HSG-I vacancies due to non-holding of DPCs in many
circles.
In many circles, the regular
DPC to LSG has not been convened. Many LSG Posts are being kept vacant
resultantly causing a heavy shortage in PA Cadre due to their
officiating. Further the delay caused non-filling up of HSG-II Post due
to inadequacies in the eligible candidates in LSG Cadre. In many
circles, HSG-II DPC has also not been convened and many of the HSG-II Posts
could not be filled up on a regular basis due to the officiating of the
incumbents in the vacant HSG I Posts.
In nutshell all the higher
posts are being managed only with the officiating or adhoc arrangements
causing non filling up of basis PA Posts and denying and depriving the due
promotional chances to the eligible candidates.
It is therefore requested to
cause appropriate orders to convene DPC and fill up all the vacant LSG &
HSG II posts immediately by prescribing time schedule.
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Meeting will be convened under
the chairmanship of Member (P) to examine individual cases of non-filling of
vacant posts. The matter will be taken up with respective CPMGs for
immediate action.
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7.
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Problems of Postmaster Cadre
Officials
(i) Allowing Postmaster Cadre
officials to appear for IP and PSS Group B Examination.
(ii) Orders permitting the
Postmaster Cadre official to officiate in HSG-I vacancies and earmarked
Postmaster Grade III Posts.
(iii) Allow PO & RMS
Accounts cadre official to opt for Postmaster cadre.
(iv) Filling up the Postmaster
Grade-III posts by granting promotion to Grade-II officials and also by
option from HSG-I officials after filling up all HSG-I Posts.
(v) Filling up of all vacant
Grade-II and Grade III posts promoting the Postmaster cadre official relaxing
the minimum service condition.
(vi) Filling up 100% Senior
Postmaster/Chief Postmaster posts which are earmarked for Postmaster cadre by
Postmaster Cadre officials alone declaring it as a hierarchical promotion
cadre of Postmaster Cadre.
(vii) Delay in holding LSG, HSG
II and HSG – I DPCs and thereby denying the chance for giving option to
Postmaster Grade – I, II & III to eligible officials.
(viii) Maintenance of up to
date separate gradation list for PM Cadre officials.
In the minutes of the
discussion held on 21.05.2012 the Secretary (Posts) has assured as follows:
“The issues were discussed at
length and it was decided to review it after sometime keeping in view the
merits and demerits of the proposal as well as the response of the officials
for Postmaster Cadre”.
The minutes did not reflect the
real spirit of discussion as it was assured to consider favourably the above
items after long discussion. However, it is high time to review the
above cases and settle favourably. The entire Postmaster Cadre officials
are totally frustrated and disappointed due to the negative attitude of the
administration towards them.
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Meeting will be convened
under the chairmanship of Member (P) to consider these proposals and minutes
will be issued separately.
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8.
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Problems of System
Administrators
In the minutes of the
Departmental Council JCM Standing Committee dated 02.02.2012 (communicated in
letter dated 06.06.2012) for the 15 items pertaining to system Administrators
including creation of separate cadre, it is furnished as follows:
“The issue is under the
consideration of the cadre Restructuring Committee constituted under the
chairmanship of DDG(P) vide Department’s office memo no.01/04/2010-SR dated
05.05.2011”
Finalization of the proposal by
the Cadre Restructuring Committee is being delayed indefinitely.
Recently, during the demonstration of IT Modernization Project, the staff
side has repeatedly requested the Member (Technology) to create a separate
cadre and absorb all the existing SAs as a onetime measure in the new
cadre. Unfortunately no commitment was given regarding the creation of
new cadre, except the assurance that the services of the existing system
Administrators will be utilized in future also. It is high time to end
the present uncertainty by creating a separate cadre for system
Administrators.
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After deliberations, the PJCA
agreed to drop this item.
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9.
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Implementation of speed Post
hubs and L1, L2 Systems
The High Power Committee
appointed to discuss the issues under the Chairpersonship of then Secretary,
Department of Posts assured the following before implementation of MNJOP
proposals.
(i) There will be no shifting
of staff from L1 office to L2 office vice versa for three years.
(ii) Irregular or wrong
identification of L1 office will be changed after discussion with the staff
side.
