Welcome to the official website of All India Postal Employees Union Group 'C'- अखिल भारतीय डाक कर्मचारी संघ वर्ग 'सी' की आधिकारिक वेबसाइट में आपका स्वागत है

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Editorial - August 2007 Bhartiya Post

Operation Abolition--the Solution

The seven Blind men of Hindustan and the Elephant is not the tale to be retold only to the children. Adults in all walks of life also have many lessons to learn from this common folk story. As long as the power of vision is absent, the size and shape can only be guessed and assessed.

There is a tall claim that the Business Development in postal earns profit. When it was questioned whether the profit is derived from the revenue minus working expenditure, the reply is 'No'. Thus, the revenue has been trumpeted as the profit without subjecting the amount with working expenses, leaving entire expenses on postal operations and claiming ' Business activities' a profitable one.

The CAG report placed before the Parliament exposed the success rate of postal business and brought into light about the loss of crores of rupees owing to doing business not professionally. The existence of Automatic Mail Processing Centres installed at Chennai & Mumbai, the living symbol of white elephants is drifting away the Government money every month. When it is pleaded by the service unions for a long, it turned to the deaf ears. Now the CAG reported that the department did not succeed despite the investment of Rs. 60.25 crores in installing AMPCs at Mumbai & Chennai. The paradox in this is that the department is proposing to install further 24 AMPC centres during the eleventh plan period. No body bothers about the loss sustained to the department due to these AMPCs. In the name of business, many Circle / Administrative offices are now converted as Five Star Guest house for relaxation and rest.

The department has recently augmented 29 posts of senior and junior administrative grades to handle the business management and marketing by abolishing 47 operative senior time scale posts. Not even a single post in the operative cadres like Postal Assistant in post offices, Dealing Assistants in RO / CO has so far been created for the business & marketing whereas 29 top bureaucratic posts were now created. A swelling head with a shrinking body! An excuse and justification to increase wasteful expenditure on business!

Large funds are diverted from General expenditure to wasteful expenditure on promoting business and premium products. If the department desires to enter professional marketing activities, it requires only the MBAs & experts and not the bureaucrats in the senior administrative grade.

Take an example -- Speed Post is the premium project. As per the Annual Report of the Department of Posts for the year 2006-07 the speed post in incurring a loss of Rs. 8.46 Per article. (Average cost Rs. 44.54 : Average Revenue 36.08) Then what is the business? The worse is yet to come. The way the management is systematically diverting registration traffics to premium products or reducing the rate of speed post etc. comparing the traditional postal services is bound to reduce the traffic bound revenue in the years to come. Slashing of speed post rate to the extent of one rate one India Rs. 25/- & Rs. 12/- etc. will further increase the loss to the department. Is this the method of countering couriers?

The workload of the postal Group 'C' cadre has gone up by 200 percent within five years. The lopsided development is primarily due to the unscientific axing of posts under the Screening Committee on hand and entering various new business as the other. There is a staff cut at lower level to the extent of 19% within five years. There is a static or increase in the number of officers in the name of business activities & modernisation.




If we fails the undo the wrong decision hitherto adhered that will erode the creditability of the organisation. This will cause a dent that will be sharp and significant. Substitutes are always substitutes, but can never replace the originals. The time old proved system in functioning of the postal operations will never be recovered by the changes that are taking place in the present days.

When centralisation of power is in the agenda at lower levels why not it be implemented at higher levels first. What is the need of separate business Directorate? What is the need of separate PLI Directorate? What is the need of separate business heads at Circle level who do nothing. What is the business they secured? What is the profit they maintained minus the luxury expenses spent on seminar, meetings, compliments, TA and marketing. Why not transparency exists in all these matters?

To save the postal service, Let us propose an operation abolition. Let the axing and economy begin at the top. Abolish the Business & PLI Directorate! Abolish the Postal Board, the Chairman and Members lock stock and barrel. Let there be only one Director General for the department. The Department was functioning better and more effectively and efficiently when we had no board and the pantheon of the members. Let us enter to the old glory in serving public with the time bound delivery and keeping our old tradition of 'Service before Self.'

Editorial - July Bhartiya Post

Positive Thinking

There is a misapprehension in the minds of our members that our Union / Federation has consented to the Government to expel or eliminate of ED Union from NFPE.

Not even an iota of truth in the purported false propagandas. The Federation Circular dated 29-05-2007 would have cleared all the doubts prevailing hitherto and no other explanation needs at this juncture.

The Department of Personnel which is the nodal ministry forming and framing the policy of the Government of India has categorically stipulated that Federations can be formed and recognised only among the unions which cover the Government servants to whom CCS (Conduct) Rules 1964 apply and granted recognition under the RSA Rules 1993.

Since the GDS Union is recognised under different set of rules framed locally by the Department of Posts, the DoP&T time and again rejected our request for the inclusion of GDS Union in the Federation. Now we are pushing to the wall either to accept recognition without GDS Union or remain without recognition.

We have not participated the first verification of membership in 1995 duly rejecting the various provisions of the rules. FNPO & BPEF participated. The FNPO, thus could secure more than 15%. Thereafter we participated in the second verification held in 1997 in which we secured the first position. In the first verification for GDS, in 1997, there is only one union (i.e. AIPEDE Union) recognised. If we would have missed the bus then, the loss would have been miserable.

Similar is the position now. FNPO has applied for recognition as per DoP&T guidelines. We cannot be left in isolation. The decision of the NFPE that we can get recognition first and continue our efforts for the inclusion of GDS Union is the only alternative available. Till then the GDS Union remains part & parcel of the NFPE as an associated member and will have all rights unofficially except in holding offices in which is prohibited due to the DoP&T guidelines.

In many circles there is no RJCM; No regular periodical meeting or Departmental Council meeting since 1995; No nomination of fresh members; Resultantly the conciliation machinery become totally defunct. Without official recognition, nothing is possible to mitigate demands and improve the situation. One should accept the fact that without proper recognition of the Government, we could not clinch even small issues and take forward our movement further. We have no other alternative!

Unless the policy of the Government is changed and liberalise the Federation recognition rules which is practically impossible to exercise since 2002 to till day, there is no chance in the immediate nearby to modify the policy of the Government in this regard.

Let us be practical and plain. Let us not drift or dither away with imaginary thinkings and forget the reality and reasons. Let us not play any game for the sake of others. Let us realise the reality and consider the only option available before us to accept recognition and fight further for the inclusion of GDS union in our Federation. Let us think positively, act, advance and achieve our goal to affiliate GDS Union in future by sustained struggles after availing recognition to our Federation.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

News Letter dated 27 July 2007








Date: 27 July 2007

NEWS LETTER
All CWC Members,
All Divisional / Branch Secretaries,
AIPEU Group 'C',

Dear Comrades,

Formation of Officer's Committee on GDS - Violation of Agreement
JCA - Programme of Action

The Department of Posts vide its resolution dated 23-07-2007 constituted a 'One-Man Committee' under the Chairmanship of Shri R.S. Nataraja Murti, retired Member of Postal Services Board. The copy of the same is enclosed.

We are surprised to know that the Committee had started its functioning on 24-07-2007 itself before we knew the constitution of the committee. The fact about formation of 'Officers Committee' has been just appraised to the GDS Union orally. This is quite shocking and surprising since the department implemented its game of divide & rule.

This formation of Officers Committee to deal the GDS issues is nothing but a blatant violation and deviation of agreement and assurances made during the talks on 19-04-2007. In case of rejection of to refer the GDS issues to the Sixth Pay Commission by the Ministry of Finance, the department would have convened another meeting with the Staff Side and appraised the situation as assured in the discussions prior to the strike proposed to be held from 24-04-07 or at least the original demand of the JCA to form Judicial Committee should have been considered afresh with open mind.

By neglecting the Federations (both NFPE / FNPO) and just informing the GDS Union orally and formed the one-man committee headed by a retired officer is causing a serious concern. The Department has properly utilised the 'Wide Gap' prevailing on recognition issue among us and exposed the weakness properly. The department desires to exploit the situation and deviate the agreement. It was not even ready to discuss the staff side, but implemented its own earlier decision.

All the stern struggles launched over one year become futile if we allow the present situation. On 26-04-07, I requested Com. S.S. Mahadevaiah, General Secretary, GDS Union to meet Com. C.C. Pillai in person and discuss the issue with open mind. Accordingly we met at his office. Com. C.C.Pillai, Secretary General, NFPE contacted to Com. D. Theyagarajan, Secretary General, FNPO immediately in our presence for a United Programme against the formation of Officer's Committee. He also consented immediately. All-out efforts are taken for a united movement.

