Clarification needs to be taken from
Postal Directorate on counting of induction training period for granting of
financial up-gradations under MACP Scheme on par with provisions existing for
granting financial up-gradations under TBOP/BCR schemes.
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A clarification needs to be sought from Postal
Directorate on the issue of counting of “induction training period”
of Direct Recruits in Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant cadre for the purpose
of qualifying service in connection with granting financial up-gradations
under Modified Assured Carrier Progression Scheme(MACPS).
This
issue, being a welfare matter, needs to be taken up by all
possible levels of offices/officials/service unions with the Government of
India/Department of Posts since the favourable orders in this regard will
benefit lots of officials of Postal Department across the country. The
details of the issue are discussed below.
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1)
At the time of issue of initial
orders on implementation of MACPS by the Department of Posts vide O.M. dated
18.9.2009, it was mentioned in the salient features of the MACPS [given in
Annexure-1 of O.M dated 18.9.2009] in top 3rd & 4th
lines of Para No.9 at Page 6 of O.M that “service rendered on adhoc/contract
basis before regular appointment or pre-appointment training shall not
be taken in to reckoning”. As such, the word “or”
mentioned before the words “pre-appointment training” in this sentence has
prevented to consider pre-appointment training for the purpose of granting
financial up-gradations under MACPS.
Later, a corrigendum
order dated 23.6.2016 was issued by the Department of Posts replacing the
sentence of “service rendered on adhoc/contract basis before regular
appointment or pre-appointment training shall not be taken in to
reckoning” with the sentence of “service rendered on
adhoc/contract basis before regular appointment on pre-appointment
training shall not be taken in to reckoning”. Consequent on issue of
corrigendum replacing the word “or” with “on”, the orders issued
on MACPS [vide O.M dated 18.9.2009 and corrigendum dated 23.6.2016] have
removed the explicit directions of not to count pre-appointment training
for MACPs.
In other words, the orders
issued on MACPS now are not preventing to consider
pre-appointment training for the purpose of granting financial up-gradations
under MACPS. However, the orders issued vide O.M. dated 18.9.2009
and corrigendum order dated 23.6.2016 are also not specifically
permitting to consider the pre-appointment training for the purpose of
granting financial up-gradations under MACPS.
2)
But here it is to mention that as per the G.O.I, DoP&T, O.M.
No.16/16/89-Estt. (Pay-I) dated 22.10.1990 and O.M.No.16/16/92-Estt. (Pay-II)
dated 31.3.1992 available at Govt. of India’s Order No.(1) below F.R.26
[swamy’s compilation of FR&SR], the training period undergone by Direct
Recruits, who are compulsorily required to undergo training before
taking up Government employment, whether on remuneration of stipend or
otherwise is treated as duty for the purpose of drawing ‘increments’.
Keeping
in view of these provisions, orders were issued by the GOI, Ministry of
Communications & IT, Department of Posts(SPB-II Section) vide order
No.44-47/1998-SPB.II dated 3.8.2000 and order No. 44-47/1998-SPB.II dated
27.7.2001 and order No.44-47/1998-SPB.II dated 5.5.2004 to the effect that the
period of induction training will also be counted for benefit of promotion
under the TBOP/BCR schemes, if such training period were counted for increment
in that scale. Recently, orders were also issued by the GOI, Ministry of
Communications & IT,
Department of Posts(SPB-II Section)
vide order No.44-2/2011-SPB.II dated 5.5.2016 extending the benefit of counting
of induction training period for the purpose of qualifying service under
TBOP/BCR scheme in respect of Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant (Direct
Recruits only) who underwent training prior to 1.1.1986, as a one time measure.
3)
Since, the induction training period was already ordered to be taken
in to account in respect of Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant [Direct Recruits
only] while granting promotions under TBOP/BCR schemes [which were
reckoned/treated as financial up-gradations], the same analogy of counting of
induction training period for granting promotions under MACPS needs to be
adopted as the promotions under MACPS are also treated as financial
up-gradations
only.
4)
In the light of various orders issued by the DoP&T and Department of Posts
from time to time as discussed above, the following point needs to be got
clarified on top priority basis from the Department of Posts(Postal
Directorate).
“Keeping in view of
orders already issued by Department of Posts in respect of financial
up-gradations under TBOP/BCR schemes which were in existence up to 31.8.2008
(i.e. prior to the date of implementation of MACPS),
whether the induction
training period undergone by Direct Recruits of Postal Assistant/Sorting
Assistant cadre [who have undergone training before taking up Government employment
and whose training period was also counted for drawal of increments], shall be
counted for benefit of promotion/financial up-gradation under the Modified
Assured Carrier Progression Scheme(MACPS) also (or) not”.
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