OFFICIAL MINUTES OF ANOMOLIES COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DEPARTMENTAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE OF DEPARTMENT OF POSTS HELD ON 05TH FEBRUARY, 2010

A meeting of the Departmental Anomaly Committee of the Department of Posts was held on 05th Feb 2010 in Committee Room, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi on 05th Feb 2010 under the Chairmanship of Deputy Director General (Establishment). A list of participants who attended the meeting is as follows:-

OFFICIAL SIDE STAFF SIDE

1.Shri AK Sharma DDG (Establishment) – Chairman

2. Shri Salim Haque DDG (P)

3.Shri Ajai Kumar Director T&C – Rep of JS&FA

4. Shri Subhash Chander Director SR & Legal

NFPE

1. Shri K V Sridharan Leader Staff Side

2. Shri Giriraj Singh Secretary Staff Side

3. Shri K Raghavendran Member

4. Shri Ishwar singh Dabas Member

5. Shri S P Mukharjee Member

FNPO

6. Shri D Theagarajan Member

7. Shri D Kishan Rao Member

2. 20 items in total as received from Secretary Staff Side were taken for discussion. One additional item relating to grant of pay scale to drivers equal to Postal Assistants of the Department of Posts was also included in compliance of judgment of Madras High Court dated 10th Sep 2009 delivered in WP No.21367 of 2004.

3. At the outset, Chairman of the Anomaly Committee welcomed the members of the Staff Side and explained the definition of the anomaly in the ambit of which the various items submitted by the Staff side will be discussed. Chairman of the anomaly committee explained that items not covered under the definition of term ‘anomaly’ will not be considered as anomalies arising out of the 6th CPC recommendations and will be dealt with outside the purview of the machinery of Anomaly Committee. Thereafter, all the anomalies items as per the agenda including five other items were taken up for discussion:

Item No. 1- TBOP/BCR PA/SA Cadre of Postal placed at lower level in comparison to same cadre in Telecom:

The Staff Side demanded parity of TBOP/BCR, PA/SA cadre of Postal staff with Telecom staff. In support of it was submitted that TBOP Scheme was introduced in the erstwhile unified P&T Department and the scheme was unique to the unified Department. While Telecom Department upgraded the TBOP/BCR pay scales to Rs. 5000 & Rs. 5500, it was not done in Postal & thereby TBOP/BCR PA/SA cadre of Postal were placed at lower level in comparison to same wing cadre in Telecom and as such the anomaly that arose during 5th CPC is still continuing. It was explained that there is no anomaly involved as a result of implementation of 6th CPC recommendations and as such the issue does not fall within the ambit of term ‘anomaly’. However, higher pay scale to the LSG supervisory staff will be examined separately outside the ambit of Anomaly Committee.

Item No.2- Denial of Higher Scale to PO&RMS Accountants and denial of special allowance for the purpose of counting for fixation of pay on promotion:

The Staff Side raised the issue of denial of higher scale to PO&RMS Accountants of Postal Department besides the denial of counting of special allowance for the purpose of counting for fixation of pay on promotion. The Chairman informed the Staff side that the issue was examined by 6th CPC and it was held that PO&RMS Accountants do not belong to Organized Accounts Cadre and as such they cannot be treated on par with them. Therefore, the item does not fall within the term anomaly arising out of 6th CPC. However, the department will examine the issue afresh with a view to find out the justification of the same outside the purview of the anomaly committee and if need be, the department will take up the issue with Nodal Department for treatment of Special Allowance as part of basic pay while fixing pay on promotion.

Item No. 3- Omission of Grant of PB-2 to Postal Machine Assistants renamed as Technical Postal Assistants:

The Staff Side demanded placement of Postal Machine Assistants (renamed as Technical Postal Assistants) as entry grade II (PMA Grade II) requires the incumbents to have the essential qualification of matriculation with diploma in any trade of instrument from any Technical Institute recognized by the Central Government and 6th CPC has placed all diploma holders in PB-2.

The Chairman informed Staff Side that Technical Postal Assistants/Postal Machine Assistants were renamed as Technical Postal Assistants consequent upon closure of the then PMRO’s. These Postal Machine Assistants are in Grade II & Grade I. The feeder cadre is in Grade II and the essential qualification for this entry grade is matriculation with diploma in any trade of instrument from any Technical Institute recognized by Central Government as laid down in the recruitment rules. The promotional cadre of PMA Grade I provides for direct recruitment and promotion quota as 50:50. For promotional quota, the essential qualification is not less than 5 years experience and for direct recruitment, the essential qualification is matriculation with diploma in any trade of instrument or apprenticeship certification or national trade certificate with desirability of knowledge of working and maintenance of postal machines for about two years as per the laid down recruitment rules. 6th CPC had recommended PB-2 with GP 4200 for all such cadres having entry qualification of diploma but this cadre was denied the higher pay band and grade pay obviously for the reasons that such officials are not utilized for the purpose they were recruited and on being rendered surplus, they are being utilized in the Postal Wing. The cadre was declared as dying cadre.

