GDS - DA ORDER

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

(ESTABLISHMENT DIVISION)

Dak Bhawan

Sansad Marg

NEW DELHI-110 001

No.14-01/2011-PAP Dt.12^th April,2012

To

All Chief Postmasters General,

All G.Ms.(PAF)/Director of Accounts (Postal).

Subject::-  Payment of Dearness Allowance to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) at revised rates with effect from 01-01-2012 onwards - Reg.

Consequent upon grant of another installment of dearness allowance with effect from 01^st JANUARY, 2012 to Central Government Employees, vide Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M. No.1(1)/2012-EII(B), dated 3^rd April, 2011, duly endorsed vide this Department's letter No.8-1/2012-PAP Dated 3.4.12, the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), have also become entitled to the payment of dearness allowance on basic TRCA at the revised rate with effect from 01-01-2012. It has, therefore, been decided that the dearness allowance payable to the Gramin Dak Sevaks shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 58% to 65% on the basic Time Related Continuity Allowance, with effect from 1^st January, 2012.

2. The additional installment of dearness allowance payable under this order shall be paid in cash to all Gramin Dak Sevaks. The payment of arrears of dearness allowance for the month of January to March, 2012, shall not be made before the date of disbursement of TRCA of March, 2012.

3. The expenditure on this account will be debited to the Sub Head 'Salaries' under the relevant head and should be met from the sanctioned grant.

4. This issues with the concurrence of Integrated Finance Wing vide their Diary No.104/FA/12/CS, dated 12^TH April, 2012

Yours faithfully

Sd/-

(KALPANA RAJSINGHOT)

DIRECTOR (ESTT)

TELE:23096036/23036793

FAX:011-23096007/23096036

Clarificatory orders on GDS Transfer

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT

DEPARTMENT OF POST:: (GDS Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Dehil – 110 001

No.19-10/2004-GDS (Part) Dated:10 April, 2012

To

Chief Postmaster General

Kerala Circle

Thiruvananthapuram – 695 033

Sub:- LIMITED TRANSFER FACILITY TO GAMIN DAK SEVAKS – CLARIFICATION THEREOF.

This has a reference to your office letter No.CO/LC/21/OA/12 dated 27^th Mar 2012 received only on 29.03.2012 seeking advice if the various categories of the GDS Posts as prescribed in Rule 3 (d) of GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2011 could be classified based on the skills or hierarchy or TRCA slabs within these categories.

2. The issue has been examined in this Directorate and I am directed to clarify the position as under;-

(a) Rule 3 (d) the Department of Posts, Gramin Dak Sevaks (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011 currently recognizes only the five categories of Gramin Dak Sevaks i.e. GDS BPM, GDS MD, GDS MC, GDS Mail Packer and GDS Stamp Vendor.

(b) With the issue and implementation of orders relating to downgrading the EDSO's to EDBO's the category of GDS SPM is not in vogue. For the purposes of TRCA, Gramin Dak Sevaks are closed as three categories i.e. GDS BPM, GDSMD/SV & GDS MC/Packer, Their TRCA has been fixed based on pre-revised scales of pay of the corresponding categories of regular Government employees on pro-rata bases. Their TRCA is further based on workload assessed as per laid down norms and slabs.

(c) There is no concept of higher or lower post or skilled within a category and /or amongst various approved categories as recognized from time to time.For the purpose of direct recruitment to MTS Group C post, their seniority is reckoned with reference to date of entry in any GDS post based on seniority in the concerned division as a whole. There is no categorization of various GDS posts into 'White Collar' or 'Blue Collar' and such a classification is not also defined anywhere.

(d) The 'Recruiting Authority' mentioned in Rule 4 and further defined in the Scheduled annexed to the Department of Posts, Gramin Dak Sevaks (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011 is based on working arrangement and for administrative convenience only. As the Gramin Dak Sevaks are entitled to protection under Article 311 (2) of the Constitution as held by Apex Court, the concerned authority will exercise his disciplinary jurisdiction as per the categories of GDS, for which one is designated as recruiting authority.

(e) The existing provisions governing Limited Transfer Facility do not prescribe any restriction for allowing transfer form one category to another and amongst the various categories of Posts irrespective of TRCA slabs prescribed for these categories and even from one wing to another i.e., RMS to Postal or vice versa. The requirement is fulfilled of required qualification and other conditions for limited transfer facility.

