National Association of Postal Employees Group-C

COMBINATION OF DUTY TO GDS - CLARIFICATION

No.6-1/2009-PE-II
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
(Establishment Division)

Dak Bhawan, Parliament Street
New Delhi-110001
Dated 15-07-2010
The Chief Postmaster General
UP Circle
Lucknow—226001
Sub: Combined Duty Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks employees who perform the duties of Gramin Dak Sevaks Branch Postmasters in addition to their own duties.
Sir,
I am directed to refer to your letter no.Estt/M-377/34/GDS/Corr./2009/1 dated 24-06-2010, on the above mentioned subject.
2. The issue has been examined. DG Posts letter no.14-11/1988-PAP dated 16-07-1990 provided for payment of Rs.50 as combined duty allowance to GDS MD/MC who perform the work of EDBPM in addition to their normal charge of duties. It was also clarified that, GDS Mail Deliverer/Mail Carrier are not eligible for this Combined Duty Allowance if they perform duties other than that of GDS BPMs
3. As per the recommendations of One—man Committee and approved by the government, the GDS MD/MC attached with the addition duty of another Gramin Dak Sevak, revised rate of allowance will be at the rate of Rs.25 per day subject to a maximum of Rs.625 per month. Accordingly, the Mail Deliverer/Mail Carrier entrusted with the duties of BPMs in addition to their own work, are eligible for this additional remuneration as compensation. However, they will not be eligible for any Combined Duty Allowance which is now paid to Branch Postmasters towards delivery and conveyance work
To cite an illustration, if a Branch Post Office has one BPM and one GDS MD/MC on its establishment. In the event of GDS MD/MC performing the duties of Branch Postmasters in addition to his own, he will be eligible for a compensation of Rs.25 per day subject to a maximum of Rs.625 per month in addition to his normal Time Related Continuity Allowance. However, he will not be eligible for further Combined Duty Allowance paid to Branch Postmasters.
4. This issues with the approval of DDG(Establishment).
Yours faithfully
(K Rameswara Rao)
Assistant Director General (Estt.)

No.6-22/2010-PE-II
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
(Establishment Division)

Dak Bhawan, Parliament
Street New Delhi-110001
Dated 15-07-2010

The Chief Postmaster General
Kerala circle,
Thiruvananthapuram. 695033

Sub: Implementation of Recommendations of Shri R.S. Nataraja Murti Committee.
Madam,
I am directed to refer to your letter no.Est/66-2/2009-dlg dated, 11-5-2010 on the above mentioned subject.
2 The points raised by the Circle have been examined and the followingclarifications are provided.
Points on which clarification sought
1.Whether the benefit of fitment is admissible to Gramin Dak Sevaks officials whose scale of pay changed after 1-1-2006 due to transfer of redeployment. Similarly the above order is silent on protection of allowances
Position
The order dt. 9-10-2009 makes it clear for providing fitment at the time of fixation based on the TRCA drawn as on 1-1-2006 and it can not be applied to the GDS for change of pay scale after crucial date either due to transfer or redeployment. Such cases of fixation have to be guided by Dte letter no.14-16/2001-PAP (Pt) dt. 11-10-2004. Further, the OM dated 09-10-2009 is only about revision of TRCA and it has not revised or annulled the earlier order issued regarding protection of allowances in the case of reduction of workload or redeployment. The instructions issued in the letter no. 14-16/2001-PAP(Pt) dt.11-10-2004 are still in vogue and not Superseded or modified.
Points on which clarification sought
2.Prior to introduction of he above order GDS SPM/BPM doing mail conveyance are not entitled for combined duty allowance it the work is entrusted due to short fall n workload for justifying retention of Higher TRCA. Similarly, if the incumbent is working on protection of allowance they are not entitled to combined duty allowance. But the latest order is not clearly stated the position.
Position
The contention of the Circle appears to be not in order. The earlier order issued on 17-12-1998 provides that “the delivery and conveyance allowance to EDSPMs/EDBPMs who have been entrusted the additional work of conveyance of mails or delivery will be increased form the existing Rs.50 per month to Rs.75 per month. The flat rate of Rs.75 may be paid to all EDSPMs/EDBPMs to attend to conveyance/delivery or both.”
Therefore, payment of combined duty allowance is not connected to workload on account of delivery or conveyance or both. But the same is paid as compensation towards entrustment of additional work of conveyance/delivery or both. One—man Committee recommended revision of combined duty allowance to Branch Postmasters and separated conveyance work/delivery work and recommended payment of combined duty allowance for each item of work. Again, this was not related to workload of BPMs but towards entrustment of additional work of delivery/conveyance or both.
As per the order dated 11-10-2004, if the BPMs who is in a higher TRCA gets dropped in the workload, Combination of duties or mail delivery/mail conveyance has to be examined and to ensure that total workload of the post does not exceed 5 hours and in such cases only where the allowance is protected and additional work is given to him in such cases only combined duty allowance was not admissible.
However, One—man Committee recommended revision of combined duty allowance. This is applicable even in the cases of BPMs whose allowance has been protected and if they are doing conveyance/mail delivery work or both..
Points on which clarification sought
3. Kindly clarify whether GDS MDs are also entitled for combined duty allowance.
Position
As per the recommendations of One-man Committee and approved by the Government, the GDS MD/MC attached with the addition duty of another Gramin Dak Sevak, revised rate of allowance will be at the rate of Rs.25 per day subject to a maximum of Rs. 625 per month. Accordingly, the Mail Deliverer/Mail Carrier entrusted with the duties of BPMs in addition to their own work, are eligible for this additional remuneration as compensation. However, they will not be eligible for any Combined Duty Allowance which is now paid to Branch Postmasters towards delivery and conveyance work.
To cite an illustrations, if a Branch Post Office has one BPM and one GDS MD/MC on its establishment. In the event of GDS MD/MC performing the duties of Branch Postmasters in addition to his own, he will be eligible for a compensation of Rs.25 per day subject to a maximum of Rs.625 per month in addition to his normal Time Related Continuity Allowance. However, he will not be eligible for further Combined Duty Allowance paid to Branch Postmasters.
In regard to clarification sought at item no. 4 of your letter, it is not clear whether he is exchanging mail with Account office or at an Intermediary office. The Circle is therefore requested for providing full details as to how a Branch Postmasters can make exchange in one way, and whether exchange is at a Bus stand or Railway station, or at Account office. The circle has to provide specific instances of four or five cases for further detailed examination.
This issue with the approval of Member (Personnel)
Yours faithfully
(K Rameswara Rao)
Assistant Director General (Es