There is a demarcation either unknowingly or wantonly made between the regular and GDS employees after the recognition issue. We have to accept the reality and take responsibility. At least now we have to sort it out. We have to unite by shedding all our differences if need be with some sacrifices too. Otherwise, the Govt. will implement its own agenda and we shall remain as silent spectators and allow the exploited class of GDS for further exploitation.

We should not allow any further exploitation and put to an end. Please adhere the following programmes sincerely and seriously with all affiliates of NFPE / FNPO.

JCA - Programme of Action

03-08-2007 - Demonstration at work spot
08-08-07 - Dharna Programme in front of all Circle / Regional /
Divisional Headquarters

Further, telegrams containing the following text may be given to Hon'ble Minister of Communications & Secretary, Department of Posts immediately.

"We strongly protest against setting up of GDS Committee headed by retired officer instead of Judicial Commission as demanded by the Staff Side."

Secretary,
…………………………….Division

Further programme of action will be decided by the JCA soon. Let us unite, agitate and act to defeat the evil design of the department to form Officer's Committee to consider the demands of GDS instead of Judicial Commission.

ALL ARE REQUESTED TO IMPLEMENT THE CALL IMMEDIATELY AND INTIMATE COMPLIANCE REPORT TO CHQ.

Resolution of Department of Posts dated 23rd July 2007

No. 6-1/2006-PE.II --- The question of examining the conditions of service and emoluments and other facilities available to the Gramin Dak Sevaks has been under the consideration of the Government of India for some time. The Government has now decided to set up a one-man committee for the purpose.

2. Shri R.S. Nataraja Murti, Retired Member of the Postal Services Board will constitute the Committee.

3. The Committee will go into the service conditions of Gramin Dak Sevaks and suggest changes as considered necessary. The terms of reference of the Committee will, inter allia, include the following:-

(a) To examine the system of extra departmental post offices, conditions of employment, wage structure of the Gramin Dak Sevaks and recommend suitable changes considered necessary.
(b) To examine the reasonableness of introducing a social security scheme for providing provident fund and retirement benefits to Gramin Dak Sevaks.
(c) To examine and suggest any change in the method of recruitment, minimum qualifications for appointment as Gramin Dak Sevaks and conduct & disciplinary rules.
(d) To review the facilities provided to the public at different classes of extra departmental post offices.
(e) To examine desirability and need to sanction any interim relief till the time of recommendations of the Committee are made and accepted by the Government.

4. The committee will function for a period of one year, extendable at the discretion of the Government.

5. The Chairman of the Committee will be assisted by Shri A.K. Sharma, a Senior Administrative Grade Officer of the Department who will act as Secretary to the GDS Committee. Adequate staff support will be provided to the committee by the Department of Post. The committee will keep the 6th Central Pay Commission informed of the progress of its work from time to time.

6. The Committee will devise its own procedure and may call for such information an take such evidence, as considered necessary.

7. The headquarters of the Committee will be at New Delhi.

Sanction of the competent authority is accorded for setting up of the Secretariat of the proposed GDS Committee with the following establishment:

Sl. No.
Name of Post
No. of Post (s)*
1.
Secretary, GDS Committee
1
2.
Senior Time Scale / Junior Time Scale
1
3.
Assistant Supdt Posts
2
4.
Postal Assistant / LSG
3
5.
Private Secretary
2
6.
Group D
1
7.
Chowkidar
1

2. Following posts are developed for GDS Committee:

(i) PMG Sambalpur as Secretary, GDS Committee.
(ii) ADG (Establishment) as ADG, GDS Committee.

Delhi Circle will provide posts and staff mentioned at Sl. No. 3 to 7.

3. The Secretariat of the Committee will be located at Malcha Marg PO Complex, Chankya Puri, New Delhi 110021. Necessary requirements for the Secretariat will be made in the usual manner by the CPMG, Delhi Circle with the approval of IFA of the Circle. Any correspondence in this regard may be made with the Secretary of the Committee.

4. The expenditure on the Secretariat would be made out of the Budget of the Delhi circle. If any additional funds are needed, that may be indicated in the RE 2007-08. The pay and allowances of the officers indicated at Sl. 1 & 2 above will be drawn and disbursed by the Postal Directorate till further orders.

5. The resolution for constitution of the Committee will be issued separately.

DG (P) No. 6-1/2006-PE.II dated 24 July 2007

q Meeting with DDG (PG & QA)

A meeting with Smt. Kalpana Tewari, DDG (PG & QA) was held at Directorate to discuss about the citizen's charter for Department of Posts at 3:00 p.m. on 26-07-07. On behalf of NFPE, Com. K.V. Sridharan, General Secretary, P-III; Com. Giriraj Singh, General Secretary, R-III; Com. Iswar Dabas, Offg. General Secretary, P-IV attended the meeting. We putforth our views that unless the problem of shortage of staff is mitigated, the implementation of the citizen charter could be only in paper. We further stressed to reconsider for revival of second / third delivery which will counter the couriers in delivery.

q Arbitration Awards

No decision has been arrived in the meeting held on 18-07-2007 on all pending Arbitration Awards. Next meeting on the subject is fixed on 07-08-07.

q P-IV AIC at New Delhi

The All India Conference of All India Postal Employees Union Postman & Group 'D' is to be held at New Delhi from 21st August to 23rd August.


q National Convention of Central & State Government Employees

The Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers along with All India State Govt. Employees Federation is holding a Joint All India Convention on 13-08-07 at New Delhi from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on the Ten Charter of demands. The venue is MPCU Shah Auditorium, The Delhi Gujarat Samaj Marg, Civil Lines (Near ISBT) New Delhi - 54. On 14-08-08, the National Executive of the Confederation will he held at New Delhi to discuss & decide the date of one day strike in September 07 on Ten Charter of demands.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,


K.V. Sridharan
General Secretary






Saturday, July 14, 2007

Confederation Circular


CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS
Manishinath Bhawan, A-2/05 Rajouri Garden
New Delhi.110 027
Phone: 2510 5324 Fax: 2510 5324
Dated: 6th July, 2007
To

All the Secretariat Members:

Dear Comrade,

Kindly refer to the discussions we had at the NE meeting of the Confederation. As per the decision taken at the meeting, we had contacted all the other CGE organizations with the proposal to organize a day’s strike action in August, 2007. While FNPO responded positively the AIDEF has only assured to organize solidarity action on the day when we would be on strike. The AISGEF would be prepared to join the strike if the same is postponed to September, 2007 and is preceded by a National Convention at New Delhi preferably on 14th August, 2007. The Railway organizations have not responded.

It has been brought to our notice that in view of the Presidential election, the monsoon session of Parliament is likely to be postponed and may spill over to the month of September, 2007.

Taking into account these developments, we have issued today a circular letter to all our affiliates and the COCs intimating of a National Convention at New Delhi on 14th August, 2007. A copy of the said circular letter is enclosed for your information. A meeting of the members of the Secretariat is convened to be held on 21st July, 2007 at our CHQ. We request all the members to be present at the meeting. In case any of the members is unable to attend the meeting, they may kindly communicate their views to the undersigned by 20th inst.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,


KKN Kutty
Secretary General

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS
Manishinath Bhawan, A-2/05 Rajouri Garden
New Delhi.110 027
Phone: 2510 5324 Fax: 2510 5324
Dated: 6th July, 2007
To
All the Affiliates and the Secretaries of the COCs
Dear Comrades,
The proposal of the Confederation to organize a day’s strike in pursuance of the ten point charter of demands will be considered by the National Executive of the AISGEF. They had suggested to hold a National convention at New Delhi on 14th August, 2007 as a campaign to mobilize the mass of our members and to decide upon the date for the strike action. We have accepted the said suggestion and intimation is hereby given for such a convention on 14.8.2007. We shall intimate you the exact venue and time of the convention in due course. About 250 delegates would participate in the convention on behalf of the Confederation. The station-wise quota is as under:-
Station
No of delegates
Delhi
30
Haryana, Punjab, J & K HP and Chandigarh
40
Madhya Pradesh
20
Uttar Pradesh
20
Rajasthan
20
Bihar
05
Jharkhand
05
Chattisgarh
05
West Bengal
15
North East States: Assam,Mehalaya etc
10
Orissa
05
Gujarath
05
Mumbai
10
Vidharba
05
Andhra Pradesh
05
Tamilnadu
05
Karnataka
05
Kerala
05
Total
215



















The Chief Executives of all affiliates and the Secretaries of the COCs and the National Exectuve Committee members of the Confederation shall attend the convention without fail. A meeting of these comrades will be held at New Delhi on 15th August, 2007 at the CHQ to chalk out the campaign programme. Please ensure that the return journey reservation for the delegates is made on the 14th night itself. We are making arrangements for overnight stay for those who require overnight stay at Delhi. The Secretaries of the COCs , the Chief Executives of the affiliates and the NE members will return only on 15th night or 16th morning. The other details of the convention will be communicated to you in due course.
With greetings,

