Brief on Grade Pay issue

CS, AIAIASP, Odisha Circle Branch had posted an article in this blog on 21.09.2011 under the title - "Main issue before CWC meeting at Patna" wherein the views of accepting the proposal of merger of IP and ASP cadres without Gazetted status for ASPs was expressed showing justification how the merger would  yield mass benefit. This was the position before CWC meeting  held at Patna on 23rd and 24th September 2011. This view matched with the views of only 5 Circle Branches as the majority of the Circle Branches went in favour of the proposal of merger of two cadres with retention of Gazetted status for ASPs. In a democratic set up majority opinion matters, though everybody is entitled to his / her own view. There is no problem in getting the views expressed by the CS, Odisha Circle branch overruled. If the Gazetted status is retained with the expected benefit of upgradation of GP of IPs to Rs.4600/- it is so far so good. But time will tell whether or not such a proposal can be accepted for implementation practically. 

A trend is now set wherein it is observed that instead of giving a critical comment on the various aspects of the views, wild allegations are made against the person who has expressed the views. There are comments anonymously posted in this blog criticising the CS personally for the views expressed by him. It is alleged that the CS has been elevated to PS Gr.B status for which he does not care about the feelings of ASPs. This is not correct as the CS is offering such view not now but since last two years when he was not officiating in PS Gr.B post. If views are not accepted it is OK. Let divergent views emerge for information of everybody. But criticisms directed at individuals, that too made anonymously, are not acceptable. 

Here is a brief (which more or less matches with the view of the CS) from Shri Pitabasa Jena, AGS, CHQ & Treasurer, AIAIASP, Orissa Circle as to the justification for merger of IP and ASP cadres without Gazetted status for ASPs. This is notwithstanding the fact that Odisha Circle Branch has no way but to go with the majority opinion of different Circles.

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Brief on Grade Pay issue by Shri Pitabasa Jena, AGS, CHQ & Treasurer, AIAIASP, Orissa Circle who represented Orissa Circle in  Central Working Committee held on 23/9/2011 at Patna

Flashback: As per the demand of the Association to upgrade the Grade Pay of Inspector of Posts to Rs.4600/- on par with Inspectors of CBDT/CBEC and Assistants in CSS, Department of Posts considering the case had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance but the Ministry of Finance returned the file with observation that there is post of ASP in between Inspector Posts and PS Group ‘B’ whereas no such promotional post is available in the CBDT/CBEC & CSS and hence the post of Inspector Posts is not comparable with Inspectors, Income Tax/Excise& Customs. 

2.         Our Association passed a resolution during All India Conference held at Delhi on 3^rd and 4^th April, 2011 for merger of the cadre of Inspector Posts and Assistant Superintendent of Posts, as it would not cause functional disturbance and practically there is no difference in nature of work performed by the IPs and ASPs, to make it comparable with the post of Inspector CBDT/CBEC.

3.       A team consisting of Shri S.Samuel, the outgoing General Secretary, Shri Roop Chand, the incoming General Secretary, Shri. S. Raviout going CHQ Treasurer, Shri Jeet Ram incoming CHQ Treasurer, Ms. T.V. Sundari, Asst.General Secretary and Shri R.D.Sharma, Delhi Circle Secretary called on Ms. Radhika Doraiswamy , Secretary (Posts), Ms. Indira Krishna Kumar, Member (Personnel) DDG(Estt.) and DDG (P)on 05th April 2010. A detailed discussion was held with DDG(Estt.) and other officers on merger of the posts of IPs & ASPs and up-gradation of Grade Pay to Rs 4600 and concluded. The General Secretary submitted representations to the Secretary(Posts) on 24/6/2010 and 9/8/2010 for taking immediate steps to revise Grade Pay of  Posts from Rs.4200/- to Rs.4600/-. The General Secretary submitted another representation to the Secretary (Posts) on 7/9/2010 with the proposal for merger of Post of Inspector of Posts with the post of Asstt. Supdt. Posts with Grade Pay of Rs.4600/- with nomenclature as Asstt. Supdt. Posts as JAO(Non-gazetted) was merged with AAO(Gazetted) with nomenclature as AAO with the alternative proposal that if it is not possible then post of Inspector, Posts may be retained as Inspector, Posts (Non-Gazetted Group-B) with Grade Pay of Rs.4600/- and post of Asstt. Supdt.Posts as Asstt.Supdt. Posts (Gazetted Group-B) with Grade Pay of Rs.4600/- as post of Senior AO and its promotional post of ACAO are in the same pay band of PB-3 with Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/-.

4.         In Central Working Committee Meeting held at Ambaji (Gujarat) on 16^th and 17^th December,2010, a decision was taken for merger of the post of ASPs with the post of PS Group”B” as both the posts are Gazetted Group “B”. All India Conference is the Supreme deliberative and legislative body of the Association. A decision taken by All India Conference should have not been altered in Central Working Committee Meeting as per the Constitution of the Association. It is to mention that Orissa Circle had not attended this CWC.

5.       Accordingly, in the charter of demands submitted by the GS to the Secretary(Posts) on 4/7/2011 demanded for up-gradation of Grade Pay of Inspector, Posts from Rs. 4200/- to Rs. 4600/- with effect from 01.01.2006 and merger of post of Assistant Superintendent, Posts with the post of PS Group “B” as both are having Gazetted status and difference in Grade Pay is only Rs. 200/-. During the meeting with the Secretary(Posts)  on 4/7/2011 it was informed to the Association representatives that proposal could be considered only if IP and ASP cadres are merged into one cadre and the gazette status of ASPs is foregone.