(f) While circulating the Department of Posts, Gramin Dak Sevaks (Conduct and Employment) Rules. 2001 vide DG letter No. 22-1/2000-ED & Trg dated 24.04.2001, it was clearly provided in Para 4(ix) of letter dated 24.04.2001 that "executive instructions issued and published below the respective rules as also those brought out in other sections such as method of recruitment, etc of Swamy's Compilation of Service Rules for the Postal ED Staff shall also stand revised / amended mutandis in keeping with the amended / revised rules. Thus, the executive instructions providing for method of recruitment issued prior to circulation of the 2001 rules was provided by amending the Note II (iv) of Rule 3 of Rules and in accordance with the amended provision, limited Transfer Facility was provided under this Directorate letter No. 19-10/2004- GDS dated 17.07.2006 subject to terms and conditions mentioned therein.

(g) Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of UOI Others vs. Kameshwar Prasad 1998 SCC (L&S) page 447 wherein the system and object of engaging EDA's and their status was considered and adjudicated upon, Held that P&T Extra Department Agent (C&S)Rules, 1964 are a complete code governing service, conduct and disciplinary proceedings against EDA's P&T EDA's Rules, 1964 were repealed and a fresh set of rules replacing the earlier rules was issued under GDS (Conduct & Employment) Rules, 2001 and thereafter 2001 rules have also been replaced by GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2011.

(h) So far protection of TRCA is concerned, this Directorate letter No. 14-16/2001-PAP(Pt.) dated 11.10.2004 issued in supersession to all previous provisions provided for protection of TRCA on reduction of workload and redeployment of staff on abolition of post and not in cases where redeployment was made on request. These provisions were not applicable under transfers which have occurred under Limited Transfer Facility extended to GDS under this Directorate letter No. 19-10/2004-GDS dated 17.07.2006. Para 3 (iii) of this Directorate letter dated 17.07.2006 prescribed that TRCA of the new post shall be fixed after assessment of actual workload of the post measured with respect to the cycle beat in respect of GDS MD/MC/Packer/Mail Messenger in this Directorate letter No. 14-11/97-PAP dated 1.10.1987. Based on this analogy, the incumbents of GDS BPM post in terms of points. This Directorate vide letter No. 19-10/2004-GDS (part) dated 21.07.2010 prescribed further that on transfer to a new post, the GDS cannot have any claim for protection of their TRCA drawn in the old post and his/her TRCA will be fixed at the minimum of the TRCA slab of the transferred post depending upon the workload of the said post.

(i) The power to allow transfer under the Limited Transfer Facility is vested only with the Head of the Circle and not with any other lower functionary. The position on this has recently been clarified under No.19-10/2004-GDS (part) dated 19.03.2012.

3. In view of the foregoing, immediate action may please be taken to get rectified the stand in conformity with the above. In order to avoid controversies and different stands before the Court of Law in future, prior consultation/approval of the Head of the Circle in each court case is prescribed to the mandatory required before taking a stand before the Court of Law.

Sd/-

(Surender Kumar)

Assistant Director General GDS/PCC

Copy to:-

All Heads of Postal Circles except Kerala Circle- for information & disseminating the contenets to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance.

All Retrograde recommendations of Natarajamurthy Committee are being implemented one by one silently.

Can we remain as a mute spectator?

The ‘employment’ of GDS has been revised as ‘engagement’ -Just to deprive their legitimating right as Government Employees.

Please download the original order from the following link which contains GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules 2011

Click Here to download

Grant of Maternity Leave to Women GDS from Welfare Fund

Latest Instructions

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

(Establishment Division)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg.

New Delhi-110001

No.17-9/2011-GDS Dated the 21-Mar 2011

To

All Chief Postmaster General,

Subject: MATERNITY GRANT TO WOMEN GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS OUT OF WELFATE FUND OF THE DEPARTMENT- INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING

Sir/Madam,

Reference is invited to this Directorate letter No.6-1/2009. PE.II dated 09 October 2009 providing for Maternity Grant to the women GDS.

