Schedule of LGO Examination 2012

The Postal Directorate has announced schedule to conduct the limited Departmental Competitive Examination for promotion of the Lower Grade Officials to the cadre of Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants for the year 2012. As per the schedule announced, the Examination will be held on 9th September 2012, Sunday.

CLICK HERE to view the Directorate (DE Section) letter No. A-34012/6/2012-DE dated 12th June, 2012 on the above subject matter.

LOCAL NEWS

SUPPLY OF GOOD QUALITY OF UNIFORM TO THE POSTAL EMPLOYEE, ETC. SUBMISSION OF SAMPLES OF CLOTH-REGARDING.

Government of India

Ministry of Communications &IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg

New Delhi

No. 23-5/2007-UPE Dated 9th May, 2012.

To

The Secretary General,

National Federation of Postal Employees,

1st Floor North Avenue P.O. Bldg.

New Delhi

Sub: Supply of good quality of uniform to the Postal Employee, etc. Submission of samples of cloth-Regarding.

Sir,

Postal Joint Council of Action and JCM of Department of Posts have raised following demand in their agenda items:

(i) Supply of good quality of cloth of uniform

(ii) Replacement of umbrella with rain coat for Postmen.

(iii) Grant of uniform kit maintenance allowance for uniform, staff.

The matters have been examined in consultation with Department of Personnel &

Training (DOPT) vide OM No. 14/1/2012-JCA2 dated 7.2.2012 (Copy enclosed) and necessary instructions to that effect has since been issued to the Heads of Circles of Department of Posts vide letter of even number dated 9th May, 2012 (Copy enclosed). This is for your information.

Yours faithfully

Sd/-

(R.B. Chawla)

Director (E&MM)

Copy to:

1. General Secretary, All India Postal Employees Union, Postmen & Group D/MTS, 17/3-D , Kali Bari Marg, New Delhi.

2. General Secretary, National Union of Postal Employees Postmen & Group D/MTS, Dalvi Sadan, Khurshid Square, Civil Lines, P&T Colony Delhi-110 054

SUPPLY OF GOOD QUALITY OF UNIFORM TO THE POSTAL EMPLOYEE, ETC. OF CLOTH-REGARDING.

D.G Posts No. 23-5/2007-UPE dated 9th May,2012.

The Associations of Department of Posts have raised a demand for supply of good quality of uniform to the Postal Employees, replacement of Umbrellas with water proofs to the postmen and grant of Uniform Kit maintenance allowance.

2. The matter has been examined in consultation with Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT), and the clarifications given by them vide OM No. 14/1/2012-JCA2 dated 7.2.1012 is enclosed for necessary action, which interalia states that” after coming into effect of GFR 2005 this Department has issued an OM No. 14/7/2003-JCA dated 21.11.2005 (copy enclosed), which was in supersession of the earlier instructions, clarifying that the further procurement should be made as per the relevant rules in the new GFR’s 2005. This implies that Ministries/Departments can now decide to procure uniform from anywhere and on rates subject to complying with the provisions of GFR, 2005.”

3. Regarding eligibility/supply of Umbrellas and replacement of Umbrellas with water proofs, the procedure has been codified in rule 737(X) & (XI) of Postal Manual Volume. I. The Heads of Circles are hereby informed that necessary action in this respect may be taken as per the codified procedure in consultation with the Internal Financial Advisers.

4. The DOP&T have clarified that common categories of staff, with which DOPT is concerned, no kit maintenance allowance is admissible and they are entitled to washing allowance, if issued with uniform.

Yours faithfully

Sd/-

(R.B. Chawla)

Director (E&MM)

Copy of DOPT O.M. No. 14/1/2012-JCA2 dated 7th February, 2012 addressed to Shri R.B. Chawla, Director (MM&VP), Ministry of Communications &IT, Department of Posts, New Delhi.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Supply of good quality of uniform and other kit items to the Postal Employees of Department of Posts-regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Department of Post’s O.M. No. 23-5/2007-UPE dated 25th January, 2012 on the subject cited above and No. 23-5/2007-UPE dated 2nd February, 2012 regarding grant of Uniform and Kit maintenance allowances.

