Postmaster’s cadre - Hasty Exercise
Appeal to review and link to Cadre review
Appeal to review and link to Cadre review
All of a sudden, the Department has unilaterally carved out a separate cadre of Postmaster from the existing supervisory posts to the extent of 33% simply ignoring the plea of cadre restructuring for creation of more supervisory higher posts. There was no attraction to the newly created Postmaster’s cadre among the existing supervisory cadres since there was no higher revision in the pay band of LSG, HSG-II & HSG-I Postmasters which are now called as Postmasters Grade I, II & III respectively.
Even though, it was assured to complete the process of cadre review proposals within three months (i.e.) before Nov’2010, another three months have been lapsed without any progress whereas a hasty exercise could be found to implement the orders on Postmaster’s cadre during this period. The Department has fixed the last date of receipt for option to Postmasters cadre as 15.01.2011 with the time schedule to cause appointment orders on 16.03.2011.
Unless all the LSG, HSG-II & HSG-I Posts are regularly filled up by relaxing the conditions and find out ways to come out of keeping the promotional posts on adhoc basis over three years, where is the possibility and probable chance of opting sufficient volunteers for the Postmasters cadre. In the absence of required upgraded posts in Postmasters cadre, how the officials who were already promoted to 4600 Grade Pay under MACP will opt for the Postmasters cadre for the grade pay of Rs. 2800/- that too with transfer liabilities. What is the attraction extended to the Postmasters cadre except thrusting more responsibilities and over burdened works?
Resultantly there are no options as we desired or expected for the Postmaster’s cadre. The seniors who have not been promoted to LSG due to dearth of vacancies could not avail or exercise option to the cadre due to the stringent conditions that they should compulsorily belong to LSG cadre.
Resultantly, the Department has now extended the cutoff date and directed the Circle heads to complete the DPC for LSG and HSG-II and also to extend the last date for submission of option. The earlier provision of 3 years continuous service for promotion from LSG to HSG II and from HSG II to HSG I has been replaced with 6 years and 5 years for the promotion from Postmaster Grade I to Grade II and Grade II to Grade III respectively. As per this revision whether any LSG opted for Postmaster cadre will get the benefits of Postmasters Grade II or Grade III? This is nothing but illogical and demotivating factors to the officials who desires to opt to the cadre in the bud itself.
The clarifications of the Department denying such options for the APM Accounts (LSG) to become Postmasters cadre are nothing but absurd. When the Department has not created any separate accounts line promotions and when there was a combined Gradation list of LSG for HSG II, HSG I Promotions, how can it be denied to APM Accounts. Will it not be arbitrary?
It was assured that all HSG I posts will be declared as promotional posts to HSG II and the recruitment rules are being compiled accordingly. As such identification of Postmaster Grade III Posts offices for IPO line is nothing but deviation of the agreement in the JCM Departmental Council. While all the posts of Senior Postmasters and Chief Postmasters are declared for Postmaster’s Cadre, where is the question of separate reservation to IPO line? If the officials other than in regular Postmaster line are considered for Senior/Chief Postmaster cadre, will it not dilute the purpose of creation of such separate cadre? If IPOs are permitted to Postmaster cadre, what is the sin in considering the plight of other supervisory officials in general line? Shall the department give the assurance that the officials not opted for Postmasters cadre will not be forced to officiate in the Postmaster cadre in the future in the absence of sufficient volunteers?
We are not against to the Postmasters cadre; but the implementation of the same in a hasty manner without assessing the realities and opening many anomalies and bandora box is causing the concern. If the Postmasters cadre is linked to cadre review and creates a number of posts reducing the possibilities of transfer and also with higher pay, many will opt for the cadre and the desirability of the department will be fulfilled. If not, it will create many practical problems affecting the efficiency and service.
(Bhartiya Post Editorial March 2011)
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