2. One man Committee under Shri RS Nataraja Murti constituted under Resolution No. 6-1/2007-PE II dated 23^rd July 2007 examined the system of Extra Departmental Post Offices and wage structure of Gramin Dak Sevak & submitted its report on 29^th October 2008. After approval of Cabinet, the Department issued orders under No. 6-1/2009 PE II dated 09 October 2009. It was prescribed under Para 9 of the ibid that "women GDS will be provided Maternity Grant equivalent to three months TRCA with DA for the birth date of issue of the order".

3. The recommendations made by the One man Committee in Para 16.10.1have been examined further and it has been decided that Maternity Grant equal to three month's TRCA with DA out of welfare fund will be payable from the welfare fund at the disposal of the Circles effective from 09 October 2009 on fulfillment of the following conditions;-

(a) Maternity Grant will be payable to a woman GDS for each child up to the birth of maximum of two children limited to a maximum of two confinements resulting into birth of first two children only during the entire engagement of the following of a woman GDS.

(b) The women GDS must have rendered a minimum of one year service of becoming eligible for grant under the provision.

(c) No Financial Grant will be admissible for medical termination of pregnancy (abortion). Miscarriage and still births.

4. The scheme of allowing Maternity Grant is like any other ongoing welfare scheme paid out of welfare fund. Funds will be allocated for this scheme by welfare section of this Directorate to the Circles. Heads of the Division will be competent to sanction Maternity Grant to the women GDS out of welfare fund placed at their disposal by the Circle concerned.

5. Woman Gramin Dak Sevaks like Mil Deliverer and Mail Carrier may also be considered for lighter duties wherever possible during the pre and post confinement period for a maximum period of six months.

6. Woman GDS shall be granted Maternity Leave not exceeding six months covering the pre and post confinement period. For the period of Maternity Leave, Woman GDS will be paid Maternity Grant for three months and leave for another three months may be granted without allowances.

7. Existing powers of Divisional Heads for grant of leave beyond 180 days leave without allowances availed by GDS to work against in Group D and Postman vacancies would also cover period of three month Maternity Leave with allowances (Maternity Grant) and another period of leave for three months without allowances if availed by Woman GDS.

8. The contents may be brought to the knowledge of all concerned. This has the approval of the competent authority.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(Surender Kumar)

Assistant Director General (GDS/PCC)

Filling up of GDS Posts – No Need to refer HOC Recent guidelines

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

(GDS Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi – 110001

No 17-103/2007-GDS Dated – 17.02.2011

To,

All Chief Postmasters General

All Postmasters General

Subject: - Filling up of GDS posts in Branch Post Offices – review of guidelines regarding

Sir/Madam,

I am directed to invite attention to Directorate letters No. even dated 14^th Jul 2009 and 29^th Dec 2010 on the subject cited above.

2. Para 2 (ii) of this Directorate letter dated 14^th July 2009 provided that the vacant posts of GDs in branch offices with two or more hands may be filled up on the basis of triennial review already carried out and in case the prescribed workload and financial parameters as prescribed for opening of a branch office are not fulfilled but the posts are required to be filled up for operational reasons then the approval of the Chief PMG will be required with concurrence of circle IFA. It was also provided in Para 2(i) of the said communication, that GDS vacant posts in BOs with a single establishment be filled up straight away and the permission was granted to the concerned Divisional head.

3. The above provisions were further reviewed and modified. It was prescribed vide this Directorate letter dated 29 Dec 2010 that the vacant posts of GD BPM may be filled up by adjusting the surplus GDS fulfilling the prescribed qualification and other prescribed conditions failing which action may be taken in advance to fill the vacant post of GDs BPM on a regular basis following the prescribed procedure and following other conditions prescribed under letter dated 4 Jul 2009.

4. Despite issue of above instructions, it has been brought to the notice of this office, that, the Posts of Branch Postmasters are not being filled up immediately, and they are allowed to be managed by additional charge or kept under combined duties, affecting the quality of service. The issue has been considered and competent Authority has decided that the vacant post of GDs BPMs, in Branch offices (irrespective of the number borne on establishment) be filled up by Head of the Division without reference to HOC immediately after its falling vacant initiating action in advance by adopting the following methods: -

(i) By appointment of surplus identified GDs fulfilling the conditions; failing which

(ii) By combination of the duties of GDS in the same BO, provide the combined work load does not exceed five hours: failing which

(iii) By recruitment of outsiders by observing the selection process.