Yours fraternally,


KKN Kutty

Saturday, July 7, 2007

MADRAS HIGH COURT REJECTS THE APPEAL OF DEPARTMENT

ON THE CASE OF RRR CANDIDATES
MADRAS HIGH COURT REJECTES THE APPEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT
 
Dear Comrades ! The Honourable Madras High Court has rejected the appeal of the Department and directed absorbtion of RRR Candidates within three months. This land mark judgment is reproduced hereunder:
 
KVS - GENERAL SECRETARY
 

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
                             
                      DATED: 20.6.2007
                             
                           CORAM
                             
          THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE DHARMARAO ELIPE
                             AND
           THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.PALANIVELU
                             
                   W.P.Nos.38990 of 2002,
 2832 to 2835 of 2003, 9996 of 2003, 10059 of 2003, 30188 of
             2003, 30345 of 2003, 34623 of 2003,
2567 of 2004, 2711 of 2004, 2750 of 2004, 2762 of 2004, 3003
 of 2004, 3004 of 2004, 3766 of 2004, 3767 of 2004, 3810 of
   2004, 4163 of 2004, 4164 of 2004, 4172 of 2004, 4940 of
   2004, 4986 of 2004, 5132 of 2004, 6369 of 2004, 6424 of
             2004, 11367 of 2004, 21433 of 2004,
               22944 of 2004, & 19967 of 2005,

                             AND

                 W.P.M.P.Nos.58153 of 2002,
3542 to 3545 of 2003, 12665 of 2003, 12760 of 2003, 36870 of
             2003, 37066 of 2003, 42057 of 2003,
2934 of 2004, 3142 of 2004, 3222 of 2004, 3239 of 2004, 3537
 of 2004, 3539 of 2004, 4428 of 2004, 4430 of 2004, 4481 of
   2004, 4901 of 2004, 4903 of 2004, 4912 of 2004, 5771 of
  2004, 5819 of 2004, 7525 of 2004, 7608 of 2004, 13392 of
             2004, 25916 of 2004, 27754 of 2004,
                       21748 of 2005

     AND

                   W.V.M.P.No.2067 of 2006


W.P.No.38990 of 2002:

1. Union of India,
   The Chief Postmaster General
   Tamil Nadu Circle
   Chennai 2

2. The Senior Superintendent of Post Offices
   Chennai City South Division
   Chennai.                                    ..Petitioners


 Vs


1. The Central Administrative Tribunal
   City Civil Court Buildings
   Chennai 104.

2. M.Nallavan                              ..Respondents


      W.P.No.38990 of 2002 has been filed under Article  226
of  the  Constitution of India, praying to issue a  Writ  of
Certiorari to call for the records in O.A.No.1131 of 2001 on
the  file of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras and
quash the order dated 28.3.2002.


 ===============================================================================

 For petitioners in all the W.Ps. :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Mr.V.T.Gopalan, Addl.Solilcitor General for M/s.S.Yashwanth, M.Devadoss ,
 M.Dhamodharan, A.Rajendran, G.Nanmaran, K.L.Nandakumar, Sudharshan Sundar,
 Sunita Kumari, P.Chandrasekaran & K.Kannan, all Central Govt.Standing Counsel

 ===============================================================================

 For R.3 & R7 in WP.10059/2003, For R2, R3, R5, R8, R9, R11 to R42 in WP.9996/03
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Mr.Vijay Narayanan, S.C. for M/s.R.Parthiban

 ===============================================================================

 For R.1 in W.P.2567/2004, For R.1 in WP.3004/2004 For R.1 to R.4, R.7 to 21 in
 WP.4172/2004, For R.1 in WP.3003/2004, For R.1 in 2762/2004, For R.3 to R6,
 R8 to 10 & 15 in WP.6424 /2004  :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Mr.Vijay Narayanan, S.C. for M/s.Karthikmukundan

 ===============================================================================
   
 For R.1 in W.P.34623/2003  :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Ms.R.Vaigai

 ===============================================================================

 For R.1 in W.P.30188/2003, For R.2 in WP.11367/2004 :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Mr.P.Rajendran

 ===============================================================================

 For R.1 in WP.4163/2004, For R.1 in WP.3810/2004, For R.1 in WP.4940/2004,
 For R.2 in WP.38990/2002, For R.1 in WP.4986/2004, For R.2 in WP.22944/2004,
 For R.2 in WP.2832 to 2835/2003 :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Mr.R.Malaichamy

 ===============================================================================

 For R.1 in WP.2711/2004, WP.3766/2004, R.1 in W.P.3766/2004, for R.1 in
 WP.4164/2004, For R.1 in WP.6369/2004, For R1, R.2, R.7, R11 & R.13 to R.16 in
 WP.6424/2004, For R.2 in WP.21433/2004, for R.5 & R6 in WP.4172/2004 :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 No appearance

 ===============================================================================

 For R.1 & R.2 in WP.4986/2004 :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Mr.V.Vijayshankar

 ===============================================================================

 For R.1 in W.P.19967/2005   :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Mr.A.Arokiadoss

 ===============================================================================

 For R.2 to R.22 in W.P.2832/2003   :
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 Mr.M.Radhakrishnan

 ===============================================================================

                             
                        COMMON ORDER

DHARMARAO ELIPE,  J.

      Since all the matters are inextricably connected  with

each  other, they are heard together and disposed of by this

common order.

 

      2.  The  applicants before the Tribunal, who  are  the

respondents  herein, are all the dependents of  Group-C  and

Group-D  Staff of the Postal Department, who died in harness

or  retired voluntarily on medical grounds and they all have

been  approved for appointment on compassionate  grounds  in

Group-C  and Group-D posts.  They all are working in various

leave  vacancies and short term vacancies.  Since number  of

vacancies  are  lying  vacant,  their  services  are   being

utililzed  for  leave vacancies and thus  they  are  serving

without  any break in service.  The applicants were awaiting

appointment in regular posts and were also imparted clerical

training  by  the Department itself.  After the judgment  of

the  Apex  Court in UMESH KUMAR NAGPAL vs. STATE OF  HARYANA

[(1994)  4  SCC 138], fixing the number of vacancies  to  be

filled  up  by compassionate ground appointment as  5%,  the

Chief  Post  Master  General, Tamil Nadu  circle,  issued  a

letter  on  28.5.2001, seeking willingness  in  writing  for

consideration  for appointment on compassionate  grounds  by

other Ministries/Department from the candidates approved for

compassionate appointment, who could not be given employment

in the petitioner Department since they can also be absorbed

in  other  Government  Departments.   Accordingly,  all  the

applicants have submitted their willingness giving a  choice

of  departments  in  which they prefer to  be  appointed  on

regular basis.

 

       3.   While   things  stood  thus,  the  Ministry   of

Communications,  Union  of  India,  by  the   orders   dated

25.7.2001  and  4.1.2002, impugned before the Tribunal,  has

taken a decision that any maintenance of the waiting list of

approved candidates for compassionate appointment should  be

discontinued immediately and since the waiting list has been

disposed, this may cause hardship to the approved candidates

and in consideration of these aspects, a  decision was taken

to consider such wait listed candidates for vacancies in the

post of Extra Departmental Staff.  Based on the said letter,

the Chief Post Master General, Tamil Nadu Circle, has issued

a  letter on 6.8.2001 to various Post Masters seeking a list

of  vacancies  in the Extra Departmental Staff.   Aggrieved,

the  applicants have filed a batch of Original  Applications

before  the  Tribunal praying to set aside the letter  dated

25.7.2001 of the  Ministry of Communications, Union of India

and  to  direct the Department to appoint the applicants  as

Postal Assistants within a time limit.

 

      4.  The  writ  petitioners/Department filed  a  common

counter  before the Tribunal stating that the  compassionate

appointment  cases  are considered by the  Circle  Selection

Committee,  constituted in accordance with  instructions  of

Directorate's Letter No.24-269/87-SPB 1 dated  24.9.1989  on

merits;  that as per the scheme of compassionate appointment

circulated  by  the Department of Personnel  &  Training  OM

No.14014/6/94-Estt (D) dated 9.10.1998, it has been  clearly

mentioned at para 7(f) that if sufficient vacancies are  not

available  in  any  particular  office  to  accommodate  the

persons  in  the waiting list for compassionate appointment,

it  is open to the administrative Ministry/Department/Office

to      take      up      the     matter     with      other

Ministries/Departments/Offices of the Government of India to

provide  at  an  early  date  appointment  on  compassionate

grounds to those in the waiting list; the Supreme Court  has

ruled  in  the cases of HIMACHAL ROAD TRANSPORT  CORPORATION

vs.   DINESH  KUMAR  [JT  1996(5)  SC  319]  and   HINDUSTAN

AERONAUTICS LIMITED vs. SMT.A.RADHIKA THIRUMALAI   [JT  1996

(9) SC 197] that appointment on compassionate grounds can be

made only if a vacancy is available for that purpose.