2. In this connection , it is stated that after coming in to effect of GFR,2005 this Department has issued as OM No. 14/7/2003-JCAdated 21st November,2005(copy enclosed) , which was in supersession of the earlier instructions, clarifying that the further procurement should be made as per the relevant rules in the new GFR’s 2005. This implies that Ministries/Departments can now decide to procure uniform from anywhere and on rates subject to complying with the provisions of GFR, 2005.

3. Regarding replacement of Umbrella with raincoat for Postmen, it is stated that in case of employees not covered under common categories, Ministries administratively concerned should themselves decide the question of issue of uniform and scales/tenure in consultation with the appropriate financial authorities.

4. In so far as issue relating to grant of Uniform & Kit maintenance allowances to all uniformed staff in Department of Posts is concerned, it is stated that for common categories of staff, with which DOPT is concerned, no such allowance is admissible and they are entitled to washing allowance, if issued with uniform.

Sd/-

(Ashok Kumar)

Deputy Secretary (JCA)

PROCUREMENT OF UNIFORMS (SUMMER/WINTER) FOR COMMON CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYEES IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES/DEPARTMENTS-REVISED PROCEDURE UNDER THE GENERAL FINANCIAL RULES, 2005-REG.

DOPT O.M. No. 14-7/2003-JCA Dated 21st Nov 2005

Reference: Ministry of Finance OM No. 1/12/E.II(A)/94 dated 29.07.2005

The undersigned is directed to refer to the consolidated instructions issued in the Department OM No 14/8/90-JCA dated 29.6.1990 and further orders issued from time to time dealing with the procedure for procurement and supply of summer/winter uniforms to common categories of Group 'C' and 'D' employees serving in various Ministries/Departments of the Central Government and to say as follows:

2. Consequent to the coming into force of the new General Financial Rules, 2005 (FGRs), it has become necessary to review and modify the existing procedure for procurement/purchase of summer/winter uniforms for common categories of Group 'C' and 'D' employees serving in various Ministries/Departments of the Central Government so as to bring it in line with the provisions of revised FGRs. In this connection, it is also relevant to note that vide OM dated 29.7.2005 cited above, the Ministry of Finance(Department of Expenditure) has clarified that the special dispensation from the process of inviting tenders/quotations provided to NCCF/Kendriya Bhandar in DOPT Welfare Division's OM dated 14.7.1981 and 11.4.1994 under chapter 8 of the old GFRs no longer holds good and that purchase/procurement of goods by Government of India offices will now be solely guided by the provisions of GFRs 2005.

3. In the circumstances, in supersession of the extant instructions regarding procurement of summer/winter uniforms relating to Groups 'C' & 'D' employees in the Central Secretariat Ministries/Departments and its attached and subordinate offices, the purchase procedure to be followed in different exigencies and the relevant rules in the GFRs are outline below:-

(i) Chapter 7 of the GFR's 2005 pertaining to procurement of Goods and Services may be carefully perused to ensure that the procurement/purchase procedure adopted is strictly in line with the prescribed rules. In this connection attention is specially drawn to some of the following important provisions, details of which may be obtained from the GFR's 2005

Rule 137- Fundamental Principles of Public Buying

Rule 144- Reserved items

Rule 145- Purchase of Goods without Quotation

Rule 146- Purchase of Goods by Purchase Committee

Rule 148-Demand should not be divided into small quantities to make piece- meal purchase

Rule 160-Transparency, competition, Fairness and elimination of Arbitrariness in the procurement process

Rule 161 Efficiency, Economy and Accountability in Public Procurement system

(ii) All purchases should be made through a duly constituted Purchase Committee comprising of three members of an appropriate level as decided by the Head of the Department, including one member from the internal Finance Division and two belonging to the Administration Division. In addition, a fourth member may be associated with the purchase committee, to be nominated by the concerned staff Associations/unions.