However, the approval of the Head of the Circle shall continue to be obtained for filling up of other categories of GDS which are not justified by workload/financial parameter, but the post is to be filled dup for operational reasons.

4. These orders shall come into effect from the date of issue of the order. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(Surender Kumar)

Assistant Director General (GDS/PCC)

STARTING TROUBLE

File No. 6-11/2009-P.E.II

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

(Establishment division)

Dak Bhawan Sansad Marg

New Delhi 110001

Dated 19^th January 2011

Chief Postmaster General,

Postmasters General

Subject: Introduction of Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS) for Gramin Dak Sevaks

Sir/Madam,

I am directed to refer to this office letter of even no. dated 01.09.2010 on the above mentioned subject.

2. In para 3 of the said communication, the detailed course of action was laid down. The most important was obtaining options from the existing Gramin Dak Sevak and also to obtain applications in the prescribed format and so send them to concerned Central Record Keeping Agency of National Security Depository Limited for registration. But, the National Security Depository Limited has brought to notice that the following omissions are noticed in the applications of Gramin Dak Sevak sent to Central Record Keeping Agency for registration.

(i) 90% of the applications sent are without authorization of Divisional Superintendent (Collection centre) and designation stamp.

(ii) The Date of birth of the Gramin Dak Sevak is found missing or wanting.

(iii) The signature of the Gramin Dak Sevak exceeded the box provided in the application form.

(iv) Complete address of the Gramin Dak Sevak and Postal Index code number are not furnished.

(v) Despite clear instructions, the beneficiaries have affixed Black and white Photo which cannot be scanned. Only colour Pass Port size photographs has to be affixed for facilitating scanning.

(vi) The Photo affixed is not clear in certain cases, which are thus not scanable

3. This obviously shows, that, the Collection centers have not examined the applications properly and sent to Central Record Keeping Agency without proper verification, attestation, and impression of designation stamp of collection center. This is resulting in delay in launching the scheme.

4. The National Security Depository Limited is requested for returning all such defective applications to respective Collection centers for resubmission of the applications, after attending to omissions pointed out above. Suitable instructions may be issued to all the Divisional heads in this regard.

5. It is requested to accord top priority to this work.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(K. Rameswara Rao)

Asstt. Director General (Estt)

19.1.2011

REVISED NORMS FOR ASSESSMENT OF GDS BPMs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

(Establishment Division)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg

New Delhi-110 001

File No.5-1/2007-WS-1(Pt.) Dated 16-12-2010

To

Chief Post Masters General

Postmasters General

General Managers (Finance)

Directors of Accounts (Postal)

Sub:- Revision of norms for assessment of workload of the Branch Postmasters.

Sir/Madam,

I am directed to refer to Directorate letter No.14-6/87-PAP dated 15-07-87 and 15-12-2009 on the above subject.

2. The staff representatives of Gamin Dak Sevaks have represented that many of the new items of work that have been added recently are not covered by norms for assessment of workload of the Branch Postmasters in point system. One-man committee headed by Shri R.S.Natarajamurti also recommended for conducting work study and prescribing norms for the various items of work undertaken by Branch Postmasters. Therefore, the Department has ordered a work study through Integrated Work Study Unit for recommending norms for new items of work and for revision of existing norms. The report and recommendations of the IWSU has been examined in consultation with Integrated Finance Wing and after a careful consideration, the competent Authority ordered for prescribing the norms for assessment of the workload of the Branch Postmasters in point system. These norms are furnished in the Annexure.

3. These norms will come into effect from the date of issue of this order and have to be applied for all reviews conducted thereafter.

4. The norms may be communicated to all the concerned under your control for strict compliance.

5. This issues in consultation with Integrated Finance Wing vide their Dy. No.303/FA/10/CS dated 15-12-2010.

Yours faithfully,

Sd.x.x.x.x

(K.RAMESWARA RAO)

Asst. Director General (Est.)

