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 favorable orders in this
regard will benefit lots of officials of Postal Department across the country.
The details of the issue are discussed below.
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 onetime 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”.
Article shared by Shri. G.Nagaraju, Accountant, O/o SPOs, Sangareddy Dn.Telangana Circle
