My Experience & Advice to the Divisional Secretaries

·        Let us come to the prominence of thorough knowledge on all rulings to be influenced by all the trade union activists. As per the Govt orders, late attendance shall not be brought under Dies non. Up to three defaults it can be condoned by the head of the office every month. Even the Head of office is not satisfied to condone the delay; he may seek leave application for half a day.

·        Higher officers shall not issue Dies non for such late attendance. Similarly, the divisional head has no right to modify the nature of leave applied by the officials; suppose if an official sought HPL, the divisional head should not modify and grant EL. When the CGHS certifies the illness of an official, the divisional authorities have no right to deny the leave and accord dies non. All these have been blatantly violated in many places.

·        When I was in Delhi, one senior APM while travelling by bus felt giddiness and rushed to AIIMS, Delhi and got treatment as OPD and attended office 40 minutes late had been awarded Dies non by the divisional head as per the directions of the DPS. In another case the PRI (P) was deputed by the divisional head to attend one complaint on foreign article in the next day morning. The DPS visited his office next day morning and after not seeing the PRI (P) in that office at that time, he directed the divisional head to issue Dies non to the PRI (P) and the divisional head had promptly awarded without minding his orders on the earlier day to attend a public complaint in the morning.

·        The appeal submitted by the official was rejected by the same DPS.  All these happened in Delhi circle. The DPS has simply rejected all the appeals and representations. We sought the ruling and information under RTI. They had given false information as if no such incidence was taking place. But to our surprise, before we appealed against the information, most of the Dies non cases were settled and they have been converted as leave taken. The comrades of Delhi circle felt relief after one year of continuous harassments.

·        One officer, who was running amuck, issued memos and charges even for the flimsy charges for not wearing of uniform for a single day in the rainy season even though he knew very well that it was due to non-supply of uniforms over four years and the available one become wet while attending the office. He treated the day as Dies non to such postmen.

·        He ordered to combine all the beats on the spot and declared that there was a surplus. Similarly, he did not respect the unions and not holding any monthly interview months together. He did not allow our secretaries for informal meetings also. They came to CHQ and I advised them to use the correspondences to the divisional administration as a tool to rein in the situation.

·        Every day not less than three or four letters were drafted on the issues and also pointed out his shortcomings and copies were sent to circle union as well as to the Chief PMG, Delhi Circle just for information. Even though, the letters contain polite language, it exposed the divisional head as follows;

·        The divisional head should not take anyone except stenographer in the staff car while on tour. Usage of staff car for marketing with family is against to the staff car rulings. While drawing transport allowance, the staff car should not be used to return to home even in the late hours. When the staff car is used for other than a tour, proportionate mileage shall be credited.

·        Whenever inspecting the SOs by the divisional head, he can utilize the services of ASPOs or other officers only for the counting of stationary and other stocks. Inspections should be done personally by him. Even ASPOs are not permitted to carry out the inspection on behalf of the divisional head. PRI (P) should not be utilized for inspection.

·        CVC guidelines dated 18.11.98 have not been observed in the division. Nothing is displayed in the divisional office notice boards.

·        Monthly meetings are not conducted as per the schedules.

·        Union’s correspondences are neither acknowledged nor replied. 

·        While pointing out all the issues, the deviations of rules were cited with the polite concluding in all the letters that the direct recruited IPS officer should honour the orders and the staff relations and should not set a bad precedence to the cadre. 

·        Within one month, the divisional head who had not given any meeting to unions over one year notified monthly meeting and sought subjects for discussion. The divisional secretary with all pains placed around 90 subjects for discussion. Before that he did homework at CHQ. In the meeting he faced a warm welcome and the divisional head declared that he did not like any confrontation; let us work together. Thereafter, the unsettled issues were smoothly sorted out and all the dies non issued to postmen were taken back. 

·        This was possible because the divisional secretary has acquired the knowledge required by refreshing the rulings by continuous reading of venture and Hand Book published by the CHQ. If one possesses the ruling knowledge and know how to use it for good purposes, he can definitely succeed in his attempts.

·        After donning the battle dress, why should have feared to meet on the battlefield? After becoming the union office bearers, will it not be necessary to arm yourselves with updated knowledge on all service rules to protect the comrades who are depending upon you?