 

      5.  It is further submitted that by OM.No.14014/23/99-

Estt(d)  dated  3.12.1999,  it  was  further  clarified   by

Department of Personnel and Training that the Committee  for

considering  a  request  for  appointment  on  compassionate

ground  should also take into account the position regarding

availability  of vacancy for such appointment for  a  really

deserving case and only if vacancy meant for appointment  on

compassionate grounds are available within a year, that  too

within  the ceiling of 5% mentioned,  such cases  should  be

approved;  that the quota for compassionate appointment  was

reduced to 5% as per the decision of the Government of India

communicated  in Department of Posts letter No.24-170/94-SPB

I  dated  11.12.1995  with the result number  of  candidates

selected  for  compassionate appointment  are  kept  in  the

waiting  list;  that the proposal made by the Department  of

Posts  to the Department of Personnel and Training to  relax

the 5% limit in order to accommodate the approved candidates

kept  in  the  waiting  list was also  turned  down  by  the

Department  of  Personnel and Training  citing  the  Supreme

Court  judgment in U.K.Nagpal's case, cited supra,  vide  OM

NO.42012/4/2000-Estt   (d)  dated   24.11.2000;   that   the

Department  of  Posts had to discontinue the maintenance  of

the  waiting  list of approved candidates for  compassionate

appointment  on the basis of Ministry of Personnel  D.O.P.&T

OM No.42012/4/2000-Estt (D) dated 24.11.2000 communicated in

DG Posts letter No.24-1/99-SPB-I, dated 8.2.2001.

 

      6.  It  is further submitted that as on date, all  the

approved  candidates already in the waiting list were  asked

to   express   their   willingness  for  consideration   for

appointment   by   other   Ministries,   however,   it   was

subsequently  found by the Nodal Ministry that  the  chances

for  absorption in the Ministries are remote  and that there

are also not enough vacancies; that keeping this in view, it

was  felt  that  an opportunity can be given to  such  wait-

listed  candidates  who are waiting  for  some  time  to  be

considered for vacant posts of Grameen Dak Sevaks,  if  they

are willing and eligible for the post and hence the Director

General  (Posts)  instructed the  Postal  circles  to  offer

Grameen  Dak  Sevaks  vacancies  to  dependents  of  regular

employees (Grade C and Grade D) who are already approved for

appointment  on  compassionate grounds and whose  names  are

kept  in  the  waiting list for want of regular departmental

vacancies  under  compassionate  appointment  quota  as   on

8.2.2001;  that there is no obligation on the  part  of  the

approved  candidates kept in the waiting list to accept  the

offer  of  appointment as Grameen Dak Sevaks and  therefore,

there  is no arbitrariness in the Scheme of offering Grameen

Dak  Sevak post to the candidates as their willingness  have

been  called for and they have not been forced  to  work  as

Gameen  Dak  Sevaks;  that  the  averment  that  there   are

approximately  1,500  vacancies  in  the  posts  of   Postal

Assistants  cadre  is not correct and  there  are  only  505

vacancies  in  the Postal Assistant cadre for  2001  out  of

which  50%  is to be filled up under Direct Recruitment;  as

appointments have already been made every year upto 1999  in

the  5%  quota  of the compassionate appointments,  and  the

candidates  considered over and above the  prescribed  quota

were  kept  in  waiting list anticipating  chances  of  more

vacancies and when the chances are remote, it was decided to

offer them Grameen Dak Sevak posts taking into consideration

the hardship faced by them.

 

      7. Since the Tribunal, has quashed the impugned orders

dated 25.7.2001 and 4.1.2002 and directed the Department  to

consider  the  case  of  the applicants  for  regularisation

against  the  regular  vacancies  in  the  grade  of  Postal

Assistants/Postman/Grade 'C' or Grade 'D' posts as  per  the

normal  rules  and  orders  governing  compassionate  ground

appointments, the Department has come forward to file  these

writ petitions and obtained orders of interim stay.

 

      8. In the meanwhile, there was a proposal to grant one

time  relaxation to accommodate all the persons included  in

the waiting list .  Before a decision could be taken on this

proposal at the Headquarters, the Chief Post Master General,

Tamil  Nadu Circle had issued a notification to fill up  146

vacancies  by direct recruitment and some of the  applicants

have filed O.A.No.693 of 2004 for a direction to forbear the

writ  petitioners/Department from making any appointment  by

way  of  direct  recruitment and that O.A. was  disposed  of

directing the department to take a decision on the  proposal

pending  with  the  Ministry to grant one  time  relaxation.

Pursuant to the said order, the Department has rejected  the

proposal  and  initiated  action  to  fill  up  further  277

vacancies   and  the  same  was  challenged  by  filing   an

application before the Tribunal.  It is also stated that the

persons  who  had  applied  much  later  to   some  of   the

applicants have been considered for such appointment,  while

some  of  the  applicants  are waiting  for  appointment  in

violation  of  the instructions issued in the  letter  dated

29.9.1989.    The  Tribunal,  directed  the  Department   to

consider  the  case  of seniors, to be appointed,  if  their

juniors are appointed, based on the date of the application.

Aggrieved,  some writ petitions have also been  filed  which

are also the subject matter in this batch of writ petitions.

 

      9.  The  main  core  of the argument  of  the  learned

Additional   Solicitor  General  appearing  for   the   writ

petitioners  in all these writ petitions is that  there  are

well  laid  down  rules regarding compassionate  appointment

which stipulate that compassionate appointment will be  made

to  enable the family of the deceased employee to tide  over

the  financial crisis caused due to the death  of  the  sole

breadwinner,  who  died leaving the  family  in  penury  and

without   sufficient  means  of  livelihood  and   such   an

appointment shall be made only on regular basis and that too

if  regular  vacancy  meant for that is available  upto  the

maximum of 5% of the vacancies and such an appointment is an

exception to general rule that appointment to public  office

should  be made on the basis of competitive merits and  once

it  is proved that in spite of the death of the breadwinner,

the family survived and substantial period is over, there is

no  need to make appointment on compassionate ground at  the

cost of the interests of several others ignoring the mandate

of Art.14 of the Constitution the Tribunal and the applicant

cannot   have   a  choice  to  choose  a  post   under   the

compassionate  ground appointments, without considering  the

good intention of the writ petitioners to offer Grameen  Dak

Sevaks to the applicants, even though the waitlist has  been

cancelled, has wrongly allowed the application, which  needs

upset by this Court.

 

      10. On the contrary, the learned counsel appearing for

the  respondents/applicants before the Tribunal would submit

that   the  Tribunal  has  considered  all  the  facts   and

circumstances of the case encircling the whole issue and has

correctly   arrived   at  the  conclusion   to   allow   the

applications  filed  by the applicants  and  therefore,  all

these  writ  petitions filed by the State are liable  to  be

dismissed and would pray to dismiss all the writ petitions.

 

       11.  In  support  of  his  contentions,  the  learned

Additional  Solicitor  General  of  India  would  cite   the

following decisions:

 

     1.   HINDUSTAN  AERONAUTICS  LTD.  vs.  A.RADHIKA

     THIRUMALAI [(1996) 6 SCC 394];

 

     2.   STATE OF J&K AND OTHERS vs. SAJAD AHMED  MIR

     [(2006) 5 SCC 766] and

 

     3.   UNION   BANK   OF  INDIA  AND   OTHERS   vs.

     M.T.LATHEESH [(2006) 7 SCC 350].

 

     12. There is no quarrel with regard to the propositions

laid  down  therein by the Apex Court.   But, in  all  these

matters, the applicants have crossed the stage, which is the

subject matter in all the above cited judgments in the sense

that  all  the applicants were selected and approved  for  a

posting  on  compassionate  ground  by  a  duly  constituted

Selection Committee as per the procedure laid down and  they

were also provided with necessary training by the Department

at  its  expenses in their training institutes and  employed

them against leave vacancies and most of the applicants  are

in  employment continuously.  Thus, the applicants in  these

cases  are not seeking compassionate appointment  so  as  to

apply  the  norms prescribed by the Apex Court in the  above

cited  judgments,  but  all  these  applicants  are  seeking

regularization  of  their  appointments  pursuant  to  their

selection  by  the duly constituted Selection Committee  and

still  they  continue in their services  and  therefore,  it

cannot  be  said that these applicants are still in  waiting

list.  Therefore, these cases cannot, in no way, be compared

with  the  above cited cases and therefore, the  ratio  laid

down  in the above cases by the learned Additional Solicitor

General  does  not come to the rescue of  the  case  of  the

Department/petitioners.