Ministry of Communications & IT File no. 19-10/2004-GDS (part)
Government of India Department of Posts
(Establishment Division)

Dak Bhawan, Parliament Street
New Delhi-110001
Dated 21-07-2010

All Chief Postmaster General
Postmaster General
Sub: Limited transfer facility to Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Sir/Madam,
I am directed to refer to this office letter no. of even dt 17-7-2006 on the above mentioned subject.
2. One-men Committee with Shri R.S. Nataraja Murti as Chairman, for examining Gramin Dak Sevaks system, studied the above issue and made recommendations in para 16.12.1 of the report.
3. The recommendations of the Committee were examined by the Department and after a careful consideration; the Competent Authority has ordered the following:

(i) All the five grounds stipulated for allowing the Transfer of Gramin Dak Sevak in para 2 of letter no. 19-10/2004-GDS dt. 17-7.2006 will be retained. The transfer facility can be availed by Gramin Dak Sevaks only once in whole career. However, an exception has been made for women Gramin Dak Sevaks, who availed the transfer facility on the ground of extreme hardship due to a disease and for medical attention/treatment before their marriage, can avail the facility for a second time in the event of their marriage/remarriage.

(ii) Past service of Gramin Dak Sevaks will be counted for the eligibility for appearing in the Departmental Examinations and for Ex-gratia gratuity and will rank junior in the seniority list of new unit.
(iii) However on transfer to a new post, the Gramin Dak Sevaks cannot have any claim for protection in their Time Related continuity Allowance drawn in the old Post. His/her Time Related Continuity Allowance will be fixed at the minimum of the Time Related Continuity Allowance slab of the transferred post, depending upon the work load of the aid post. In the case of Mail carrier/ Mail deliverer/packer, the work load has to be assessed on cycle beat. The transfer has to be approved only if the Gramin Dak Sevkas is willing for the new post, and an undertaking to the effect has be obtained and kept on record. This condition is provided to prevent the misuse of the limited transfer facility so that it can be availed only by those who genuinely need it.
4. All the other conditions laid down in letter no. 19-10/2004-GDS dt. 17.7.2006 will continue to apply.
5. The Heads of circle are requested to keep the above modifications in view while deciding the cases of transfer application of Gramin Dak Sevaks.
6. The contents may be communicated to all concerned for wide circulation amongst the Gramin Dak Sevaks in vernacular understanding.
7. This issues with the approval of Secretary (Posts)
Yours faithfully,
(K. Rameswara Rao)
Assistant Director General (Estt)