(iii) In case of purchase of goods of a value above Rs 15,000/- and upto 1,00,000/-, on each occasion, purchase may be made only on the recommendations of a duly constituted purchase committee defined in para (ii) above, and as decided by the Head of the Department. The committee will survey the market to ascertain the reasonableness of rate, quality and specifications and identify the appropriate supplier. Also, before placing the purchase order, the members of the committee will jointly record a certificate and authenticate it, as under

"Certified that we, S/Shri-------------- members of the purchase committee, are jointly and individually satisfied that the goods recommended for purchase are of the requisite specification and quality, priced at the prevailing market rate and the supplier, recommended is reliable and competent to supply the goods in question."

(iv) Subject to the exceptions incorporated in Rules 151 and 154 of GFR's 2005, invitation to tenders by advertisement should be used for procurement of goods of estimated value of Rs 25 lakhs and above

(v) In case of Ministry/Department directly procedure DGS&D rate contract goods from suppliers, the prices to be paid for such goods should not exceed the rate mentioned in the rate contract and the other terms and conditions of purchase should also be in line with those specified in the rate contract. In addition, the Ministry/Department has to make its own arrangement for inspection and testing of the goods, where so required.

3. While observing the above change in procedure, the purchase committee/competent Authority may also keep in view the provisions of Rule 144 of the GFRs, 2005, that reads as under:-

"Rule 144, Reserved Items: The Central Government, through administrative instructions, has reserved all items of handspun and hand-woven textiles(Khadi goods) for exclusive purchase from Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC), it has also reserved all items of handloom textiles required by Central Government departments for exclusive purchase from KVIC and/or the notified handlooms units of ACASH(Association of Corporations and Apex Societies of Handlooms), The Central Government has also reserved some items for purchase from registered Small Scale Industrial Units. The Central Departments or Ministries are to make their purchases for such reserved goods and items from such units as per the instruction issued by the Central Government in this regard"

Revised procedure, scheme and syllabus for filling up of the post of PA/SA - No. 60-9/2009-SPB-I dated 08.05.2012 Click here to view the details

Source-AIPEU P3 CHQ

The Delhi High Court has ruled that if an employee remains absent for long owing to medical emergency in the family, resultant domestic problems and submits proof of it, he cannot be dismissed for taking ‘unauthorised’ or ‘excessive’ leave

New Delhi, May 14, 2012(HT): The Delhi High Court has ruled that if an employee remains absent for long owing to medical emergency in the family, resultant domestic problems and submits proof of it, he cannot be dismissed for taking ‘unauthorised’ or ‘excessive’ leave.

“Once the enquiry officer was satisfied that the delinquent employee had taken leave, though excessive, for the sickness of his wife and that medical documents had also been given by him, the enquiry officer had no business to say the workman was guilty of availing excessive leave,”Justice PK Bhasin ruled.

He also said the authority could not punish the employee for unauthorised absence.

The court said this while dismissing an appeal by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) against a Delhi Industrial Tribunal order asking it to reinstate driver Anil Kumar, who was dismissed in September 22, 1992, for“unauthorised absence” from duty for 147 days.

The tribunal had asked DTC to reappoint him with full back wages and service seniority. DTC contended that Kumar was dismissed after a proper probe by its inquiry officer.

The tribunal had noted that Kumar had submitted medical certificates of his wife’s treatment at LNJP Hospital from March 1990 to December 1990 and May 1991 to June 1991.

It had also taken into consideration the fact that Kumar said there was nobody except his wife and himself to look after their children. And the resultant domestic problems, which forced Kumar to take leave, and had wondered how the inquiry officer could give an order against Kumar.