 

     13. Admittedly, the Post of Grameena Dak Sevak is not a

civil  post.   As  could  be seen from  Endt.No.B5/1-1/Rlgs,

dated 18.7.2002 issued by the Senior Superintendent of  Post

Offices,  Madurai  Division, Madurai, Grameena  Dak  Seveaks

cannot  be  treated as Central Government Employees.   Since

all  the  applicants were already offered  appointments  and

while  circulating their candidature for appointment against

leave  vacancies,  the Department had indicated  that  their

services would be regularised against future vacancies, they

were  under legitimate expectation that their services would

be  regularised in future course of action since  they  were

already held to be suitable and qualified for such posts  by

the duly constituted Selection Committee.  Therefore, as has

been  pleaded on the part of the applicants, they would have

definitely  given  up  all their attempts  to  pursue  other

options available for securing employment and by this  time,

most  of  the  applicants might have even been over-aged  to

pursue  any  further  post.   Further,  having  allowed  the

applicants to work for a number of years with the fond  hope

of  getting  their  posts regularized,  now  the  Department

offers them a non-civil post like Grameena Dak Sevak lest to

vacate the post now they are occupying, which cannot at  all

be  appreciated.   As  has  been  rightly  observed  by  the

Tribunal,  the  entire  approach  and  the  action  of   the

Department  to offer the post of Grameena Dak Sevak  to  the

applicants is without any basis since the same is not at all

covered by the compassionate appointment.'

 

       14.  As  has  already  been  stated  supra,  all  the

applicants   have  been  selected  by  a  duly   constituted

Selection  Committee  and  after after  affording  them  the

necessary training, they were listed for regularization  and

their  services were also utilized against leave/short  term

vacancies.  Therefore, it cannot be said that the applicants

are  in  waiting list for compassionate ground  appointment,

which stage they have already crossed.

 

      15.  Pursuant  to  our direction to file  a  statement

showing  as to how many approved candidates for the post  of

postman  etc. are waiting for appointment and how many  were

absorbed  in regular vacancies between the period  1989  and

2001   and  also  to  furnish  the  details  regarding   the

recruitment  conducted between 1989 and 2001  and  how  many

regular  vacancies  have  been filled  up  during  the  said

recruitment,  the  writ petitioners have filed  a  statement

stating   that   of   the   622  candidates   approved   for

compassionate   appointment  in  Tamil   Nadu   Circle,   89

candidates  have been appointed as Grameena Dak  Sevaks  and

the  remaining 533 candidate who have been offered  Grameena

Dak  Sevaks posts have not come forward to accept  the  same

and  have  chosen  to  seek legal remedy  for  compassionate

appointment  before  the  Court  and  since  there  are   no

vacancies  under  5%  quota  for compassionate  appointment,

waiting  list has been abolished by the Government  and  the

wait  listed candidates are eligible for Grameena Dak  Sevak

posts  according to their willingness and eligibility as  on

date; that apart from them, 600 fresh applications from  the

year  2000 to 2005 have been received from the Units/Regions

of  Tamil Nadu Circle seeking compassionate appointment  and

these  fresh applications have been processed and kept ready

for  submission  to  the  Circle Relaxation  Committee,  but

Circle Relaxation Committee could not be convened due to the

matter being subjudice before the Court.

 

      16.  For the said note submitted by the Department,  a

strong  and  forcible reply note has been submitted  by  the

respondents/applicants  stating  that  the  Department   has

omitted   to  indicate  the  number  of  direct  recruitment

vacancies sought to be filled up for the year 2006 in Postal

Assistant/Sorting  Assistant  category  and  the  number  of

direct recruitment vacancies arising year wise is not  total

number  of  direct  recruitment vacancies but  denotes  only

1/3rd   of  the  same,  since  there  is  a  ban  on  direct

recruitment from the year 2000.  Since 5% quota  has  to  be

calculated  on  the  basis of the total  direct  recruitment

vacancies  arising  for that year and  not  on  the  reduced

number  of  vacancies after applying the ban, the number  of

direct  recruitment vacancies arising year wise as shown  by

the  Department should be multiplied by three to  arrive  at

the  total number of direct recruitment vacancies  for  that

year.

 

       17.   For   the  sake  of  convenience   and   better

appreciation,  the details furnished by the petitioners  and

the respondents are extracted in tabular columns below post-

wise

 

(a) Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants:

  Details as furnished by the Department   Details furnished
                                                               by the
                                                           respondents

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~      
 Year    No.of    No.of    No.of    No.of    No.of   No.of
       vacancies vacancie persons  candidatvacancie vacancie
         under   s under appointed    es    s under  s for
         Direct  5% quota  under   waiting  direct  compassi
       Recruitme         compassio   for   recruit-  onate
           nt               nate   compassi  ment   appointm
        (Regular         ground in  o-nate (Regular ents 5%
       vacancies         12% quota appoint-vacancie    of
           )             upto 1994   ment     s)    regular
                           and 5%           before  vacancie
                           quota           applying    s
                         from 1995            ban
-------------------------------------------------------------
2000-01   160       8        --       --      480      24

 2002       160       8        --       --      480      24

 2003       120       6        --       --      360      18

 2004         60       3        --       --      180       9

 2005       320       16       --       --      960      48

 2006       235       12       --       --      705      35

TOTAL    1055       53       --       --    3165     158
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~      
(b) Postman/Mail Guard

 

  Details as furnished by the Department   Details furnished
                                                 by the
                                              respondents
                                          

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~      
 Year    No.of    No.of    No.of    No.of    No.of   No.of
       vacancies vacancie persons  candidatvacancie vacancie
         under   s under appointed    es    s under  s for
         Direct  5% quota  under   waiting  direct  compassi
       Recruitme         compassio   for   recruit-  onate
           nt               nate   compassi  ment   appointm
        (Regular         ground in  o-nate (Regular ents 5%
       vacancies         12% quota appoint-vacancie    of
           )             upto 1994   ment     s)    regular
                           and 5%           before  vacancie
                           quota           applying    s
                         from 1995            ban
-------------------------------------------------------------
2000-01    --       --       --       --      --       --

 2002      40       2        --       --      120      6

 2003      60       3        --       --      180      9

 2004      40       2        --       --      120      6

 2005     120       6        --       --      360    18

TOTAL    260       13       --       --     780    39
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                           

(c) Group D/Mailman:

  Details as furnished by the Department   Details furnished
                                                 by the
                                              respondents
                                          

-------------------------------------------------------------
 Year    No.of    No.of    No.of    No.of    No.of   No.of
       vacancies vacancie persons  candidatvacancie vacancie
         under   s under appointed    es    s under  s for
         Direct  5% quota  under   waiting  direct  compassi
       Recruitme         compassio   for   recruit-  onate
           nt               nate   compassi  ment   appointm
        (Regular         ground in  o-nate (Regular ents 5%
       vacancies         12% quota appoint-vacancie    of
           )             upto 1994   ment     s)    regular
                           and 5%           before  vacancie
                           quota           applying    s
                         from 1995            ban

-------------------------------------------------------------
2000-01    80       4        --       --      240      12

 2002        40       2        --       --      120       6

 2003        40       2        --       --      120       6

 2004        20       1        --       --       60        3

 2005      160       8        --       --      480      24

TOTAL     340       17       --       --    1020      51
-------------------------------------------------------------                                                       


     18. Thus, from the note submitted by the Department and

the  reply  note submitted by the respondents/applicants  we

are  able to understand that there are sufficient number  of

vacancies  in  the Department to absorb the applicants  into

the services of the Department.

 

      19.  The  Tribunal, has considered all the  facts  and

circumstances  of  the  case  in their  proper  perspective,

applying  the correct proposition of law on the subject  and

has arrived at a correct conclusion to direct the Department

to   consider  the  applicants  for  regularisation  against

regular  vacancies  in  which we  are  unable  to  find  any

illegality  or  perversity  in  approach  calling  for   our

interference   under  Article  226  of   the   Constitution.

Therefore, all these writ petitions fail and they are liable

to be dismissed.

 

      In  the  result, all the writ petitions are  dismissed

confirming   the  orders  passed  by  the   Tribunal.    The

petitioners are directed to regularise the services  of  the

applicants before the Tribunal against regular vacancies  in

the  grade of Postal Assistants/Postman/Grade-D posts as per

the  normal rules and orders governing compassionate  ground

appointments within three months from the date of receipt of

a copy of this order.


     No costs. Consequently, all the connected Miscellaneous

Petitions are closed.