The Committee further observed that Technical Postal Assistants Grade I are allowed the scale of 5200-20200 (PB-1) with GP 2400 at par with Postal Assistant and Technical Postal Assistants Grade II are allowed the scale of 5200-20200 (PB-1) with GP 1900 and they are being utilized in the Postal Wing. It was observed that PMA Grade II had earlier demanded the higher pay scale and following CAT Orders, the department had considered the issue and rejected the demand for the higher pay scale. Chairman accordingly informed the Staff Side that the item does not fall within the term anomaly arising out of 6th CPC. However, the department will examine the issue afresh with a view to find out the justification of the same outside the purview of the Anomaly Committee.

Item No. 4 - Head Mail Peon – disturbance of relativity with Postman/Mail Guards following 5th CPC:

It was agreed that only senior most Group D officials now called Multi-skilled employee Group C should be posted as Head Mail Peon. If senior most Multi-skilled employee Group C is not willing then only junior Multi-skilled employee Group C need to be posted as Head Mail Peon.

Item No. 5- Placement of Charge Hand in PB-2 rather than merger with Artisan Grade I:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that the issue of upgradation of pay scale of Charge Hand has been referred to the Ministry of Finance.

Item No. 6 - Artisan Grade I – Common Cadre including Railways and Defence – Parity from 01.01.1996:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that on implementation of 6th CPC, the pay scale of the Artisan Grade I have been upgraded to Rs. 4500-7000. Claiming parity with the common cadre including Railways and Defence with effect from 01.01.1996 is outside the purview of the anomaly committee.

Item No. 7- Data Entry Operator – Lower placement than other Central Government Departments

The Chairman informed the Staff side that no recruitment rules for this cadre are in place and Sorters and LDCs posted against such posts created in PAO Chennai are already being allowed the higher scale. The issue has already been considered by High Court of Madras also. The Department has already considered the representation and rejected the demand. The item does not fall within the term ‘anomaly’ arising out of 6th CPC.

Item No. 8 - Cash Handling Allowance to PO&RMS Treasurers – allowing allowance at par with Cashiers in administrative offices:

The Staff Side demanded grant of same Cash Handling Allowance to PO Treasurers as admissible to cashiers in RMS Offices and administrative offices taking the plea that Cashiers in RMS draw the cash from PO Treasurers and distribute the same. Moreover, it was just a matter of change of nomenclature and nothing else.

Chairman informed the Staff Side that Cash Handling Allowance admissible to Treasurers has been doubled. Change of nomenclature of the allowance does not fall within the term ‘anomaly’. However, the department will relook into the issue and will examine the possibility of allowing the same Cash Handling Allowance to Treasurers and Cashiers within the Department and in case justification exists for the same; the Department will take up the issue with Nodal Department.

Item No. 9 - Laboratory Technicians in Postal Dispensaries – non-granting of ACP promotions by DDO due to absence of clear cut orders:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that 6th CPC has not recommended any upgradation of pay scale for this category. Para 3.8.14 of the recommendation of 6th CPC does not suggest any upgradation of existing pay scale of Rs. 4000-6000. The issue will, therefore, be referred to Ministry of Finance for clarification and based on that further clarification on ACP will be issued. However, the issue does not fall within the term ‘anomaly’.

Item No. 10- Medical Store Keepers – Non consideration at par with Central Government Departments:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that 6th CPC has not recommended any upgradation of pay scale of this category. Para 3.8.20 of the recommendation of 6th CPC does not suggest any upgradation of existing pay scale of Rs. 4000-6000 and Rs.4500-7000. The issue will, therefore, be referred to Ministry of Finance for clarification. However, the issue does not fall within the term ‘anomaly’.

Item No. 11- Staff Nurse – Non -ordering of respective ACP Scales:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that Government has already upgraded the pay scale of Staff Nurse to Rs. 7450-11500 and allowed Rs. 9300-34800 (PB2) with GP 4600.

Item No. 12 - Sorters in DA (P) – relativity disturbance from 5th CPC compared to Postman Cadre:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that 5th CPC recommended identical scale to the Sorter cadre of DAP and Postman cadre. However, Postman cadre had the established parity with the Constables of CPO and as such scale of this cadre was brought at par with the scale of Constables of CPO with effect from 10.10.1997. The two cadres had no established parity. Therefore, the issue does not fall within the term ‘anomaly’ arising out of implementation of recommendations of 6th CPC.