The tribunal noted: “There are domestic problems and it cannot be said that the workman availed the leave for no reasons, showing lack of interest in his official duties. Even the findings of the enquiry officer are not to the effect that the conduct of the workman show that he has lack of interest in the duties of corporation.”

Announcement of vacancies for PS Group B Examination

The PS Group B Examination is scheduled to be held on 03.06.2012. But the vacancies for the Examination is yet to be notified by the Directorate. Department has taken decision to conduct PS Group ‘B’ exam on 3rd June, may be under old recruitment rules only. As per the calculations made by the IP/ASP association of Punjab circle, Vacancies predicted for the PS Group B Examination under each category as per existing recruitment rules are around 19 for IP Line in 165 point roster and 2 for General line in 52 point roster.

Two Day Conference of Heads of Postal Circles Begins

Shri Kapil Sibal ,Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology(C&IT) has said that India Post is in an enviable position due to its reach and has the potential to transform rural economy and life. Shri Sibal said this while inaugurating the two day annual conference of Heads of Circle of the Department of Posts.

During the 2-day event, discussions will focus around the challenges being faced by India Post in the 21sth Century. India Post is faced with the twin challenges of induction of various modes of technology in communication and also the proliferation of couriers on the other.

The organization has geared itself to assimilate technology in its operations in a big way. It has also embarked upon the path of providing quality postal services to its customers. The Speed Post is already a brand to reckon with. Other initiatives like introduction of Core Banking Solutions in the Post Office Savings Bank, expansion of Postal Life Insurance and streamlining of the parcel service area also on the anvil. Apart from this, India Post is preparing itself to have a vast technological network to connect all the rural Post Offices. The organization hopes to be a reliable partner for various Government Departments for delivery of their services in the villages where no other network has the kind of reach which India Post has got.

Training of the Postal Staff to adapt itself to the use of technology in a big way is also a major challenge. Plans are being worked out by India Post to provide adequate training to all its personnel in use of technology. This is going to be the thrust area in the next couple of years.

India Post has a vast network of 1,54,866 post offices in the country. It handles over six billion articles of mail every year with the help of nearly half a million employees. India Post also runs Post Offices Savings Bank (POSB). Apart from offering various saving scheme, to the common man, POSB also disburses Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme( MGNREGS) wages. It has 5.4 crore accounts which disbursed Rs. 7430 crore as MGNREGS wages during 2011-12.

Source PIB Release 7th May, 2012

25 Years of Speed Post Service

Shri Kapil Sibal ,Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology today inaugurated the two day annual conference of Heads of Circle of the Department of Posts. A special cover to mark 25 years of Speed Post was also released by the Minister on the occasion. The Minister gave away prizes to top three Postal Circles for generating highest rate of revenue growth in Speed Post during 2010-11, on the occasion.

While Karnataka Circle walked away with the first prize and DG Post’s Rolling Trophy, Jammu and Kashmir Circle and Jharkhand Circle secured the second and third position respectively. Speed Post is the premium Express Mail Service of India Post. It was launched in August, 1986 to meet the “felt-need” of the developing Indian economy. It offers a time-bound and assured delivery of letters, documents and parcels up to 35kg across the nation and around the world.

The Speed Post network is the largest Express Service Network in India. It covers all major towns & cities. Web-based Track and Trace service is provided for Speed Post articles on the India Post website (www.indiapost.gov.in). Insurance facility is also available for sending valuable items under Speed Post, Regular customers enjoy free pick up, credit facility under Book Now Pay Later Scheme and attractive volume based discounts.

Over the past 25 years, Speed Post has steadily continued to grow in terms of volumes with monthly volumes exceeding 2.5 crore articles in 2011-12. The Department of Posts set-up a Business Development Directorate in 1996 which was re-organized as Business Development & Marketing Directorate in 2005, to provide impetus to business activitie4s concerning Speed Post and a number of other business products.

The last 25 years have been a journey of success for Speed Post with economical rates, safety and reliability as the hallmarks of the service.

Source PIB Release 7th May, 2012