 

Rao

To

The Registrar,
Central Administrative Tribunal,
Chennai.

 

 


[PRV/10635]

MADRAS HIGH COURT JUDGMENT ON RRR CANDIDATES CASE

MADRAS HIGH COURT JUDGMENT ON RRR CANDIDATES CASE
 
 
Dear Comrades! The Honourable Madras High Court has dismissed the appeal of the Postal Department against the verdict of the Chennai CAT and ordered to absorb the RRR Candidates recruited under Compassionate Ground Appointment. Please remember the Department had committed to absorb these RRR Candidates irrespective of the outcome of this Madras High Court Case. Now the CHQ and the Federation are already on the move to approach the Authorities for speedy absorbtion of RRR Candidates. The favourable judgment is reproduced below:
 
KVS GENERAL SECRETARY
 

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

 

DATED: 20.6.2007

 

CORAM

 

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE DHARMARAO ELIPE

AND

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.PALANIVELU

                             

W.P.Nos.38990 of 2002,

2832 to 2835 of 2003, 9996 of 2003, 10059 of 2003, 30188 of

2003, 30345 of 2003, 34623 of 2003,

2567 of 2004, 2711 of 2004, 2750 of 2004, 2762 of 2004, 3003

of 2004, 3004 of 2004, 3766 of 2004, 3767 of 2004, 3810 of

2004, 4163 of 2004, 4164 of 2004, 4172 of 2004, 4940 of

2004, 4986 of 2004, 5132 of 2004, 6369 of 2004, 6424 of

2004, 11367 of 2004, 21433 of 2004,

22944 of 2004, & 19967 of 2005,

 

AND

 

W.P.M.P.Nos.58153 of 2002,

3542 to 3545 of 2003, 12665 of 2003, 12760 of 2003, 36870 of

2003, 37066 of 2003, 42057 of 2003,

2934 of 2004, 3142 of 2004, 3222 of 2004, 3239 of 2004, 3537

of 2004, 3539 of 2004, 4428 of 2004, 4430 of 2004, 4481 of

2004, 4901 of 2004, 4903 of 2004, 4912 of 2004, 5771 of

2004, 5819 of 2004, 7525 of 2004, 7608 of 2004, 13392 of

2004, 25916 of 2004, 27754 of 2004,

21748 of 2005

 

AND

 

W.V.M.P.No.2067 of 2006

 

W.P.No.38990 of 2002:

 

1. Union of India,

The Chief Postmaster General

Tamil Nadu Circle

Chennai 2

 

2. The Senior Superintendent of Post Offices

Chennai City South Division

          Chennai.                                                 ..Petitioners

 

 

Vs

 

 

1. The Central Administrative Tribunal

City Civil Court Buildings

Chennai 104.

 

                            2. M.Nallavan                                               ..Respondents

 

 

W.P.No.38990 of 2002 has been filed under Article  226

of  the  Constitution of India, praying to issue a   Writ  of

Certiorari to call for the records in O.A.No.1131 of 2001 on

the  file of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras and

quash the order dated 28.3.2002.

 

 

===============================================================================

 

            For petitioners  in all the W.Ps. :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Mr.V.T.Gopalan, Addl.Solilcitor General for M/s.S.Yashwanth, M.Devadoss,

            M.Dhamodharan, A.Rajendran, G.Nanmaran, K.L.Nandakumar, Sudharshan

            Sundar, Sunita Kumari, P.Chandrasekaran & K.Kannan, all Central Govt.

            Standing Counsel

 

===============================================================================

 

            For R.3 & R7 in WP.10059/2003, For R2, R3, R5, R8, R9, R11 to R42 in

            WP.9996/03

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Mr.Vijay Narayanan, S.C. for M/s.R.Parthiban

 

===============================================================================

 

            For R.1 in W.P.2567/2004, For R.1 in WP.3004/2004 For R.1 to R.4, R.7 to 21 in

            WP.4172/2004, For R.1 in WP.3003/2004, For R.1 in 2762/2004, For R.3 to R6,

            R8 to 10 & 15 in WP.6424/2004  :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Mr.Vijay Narayanan, S.C. for M/s.Karthikmukundan

 

===============================================================================

                                   

            For R.1 in W.P.34623/2003  :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Ms.R.Vaigai

 

===============================================================================

 

            For R.1 in W.P.30188/2003, For R.2 in WP.11367/2004        :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Mr.P.Rajendran

 

===============================================================================

 

            For R.1 in WP.4163/2004, For R.1 in WP.3810/2004, For R.1 in WP.4940/2004,

            For R.2 in WP.38990/2002, For R.1 in WP.4986/2004, For R.2 in

           WP.22944/2004, For R.2 in WP.2832 to 2835/2003    :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Mr.R.Malaichamy

 

===============================================================================

 

            For R.1 in WP.2711/2004, WP.3766/2004, R.1 in W.P.3766/2004, for R.1 in

            WP.4164/2004, For R.1 in WP.6369/2004, For R1, R.2, R.7, R11 & R.13 to R.16

            In WP.6424/2004, For R.2 in WP.21433/2004, for R.5 & R6 in WP.4172/2004          :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            No appearance

 

===============================================================================

 

            For R.1 & R.2 in WP.4986/2004         :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Mr.V.Vijayshankar

 

===============================================================================

 

            For R.1 in W.P.19967/2005   :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Mr.A.Arokiadoss

 

===============================================================================

 

            For R.2 to R.22 in W.P.2832/2003   :

            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

            Mr.M.Radhakrishnan

 

===============================================================================

 

                             

COMMON ORDER

 

DHARMARAO ELIPE,  J.

 

      Since all the matters are inextricably connected   with each  other, they are heard together and disposed of by this common order.

 

      2.  The   applicants before the Tribunal, who  are  the respondents  herein, are all the dependents of   Group-C  and Group-D  Staff of the Postal Department, who died in harness or  retired voluntarily on medical grounds and they all have been   approved for appointment on compassionate  grounds  in Group-C  and Group-D posts.  They all are working in various leave vacancies and short term vacancies.  Since number of vacancies   are  lying  vacant,  their  services   are   being utililzed  for  leave vacancies and thus  they   are  serving without  any break in service.  The applicants were awaiting appointment in regular posts and were also imparted clerical training   by  the Department itself.  After the judgment  of the Apex   Court in UMESH KUMAR NAGPAL vs. STATE OF  HARYANA [(1994)  4  SCC 138], fixing the number of vacancies   to  be filled  up  by compassionate ground appointment as   5%,  the Chief  Post  Master  General, Tamil Nadu   circle,  issued  a letter  on  28.5.2001, seeking willingness   in  writing  for consideration  for appointment on compassionate   grounds  by other Ministries/Department from the candidates approved for compassionate appointment, who could not be given employment in the petitioner Department since they can also be absorbed in   other  Government  Departments.   Accordingly,   all  the applicants have submitted their willingness giving a  choice of  departments   in  which they prefer to  be  appointed  on regular basis.

 

       3.   While    things  stood  thus,  the  Ministry    of Communications,  Union  of  India,  by   the   orders   dated 25.7.2001  and   4.1.2002, impugned before the Tribunal,  has taken a decision that any maintenance of the waiting list of approved candidates for compassionate appointment should   be discontinued immediately and since the waiting list has been disposed, this may cause hardship to the approved candidates and in consideration of these aspects, a  decision was taken to consider such wait listed candidates for vacancies in the post of Extra Departmental Staff.   Based on the said letter,

 

the Chief Post Master General, Tamil Nadu Circle, has issued a  letter on 6.8.2001 to various Post Masters seeking a list of  vacancies  in the Extra Departmental Staff.   Aggrieved, the   applicants have filed a batch of Original  Applications before  the  Tribunal praying to set aside the letter  dated 25.7.2001 of the  Ministry of Communications, Union of India and   to  direct the Department to appoint the applicants  as Postal Assistants within a time limit.

 

      4.  The   writ  petitioners/Department filed  a  common counter  before the Tribunal stating that the   compassionate appointment  cases  are considered by the  Circle   Selection Committee,  constituted in accordance with  instructions  of Directorate's Letter No.24-269/87-SPB 1 dated  24.9.1989  on merits;  that as per the scheme of compassionate appointment circulated   by  the Department of Personnel  &  Training   OM No.14014/6/94-Estt (D) dated 9.10.1998, it has been  clearly mentioned at para 7(f) that if sufficient vacancies are  not available   in  any  particular  office  to  accommodate  the persons  in  the waiting list for compassionate appointment, it   is open to the administrative Ministry/Department/Office to      take      up       the     matter     with      other Ministries/Departments/Offices of the Government of India to provide   at  an  early  date  appointment   on  compassionate grounds to those in the waiting list; the Supreme Court  has ruled   in  the cases of HIMACHAL ROAD TRANSPORT  CORPORATION

vs.   DINESH  KUMAR   [JT  1996(5)  SC  319]  and    HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LIMITED vs. SMT.A.RADHIKA THIRUMALAI   [JT  1996 (9) SC 197] that appointment on compassionate grounds can be made only if a vacancy is available for that purpose.