                                   

The subject matter was discussed in detail in the CWC on 23/9/2011 at Patna and all Circle Secretaries/ Representatives exchanged their Circle view on merger and surrendering of Gazetted Status. Five Circles (Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, N.E., Orissa and Uttrakhand ) expressed their view in favour of merger of the posts IPs & ASPs and also withdrawal of Gazetted Status to the post of ASP. Two Circles (U.P. and W.B.) supported the merger of the post of ASP with PS Group “B”. No opinion was received from 2 Circles (Haryana and H.P.). Remaining twelve Circles (A.P., Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, M.P., Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamilnadu) supported the merger of the post of IP with the post of ASP without withdrawal of Gazetted status to the post of ASP. Finally, it was decided to put pressure on the Postal Directorate to upgrade the GP of IP from Rs 4200/- to Rs 4600/- without disturbing the Gazetted status conferred to the post of ASP vide No.25-18/2000-PE-I dated 28.07.2005 failing which agitational programme will be initiated by the CHQ after waiting for outcome of final orders from CAT, Ernakulam.

Why Orissa Circle is in favour of merger of the posts IPs & ASPs irrespective of Gazetted Status and irrespective of nomenclature?

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->On merger of the cadre of IP and ASP into one cadre irrespective of nomenclature with GP of Rs.4600/- one IP promoted from PA cadre can reach to the GP of Rs.4800/- in MACP-II between 15 to 20 years of service and to the GP of Rs.5400/-  in PB-2 in MACP-III between 25 to 30 years of service. Similarly, direct recruit inspectors through SSC can reach GP of Rs.4800/- in MACP-I on 10 years of service, to the GP of Rs.5400/- in PB-2 in MACP-II on 20 years service and to the GP of Rs.5400/- in PB-3 in MACP-III on 30 years Service. Benefit of travel by Air, hike in transport allowance, enhancement of Status for getting Govt. Accommodation etc. are attached to the GP of Rs.5400/-. 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Merger of the cadre of Inspector Posts and Assistant Superintendent of Posts seems to be feasible as it would not cause functional disturbance and practically there is no difference in nature of work performed by the IPs and ASPs. Further, it will remove the prevailing disparity between different Circles in getting promotion to ASP cadre due to non-uniformity in Circle-wise ratio of IPs and ASPs. In some Circles, IPs are getting promotion to ASP cadre in 4/5 years while in some other Circles it is taking 14/15 years. Detail position is as below:-

Sl.  No.	Circle	Postal		RMS		CO/ RO/ PSD/ CSD /Foreign Post /Directorate		Total		Percentage of ASP Posts
		IP	ASP	IP	ASP	IP	ASP	IP	ASP
1	A.P	177	136	11	18	13	22	201	176	46.7%
2	Assam	44	26	6	6	10	9	60	41	40.6%
3	Bihar	103	51	17	18	8	17	128	86	40.2%
4	Chhatisgarh	32	16	3	2	5	4	40	22	35.5%
5	Delhi	9	29	15	24	11	11	35	64	64.6%
6	Gujarat	95	80	17	20	7	22	119	122	50.6%
7	Haryana	33	24	11	8	4	7	48	39	44.8%
8	H.P	35	19	1	1	3	2	39	22	36.1%
9	J & K	14	15	1	1	5	4	20	20	50.0%
10	Jharkhand	31	21	6	4	2	6	39	31	44.3%
11	Karnataka	107	103	12	10	15	26	134	139	50.9%
12	Kerala	70	74	15	13	6	22	91	109	54.5%
13	M.P	98	58	11	9	11	13	120	80	40.0%
14	Maharastra	116	148	26	44	27	43	169	235	58.2%
15	N.E.	32	12	0	0	3	3	35	15	30.0%
16	Orissa	85	52	7	8	13	11	105	71	40.3%
17	Punjab	42	36	4	8	7	11	53	55	50.9%
18	Rajasthan	95	68	8	11	11	15	114	94	45.2%
19	Tamil Nadu	127	156	22	41	17	32	166	229	58.0%
20	Uttarakhand	34	21	0	0	2	3	36	24	40.0%
21	U.P	183	135	22	39	23	24	228	198	46.5%
22	W.B	100	98	24	42	13	24	137	164	54.5%
	Total	1662	1378	239	327	216	331	2117	2036	49.0%

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Now, the situation demands for surrendering of Gazetted Status conferred to the Posts of Assistant Superintendent of Posts vide Directorate Letter No.25-18/2000-PE-I dated 24/8/2005 for getting the GP of IPs upgraded to Rs.4600/- by merger of the Posts of IPs and ASPs. Direct recruitment of IPs is being conducted by SSC and on retention of Gazetted Status, merger of the Post of IPs and ASPs will disturb the recruitment process through SSC as UPSC is the recruiting body for Gazetted Posts. But, majority Circles are of the view that the Gazetted status is a social status and are apprehending disciplinary action by Divisional Heads on flimsy grounds on personal motives by change in Appointing Authority / Disciplinary Authorityon withdrawal of Gazetted Status. After all, majority of the Divisional Heads are being promoted from IP cadre and presently they are also Disciplinary Authority for 2117 IPs in all India basis.The Association may put a condition that Head of the Circle will be the Appointing Authority on merger of the posts of IPs and ASPs. It is to mention that on conferment of Gazetted status to the Posts of Assistant Superintendent of Posts, no financial power has been entrusted to ASPsand as clarified in Directorate Letter No.25-18/2000-PE-I dated 20/12/2005 they are not entitled for Stenographic/Clerical assistance, orderly, vehicle etc. Moreover no Gazette notification is also taking place.

It is expected that the discussion of merger of the post IPs and ASPs and surrendering of Gazetted Status will be again in limelight in the next All India Conference scheduled to be held at Bangalore on 28^th and 29^th January,2012.