ANNEXURE

NORMS PRESCRIBED FOR ASSESSMENT OF WORK LOAD OF BRANCH POST MASTERS IN POINT SYSTEM

S.No	Norms of work	Points	Standard prescribed
1.	Handling of unregistered articles	1 point of work load	For every 25 unregistered articles handled in a day
2.	Handling of registered articles	1 point of work load	For every 22 registered articles handled in month
3.	Handling of Money Orders	1 point of work load	For every 15 Money Orders handled in a month
4.	Sale of postage stamps	1 point of work load	For every Rs.900- worth of stamps sold in a month
5.	Handling of cash (*)	1 point of work load	For every Rs.20,000- cash handled in a month
6.	Savings Bank / NSC transactions	1 point of work load	For every 10 transactions in a month
7.	Rural Postal Life Insurance transactions	1 point of work load	For every 10 transactions in a month
8.	Collection of Telephone or any other bills	1 point of work load	For every 20 bills collected in a month
9.	Disbursement of Old age pensions through Money Orders	1 point of work load	For every 15 old age pension Money Orders disbursed in a month
10.	Disbursement of Old age pension through savings bank accounts	1 point of work load	For every 10 old age pension through savings bank in month
11.	Accounts work and receipt and dispatch of mails in a month	--	Fixed 14 points per month

NOTE

1.	The assessment of the work load of the Branch Post masters has to be done in respect of items 2 to 10 on the average of 4 quarterly months statistics. The statistics should be collected from the month following the month in which enumeration returns are collected.
2.	In respect of unregistered articles handled the Branch Postmaster has to furnish 3 days figures in the middle of the month, and the inspecting officer has to collect statistics for 2 days in the middle of the week. The least of the average has to be adopted for assessment of work load.
3.	Unregistered articles handled includes the No. of unregistered articles received for delivery and posted for dispatch from the Branch Post Office.
4.	Registered articles handled includes Registered letters, Parcles, Speed Post articles and Value Payable articles received for delivery and Registered letters / parcels posted for dispatch.
5.	Money Orders handled includes all sorts of Money Orders received for payment and MOs issued from the Branch Office.
6.	Savings Bank transactions include opening, deposit and withdrawal / closure of Savings Bank, Recurring Deposit and Time Deposit accounts.
7.	RPLI transactions include collection of RPLI premium for procurement of new Business and collection of renewal premium.
8	Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is not covered by the present norms and the transactions on account of disbursement of NREGA payments to the beneficiaries and the cash handled should be excluded from the statistics for assessment of workload.
9.	(*) For cash handled orders have been issued already on 15-12-2009. The term “Cash handled” constitute cash handled on account of Money Orders issue / payment, deposits / withdrawals of SB/RD/TD accounts, RPLI premium collection, bills collection and bills payment other than salary paid to GDS staff working in the Branch Office. The cash received as Remittance from Account Office and Remittance sent to Account Office has to be excluded.
10.	14 points is given in lump per month for receipt of Branch office Bag, verification of contents including verification of remittance, writing of BO journal, BO account, preparation of BO Daily Account, tallying of closing balance and dispatch of BO bag including remittance of surplus cash to Account Office.

SD.x.x.x.x

(K.RAMESWARARAO)

Asst. Director Genl.(Est.)

Recent orders on GDS appointment

Modified instructions on Recruitment of GDS through Employment Exchange - Clarification of term "Effective No. of Candidates"

Attention of all concerned is invited to Para 3 of this Dte Order No. 19-4 / 97-ED & Trg Dt 19.08.98 which provided that "in case the notification and public advertisement so issued fail to elicit any response within the stipulated date or if the effective number of candidates applied for the post is less than 3, the vacancies will be re-notified to the Employment Exchange & fresh advertisement issued calling for nominations etc within 15 days"

2. The term "effective No. of candidates / applications" has undergone judicial scrutiny by CAT, Hyderabad in OA No. 516 / 2009 in the matter of Shri.Chennuri Raju vs Union of India & relying on judgment of High Court of Madras in WP No. 22500 & 20422 / 1999 in similar case CAT, Hyderabad has held in its judgment on 15.06.10 that "three effective applications mean three applications should be received and even if one of the candidates amongst the three applicants is eligible, the selection should be finalized"

3. The issue has been considered in this Dte in the light of the aforesaid judgment and I am directed to convey that term "effective No. of Candidates" finding a mention in the order of this Dte ibid may be interpreted to mean that three applications from the different candidates should be received and even if one of the candidates amongst the three applicants is found eligible, the selection should be finalized in conformity with the interpretation as referred to in Para 2 above.

DG (P) Letter No: 19-27 / 2010-GDS Dt. 07.10.10.