 

      5.  It is further submitted that by OM.No.14014/23/99-Estt(d)  dated  3.12.1999,  it  was   further  clarified   by Department of Personnel and Training that the Committee  for

considering  a  request   for  appointment  on  compassionate ground  should also take into account the position regarding availability   of vacancy for such appointment for  a  really

deserving case and only if vacancy meant for appointment  on compassionate grounds are available within a year, that   too within  the ceiling of 5% mentioned,  such cases  should   be approved;  that the quota for compassionate appointment  was reduced to 5% as per the decision of the Government of India communicated   in Department of Posts letter No.24-170/94-SPB I  dated  11.12.1995  with the result number  of  candidates selected  for  compassionate appointment   are  kept  in  the waiting  list;  that the proposal made by the Department  of Posts  to the Department of Personnel and Training to   relax the 5% limit in order to accommodate the approved candidates kept  in  the   waiting  list was also  turned  down  by   the Department  of  Personnel and Training  citing  the   Supreme Court  judgment in U.K.Nagpal's case, cited supra,  vide  OM NO.42012/4/2000-Estt    (d)  dated   24.11.2000;   that   the Department   of  Posts had to discontinue the maintenance  of the  waiting  list of approved candidates for  compassionate appointment  on the basis of Ministry of Personnel  D.O.P.&T OM No.42012/4/2000-Estt (D) dated 24.11.2000 communicated in DG Posts letter No.24-1/99-SPB-I, dated 8.2.2001.

 

      6.  It   is further submitted that as on date, all  the approved  candidates already in the waiting list were  asked to   express   their   willingness  for   consideration   for appointment   by   other   Ministries,    however,   it   was subsequently  found by the Nodal Ministry that   the  chances for  absorption in the Ministries are remote  and that there are also not enough vacancies; that keeping this in view, it was   felt  that  an opportunity can be given to  such   wait-listed  candidates  who are waiting  for  some   time  to  be considered for vacant posts of Grameen Dak Sevaks,  if   they are willing and eligible for the post and hence the Director General  (Posts)  instructed the  Postal  circles  to  offer Grameen  Dak   Sevaks  vacancies  to  dependents  of   regular employees (Grade C and Grade D) who are already approved for appointment  on  compassionate grounds and whose   names  are kept  in  the  waiting list for want of regular departmental vacancies   under  compassionate  appointment  quota   as   on 8.2.2001;  that there is no obligation on the  part  of  the approved  candidates kept in the waiting list to accept  the offer   of  appointment as Grameen Dak Sevaks and  therefore, there  is no arbitrariness in the Scheme of offering Grameen Dak   Sevak post to the candidates as their willingness  have been  called for and they have not been forced   to  work  as Gameen  Dak  Sevaks;  that  the  averment  that   there   are approximately  1,500  vacancies  in   the  posts  of   Postal Assistants  cadre   is not correct and  there  are  only  505 vacancies   in  the Postal Assistant cadre for  2001  out  of which   50%  is to be filled up under Direct Recruitment;  as appointments have already been made every year upto 1999   in the  5%  quota  of the compassionate appointments,  and   the candidates  considered over and above the   prescribed   quota were  kept  in  waiting list anticipating  chances   of  more vacancies and when the chances are remote, it was decided to offer them Grameen Dak Sevak posts taking into consideration the hardship faced by them.

 

      7. Since the Tribunal, has quashed the impugned orders dated 25.7.2001 and 4.1.2002 and directed the Department  to consider  the  case  of   the applicants  for   regularization against  the   regular  vacancies  in  the  grade   of  Postal Assistants/Postman/Grade 'C' or Grade 'D' posts as  per  the normal   rules  and  orders  governing  compassionate   ground

appointments, the Department has come forward to file  these writ petitions and obtained orders of interim stay.

 

      8. In the meanwhile, there was a proposal to grant one time   relaxation to accommodate all the persons included  in the waiting list .  Before a decision could be taken on this proposal at the Headquarters, the Chief Post Master General, Tamil  Nadu Circle had issued a notification to fill up  146 vacancies  by direct recruitment and some of the   applicants have filed O.A.No.693 of 2004 for a direction to forbear the writ  petitioners/Department from making any appointment  by way   of  direct  recruitment and that O.A. was  disposed   of directing the department to take a decision on the  proposal pending  with  the   Ministry to grant one  time  relaxation. Pursuant to the said order, the Department has rejected  the proposal  and  initiated  action  to   fill  up  further  277 vacancies   and   the  same  was  challenged  by   filing   an application before the Tribunal.  It is also stated that the persons  who   had  applied  much  later  to    some  of   the applicants have been considered for such appointment,  while some   of  the  applicants  are waiting  for   appointment  in violation  of  the instructions issued in the  letter  dated 29.9.1989.    The  Tribunal,  directed   the  Department   to consider  the  case   of seniors, to be appointed,  if  their juniors are appointed, based on the date of the application. Aggrieved,   some writ petitions have also been  filed  which are also the subject matter in this batch of writ petitions.

      9.  The   main  core  of the argument  of  the   learned Additional   Solicitor  General  appearing  for    the   writ petitioners  in all these writ petitions is that  there   are well  laid  down  rules regarding compassionate  appointment which stipulate that compassionate appointment will be   made to  enable the family of the deceased employee to tide  over the  financial crisis caused due to the death  of  the  sole breadwinner,   who  died leaving the  family  in  penury   and without   sufficient  means  of  livelihood   and   such   an appointment shall be made only on regular basis and that too if  regular   vacancy  meant for that is available  upto  the maximum of 5% of the vacancies and such an appointment is an exception to general rule that appointment to public   office should  be made on the basis of competitive merits and  once it   is proved that in spite of the death of the breadwinner, the family survived and substantial period is over, there is no  need to make appointment on compassionate ground at   the cost of the interests of several others ignoring the mandate of Art.14 of the Constitution the Tribunal and the applicant cannot   have    a  choice  to  choose  a   post   under   the compassionate  ground appointments, without considering   the good intention of the writ petitioners to offer Grameen  Dak Sevaks to the applicants, even though the waitlist has  been   cancelled, has wrongly allowed the application, which  needs upset by this Court.

 

      10. On the contrary, the learned counsel appearing for the   respondents/applicants before the Tribunal would submit that   the  Tribunal   has  considered  all  the  facts    and

circumstances of the case encircling the whole issue and has correctly   arrived   at  the  conclusion   to    allow   the applications  filed  by the applicants  and   therefore,  all these  writ  petitions filed by the State are liable   to  be dismissed and would pray to dismiss all the writ petitions.

 

       11.  In   support  of  his  contentions,  the   learned Additional  Solicitor  General  of  India   would  cite   the following decisions:

 

     1.   HINDUSTAN   AERONAUTICS  LTD.  vs.  A.RADHIKA      THIRUMALAI [(1996) 6 SCC 394];

 

2.      STATE OF J&K AND OTHERS vs. SAJAD AHMED  MIR [(2006) 5 SCC 766] and

 

     3.   UNION    BANK   OF  INDIA  AND   OTHERS    vs.      M.T.LATHEESH [(2006) 7 SCC 350].

 

     12. There is no quarrel with regard to the propositions laid   down  therein by the Apex Court.   But, in  all   these matters, the applicants have crossed the stage, which is the subject matter in all the above cited judgments in the sense that  all  the applicants were selected and approved  for  a posting  on  compassionate   ground  by  a  duly  constituted Selection Committee as per the procedure laid down and   they were also provided with necessary training by the Department at  its  expenses in their training institutes and   employed them against leave vacancies and most of the applicants  are in  employment continuously.   Thus, the applicants in  these cases  are not seeking compassionate appointment  so   as  to apply  the  norms prescribed by the Apex Court in the  above cited  judgments,  but  all  these   applicants  are  seeking regularization  of  their   appointments  pursuant  to  their selection  by   the duly constituted Selection Committee  and still  they  continue in their services   and  therefore,  it cannot  be  said that these applicants are still in   waiting list.  Therefore, these cases cannot, in no way, be compared with  the   above cited cases and therefore, the  ratio  laid down  in the above cases by the learned Additional Solicitor General   does  not come to the rescue of  the  case   of  the Department/petitioners.