Item No. 13 - System administrators – non creation of personnel for handling of software and hardware problems:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that the issue is merely of the nature of a suggestion for creation of new posts and does not fall within the term ‘anomaly’ arising out of implementation of recommendations of 6th CPC.

Item No. 14 - Marketing Executive – Non recognition of services as in case of System Administrators:

The issue does not fall within the definition of ‘anomaly’ arising out of implementation of recommendations of 6th CPC.

Item No. 15 - Grant of Supervisory Allowance to LSG/HSG II/HSG I Supervisors – Non- grant of graded Supervisory Allowance:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that the element of Supervision within the sphere of duty of the posts has already been taken into consideration by the 6th CPC while recommending revised pa scales. . Therefore, the issue does not fall within the term ‘anomaly’ arising out of implementation of recommendations of 6th CPC.

Item No. 16 - Anomaly in connection with revision of pay scale of BCR Group D (now multi-skilled Group C) – Non- grant of PB-1 with GP 1900:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that BCR Group D in operative offices was allowed the scale of Rs.3050-4590 under BCR. The replacement scale of this prescribed BCR scale is Rs. 5200-20200 (PB-1) with GP 1900.

Item No. 17 - Supervisory Allowance for Head Postman/Overseer Postman:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that the item is in the nature of demand and does not constitute an anomaly.

Item No. 18 - TA/DA to Mail Overseers:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that the category of Mail Overseer is allowed Night Halt Allowance as per TA Rules. Further, the item is in the nature of demand and not an anomaly arising out of 6th CPC.

Item No. 19- Higher Pay Scale to PA/SA Supervisory Posts:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that 6th CPC had recommended the pay scales for the Supervisory posts keeping in view the element of supervision as part of the sphere of duties of the Supervisory posts and as such the issue does not constitute an anomaly arising out of 6th CPC. However, the department will examine the issue afresh threadbare with a view to find out the justification for grant of higher pay scales to LSG & HSG II Supervisory posts only as 6th CPC has already upgraded the pay scale of HSG I, outside the purview of the anomaly committee and if need be, the department will take up the issue with Nodal Department.

Item No. 20- Anomaly in pay scale of Stenographers:

The Chairman informed the Staff Side that PS in the field offices having pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500 have already been placed in the pay band of Rs. 9300-34800 (PB-2) with GP 4600 as per clarification issued by Nodal Department. Therefore, the issue stands resolved

Item No. 21 - Grant of Pay Scale to drivers and artisans equal to Postal Assistant:

The Chairman informed the members of the Staff Side and other members of the anomaly committee that this issue relating to Drivers has been referred to the anomaly committee as per directives of High Court of Madras. Perusal of the status right from 2nd CPC onwards reveals that the cadre of Drivers at no point of time was allowed the pay scale identical with that of the Postal Assistant. The case was filed only on the basis of equality of the minimum of the pay scale up to 3rd CPC. Recruitment rules of Motor, Jeep, Lorry and Staff Car Drivers in the Post & Telegraph Department were notified on 01st Nov 1983. The cadre of driver has been classified as General Central Service Group C Non Gazetted Non- Ministerial. Method of their recruitment is 50% by direct recruitment and 50% by transfer. The desirable educational qualification is Middle Standard Pass. The other essential qualification for direct recruitment of drivers is possession of a valid driving license for Light and Heavy motor vehicles, 04 years of driving experience of Light and Heavy vehicles with at least one year of driving experience of heavy vehicles with possession of valid driving license to that effect and ability to read and write local language and to make simple arithmetical calculations. However, the cadre of Drivers had all along been allowed higher pay scale as compared to Postman Cadre till implementation of recommendations of 5th CPC. Following upgradation of pay scale of the cadre of Constables of CPO, Postman cadre was brought at par with Constables of CPO in the light of the established parity & this revision of pay scale of Postman cadre was made effective from 10.10.1997. Following this implementation, the entry pay scale of the cadre of Drivers came below the pay scale of the Postman cadre. Thereafter, after following implementation of 6th CPC recommendations, the entry grade of Drivers was placed in 5200-20200 (PB-1) with GP 1900 while the entry grade of Postman was fixed with higher grade pay of Rs. 2000 in the same pay band.. The Committee decided to refer the issue of upgradation of Entry grade of drivers on par with the Postman pay scale to DOP&T for consideration accordingly as cadre of driver is a common cadre.