But to our dismay both the
promises were not kept. There is a complete violation and deviation of
assurances. Further, even though directorate has issued instruction to
the Chief PMGs regarding change of administrative jurisdiction of speed post
hubs, certain Chief PMGs have not yet implemented it and still some of the
speed post hubs are co0ntinuing under the administrative jurisdiction of
postal superintendent.
Further, CRC & Speed post
norms have been finalized without any consultation with staff side. The
impracticable norms have been imposed upon violating the earlier decision and
agreements on the subject.
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Meeting will be convened with
PJCA under the chairpersonship of Member (Operations) and minutes will be
issued separately.
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10.
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MACP Related issues
The implementation of the
Jodhpur CAT Judgement, i.e. non-counting of promotions acquired from one
cadre to other through examination for MACP, Granting of MACP counting the
total service rendered in each cadre etc has not been implemented resulting
deprival of dues to the senior most promotes in the Department of
Posts. This may kindly be considered.
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This item will be discussed in
a meeting to be convened under the chairmanship of Member (P) and the minutes
will be issued separately.
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11.
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Problems of APM
Accounts/Accountants
The following demands in
respect of PO & RMS Accountants have not been considered yet causing
resentment and displeasure amidst the qualified hands.
(i) Proportionate
distribution of APM Accounts posts among LSG, HSG 11 and HSG-1
(ii) Counting
special allowance for pay fixation benefits to PO & RMS Accountants on
promotion. Implementation of Karnataka High Court order not only for a
specific period but also till the withdrawal of the TBOP/BCR Schemes in true
spirit. The special allowance should be taken for pay fixation up to
31.08.2008 for TBOP/BCR officials.
(iii) Date
of passing Accounts exam may be taken as the criteria for counting seniority
for promotion, since no amendment has so far been issued to the statutory
rules. Further the earlier passing of examination will have no
relevance in future.
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This item will be discussed in
a meeting to be convened under the chairmanship of Member (P) and the minutes
will be issued separately.
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12.
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Filling up of all vacant posts
Even though Government of India
has lifted ban on filling up of posts from 2009 onwards, and the Directorate
has given repeated instructions to fill up all direct recruitment as well as
promotional quota of vacancies up to 2012, in many circles posts are remaining
unfilled. Similarly in Postal Accounts much delay in taking place in
filling up of posts due to delay in finalization of the Recruitment process
by staff selection commission. Action may be taken to fill up all
vacant posts from 2009 onwards on top priority basis as the staff are reeling
under the pressure of workload which in turn affects the efficiency of the
services rendered by the Department of Posts.
In conclusion, we hope that all
the above issues will be given top most priority and the Hon’ble Secretary,
Department of Posts, shall come forward for a negotiated settlement with the
staff side in a time bound manner.
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Postal Directorate has taken
action to fill up DR Postal Assistant posts for years 2009 and 2010.
11,738 PAs / SAs DR quota vacancies have been filled up.
Examination for 4841 vacancies
for the years 2011 and 2012 for PA / SA DR quota, has recently been
held and result has been declared. The selected candidates will join
their position on completion of pre-appointment formalities.
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13.
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Non settlement of agreed items
placed the Departmental Council (JCM)
Most of the issues agreed in
the last Departmental Council meeting held on 28.12.2012 have not been
processed further. Many of them remain as it is. There is no
serious action taken in mitigating the issues put forth in the departmental
council meeting.
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Pending items will be discussed
in the JCM (Standing Committee meeting).
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14.
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Additional item submitted by
PJCA:-
While conducting promotional
cum competitive exams from GDS to MTS, GDS and MTS to Postman cadre we are in
receipt of several complaints from the examinees that the examination papers
for the relevant examinations were very tough. We tried to convince the
Administration to set examination paper in liberal comprehensive manner with
the intention that since the aspiring examinees are already in touch in the
routine work and they are not required to face with complicated and
extraneous nature of work and also to cut down the delay in recruitment
process. However, the Directorate has stuck up to its own
decision that the above mentioned examinations are competitive and not
promotional, liberalization could not be considered. Due to the said
decision by the Directorate it will be difficult to Department to hardly get
2 to 5% employees to fill up the vacancies earmarked from GDS to MTS for the
designated job and the volume of vacancies will remain unfilled every year.
It is once again requested to simplify the questions.
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A Committee has been
constituted under the chairmanship of DDG (R&P) to examine the contents
of Question Papers with reference to prescribed syllabus and submit a report
on the standard vis-a-vis the post for which examination is being conducted
and post which is appearing for the examination.
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