 

     13. Admittedly, the Post of Grameena Dak Sevak is not a civil   post.   As  could  be seen from   Endt.No.B5/1-1/Rlgs, dated 18.7.2002 issued by the Senior Superintendent of  Post Offices,  Madurai  Division, Madurai, Grameena  Dak  Seveaks cannot  be  treated as Central Government Employees.    Since all  the  applicants were already offered  appointments   and while  circulating their candidature for appointment against  leave  vacancies,   the Department had indicated  that  their services would be regularised against future vacancies, they were   under legitimate expectation that their services would be  regularised in future course of action since  they   were already held to be suitable and qualified for such posts  by the duly constituted Selection Committee.  Therefore, as has been   pleaded on the part of the applicants, they would have definitely  given  up  all their attempts   to  pursue  other options available for securing employment and by this   time, most  of  the  applicants might have even been over-aged  to pursue  any  further  post.   Further,   having  allowed  the applicants to work for a number of years with the fond  hope of   getting  their  posts regularized,  now  the   Department offers them a non-civil post like Grameena Dak Sevak lest to vacate the post now they are occupying, which cannot at  all be  appreciated.   As  has  been  rightly   observed  by  the Tribunal,  the  entire   approach  and  the  action  of    the Department  to offer the post of Grameena Dak Sevak  to  the applicants is without any basis since the same is not at all covered by the compassionate appointment.'

 

       14.  As   has  already  been  stated  supra,   all  the applicants   have  been  selected   by  a  duly   constituted Selection  Committee   and  after  affording  them  the necessary training, they were listed for regularization   and their  services were also utilized against leave/short  term vacancies.   Therefore, it cannot be said that the applicants are in waiting list for compassionate ground appointment, which stage they have already crossed.

 

      15.  Pursuant   to  our direction to file  a  statement showing  as to how many approved candidates for the post   of postman  etc. are waiting for appointment and how many  were

absorbed  in regular vacancies between the period   1989  and 2001   and  also  to   furnish  the  details  regarding   the recruitment   conducted between 1989 and 2001  and  how  many regular  vacancies  have  been filled  up  during   the  said recruitment,  the  writ petitioners have filed  a  statement stating   that   of   the    622  candidates   approved   for

compassionate   appointment  in  Tamil   Nadu   Circle,   89 candidates   have been appointed as Grameena Dak  Sevaks  and the  remaining 533 candidate who have been offered   Grameena Dak  Sevaks posts have not come forward to accept  the  same and  have  chosen  to  seek legal remedy   for  compassionate appointment  before  the  Court   and  since  there  are   no vacancies   under  5%  quota  for compassionate  appointment, waiting   list has been abolished by the Government  and  the wait  listed candidates are eligible for Grameen Dak   Sevak posts  according to their willingness and eligibility as  on date; that apart from them, 600 fresh applications from   the year  2000 to 2005 have been received from the Units/Regions of  Tamil Nadu Circle seeking compassionate appointment   and these  fresh applications have been processed and kept ready for  submission   to  the  Circle Relaxation  Committee,  but Circle Relaxation Committee could not be convened due to the matter being subjudice before the Court.

 

      16.  For the said note submitted by the Department,   a strong  and  forcible reply note has been submitted  by   the respondents/applicants  stating  that  the  Department    has omitted   to  indicate  the   number  of  direct  recruitment vacancies sought to be filled up for the year 2006 in Postal Assistant/Sorting   Assistant  category  and  the  number  of direct recruitment vacancies arising year wise is not  total number  of   direct  recruitment vacancies but  denotes  only 1/3rd   of  the  same,  since  there  is  a  ban  on  direct recruitment from the year 2000.   Since 5% quota  has  to  be calculated  on   the  basis of the total  direct  recruitment vacancies  arising  for that year and  not  on  the   reduced number  of  vacancies after applying the ban, the number  of direct   recruitment vacancies arising year wise as shown  by the  Department should be multiplied by three to  arrive  at

the  total number of direct recruitment vacancies   for  that year.

 

       17.   For    the  sake  of  convenience   and    better appreciation,  the details furnished by the petitioners  and the respondents are extracted in tabular columns below post-wise

 (a) Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants:

 

(a) Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants:

 

                      Details as furnished by the Department                        Details furnished

                                                                                                                      by the

                                                                                                                respondents

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~      

 Year                No. of            No. of            No, of          No, of          No, of           No, of   

                     Vacancies       Vacancies        persons    candidates     vacancies     vacancies

                        Under               under          appointed     waiting          under               for

                        Direct           5% Quota         under            for             direct          compassio

                  Recruitment                            compassio   compassio      recruit-             nate

                   ( Regular                                      nate              nate            ment         appointm

                   vacancies)                               ground in      appoint-    (Regular              ents 5%

                                                                12% Quota       ment       vacancies)          of

                                                                 upto 1994                           before         regular

                                                                   and 5%                           applying      vacancies

                                                                    quota                                  ban

                                                                 from 1995   

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2000-01            160                         8               --                   --                 480                24

 

 2002                160                          8               --                   --                480                 24

 

 2003             120                             6                --                 --                 360                18

 

 2004               60                            3                 --                 --                 180                  9

 

 2005              320                          16                 --                --                  960                48

s

 2006              235                           12                 --                 --                 705                35

 

TOTAL         1055                         53                --                  --              3165               158

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     

 (b) Postman/Mail Guard

 

 

 

                      Details as furnished by the Department                         Details furnished

                                                                                                                    by the

                                                                                                               respondents

                                      

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~      

Year               No. of            No. of             No, of         No, of          No, of           No, of  

                     Vacancies       Vacancies        persons    candidates     vacancies     vacancies

                        Under               under          appointed     waiting          under               for

                        Direct           5% Quota         under            for             direct         compassio

                  Recruitment                            compassio   compassio      recruit-             nate

                   ( Regular                                      nate              nate            ment         appointm

                   vacancies)                               ground in      appoint-    (Regular               ents 5%

                                                                12% Quota       ment       vacancies)          of

                                                                 upto 1994                           before         regular

                                                                   and 5%                           applying      vacancies

                                                                    quota                                  ban

                                                                 from 1995   

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2000-01                --                   --                     --                  --                   --                  --

 

 2002                   40                   2                      --                   --                120                 6

 

 2003                   60                   3                      --                    --               180                9

 

 2004                    40                   2                      --                   --               120                6

 

 2005                 120                   6                      --                   --              360              18

 

TOTAL              260                 13                      --                    --               780              39

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                           

 

(c) Group D/Mailman:

 

                      Details as furnished by the Department                         Details furnished

                                                                                                                    by the

                                                                                                               respondents

                                        

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Year               No. of            No. of             No, of         No, of          No, of           No, of   

                     Vacancies       Vacancies        persons    candidates     vacancies     vacancies

                        Under               under          appointed     waiting          under               for

                        Direct          5% Quota         under            for             direct         compassio

                  Recruitment                            compassio   compassio      recruit-             nate

                   ( Regular                                      nate              nate             ment         appointm

                   vacancies)                               ground in      appoint-    (Regular              ents 5%

                                                                12% Quota       ment       vacancies)          of

                                                                 upto 1994                           before         regular

                                                                   and 5%                           applying      vacancies

                                                                    quota                                  ban

                                                                 from 1995   

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2000-01                  80                   4                 --                    --               240              12

 

 2002                     40                    2                  --                    --              120                6

 

 2003                     40                    2                 --                   --              120                6

 

 2004                     20                    1                 --                   --                 60                 3

 

 2005                    160                    8                  --                    --              480             24

 

TOTAL               340                   17                  --                    --              1020            51

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                        

 

 

     18. Thus, from the note submitted by the Department and the reply note submitted by the respondents/applicants we are able to understand that there are sufficient number of Vacancies in the Department to absorb the applicants into the services of the Department.

 

      19.  The   Tribunal, has considered all the  facts  and circumstances  of  the  case  in their  proper  perspective, applying   the correct proposition of law on the subject  and has arrived at a correct conclusion to direct the Department to   consider   the  applicants  for  regularisation  against regular   vacancies  in  which we  are  unable   to  find  any illegality  or  perversity   in  approach  calling  for   our interference    under  Article  226  of   the    Constitution. Therefore, all these writ petitions fail and they are liable to be dismissed.

 

 

      In  the   result, all the writ petitions are  dismissed confirming   the  orders   passed  by  the   Tribunal.    The petitioners are directed to regularise the services   of  the applicants before the Tribunal against regular vacancies  in the   grade of Postal Assistants/Postman/Grade-D posts as per the  normal rules and orders governing compassionate  ground appointments within three months from the date of receipt of

a copy of this order.

 

     No costs. Consequently, all the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

 

 

Rao

 

To

 

The Registrar,

Central Administrative Tribunal,

Chennai.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PRV/10635]