CHQ News:-GS writes to Secretary (Posts) i/c/w grant of honorarium to part time IO/PO for conducting inquires

No. GS/AIAIASP/GDS-Hon/2013 dated : 21/6/2014

To,

Ms Kavery Banerjee,

Secretary (Posts),

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi 110 001.

Sub: Grant of honorarium to part time Inquiry Officers/ Presenting Officers for conducting inquiries under Rule-10 of GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2011 and revision of financial powers delegated to CPMG for sanction of the Honorarium.

Ref: Directorate memo No C-32016/03/2005-VP dated 23.08.2005.

Respected Madam,

We would like to invite your kind attention to this Association’s letter of even number dated 22/6/2013 followed by reminders dated 13/9/2013 and 11/11/2013, 1/2/2014 and 25/4/2014 whereby it was brought to the notice that, Directorate vide memo No 32016/12/2011-VP dated 04.07.2011 on the basis of notification issued by DOP&T has revised honorarium rates for Inquiry Officers/ Presenting Officers engaged for conducting departmental enquiries which was further revised on 8.1.2013. Under the existing structure, minimum Rs 5000/- and Maximum 10000/- are required to be sanctioned as honorarium if the enquiry is completed within stipulated time frame. But no such revision whatsoever has been made for IO/PO for conducting GDS inquiries, perhaps this was not part of DOP&T memo as no such cadre exists in any other department except DOP.

Although the responsibilities of IO/PO are predefined and similar in nature both for Departmental and GDS employees, yet the honorarium rate is not in parity as is apparent from the below noted table, that also needs upward revision at par with departmental inquiries.

Details	GDS inquiries	Departmental inquiries
	w.e.f.23.08.2005	w.e.f. 04.07.2011	w.e.f. 31.07.2012
Inquiry Officer (IO) Part time	Minimum Rs 400/- Maximum Rs 1600/-	Minimum Rs 1500/- Maximum Rs 3000/-	Minimum Rs 5000/- Maximum Rs 10000/-
Presenting Officer (PO) Part time	Minimum Rs 250/- Maximum Rs 500/-	Minimum Rs 750/- Maximum Rs 1500/-	Minimum Rs 5000/- Maximum Rs 10000/-

Furthermore, the annual ceiling of Rs 4000/- per IO/PO per year bestowed to the Head of the Circle since long is still in vogue and no action to revise this limit has been taken concomitantly leaving aside benefit granted above. However, Secretary (Posts) has the power to sanction honorarium up to Rs 5000/-, means all the cases will have to be referred to Directorate for sanction. In such cases, either the beneficiary will be deprived of his/her right or will have to wait for long to get the desired relief.

It is further bring to your kind notice that the minimum rate of honorarium have already been revised for departmental inquiries and the FR 46 B also stood amended (vide MOF, DOE I.CU.O.No.4.2/5/2008-IC dated 29.01.2009). The issue in question was discussed at length with your predecessor and OSD to Secretary (Posts) in the informal meeting held on 23/9/2013. During the course of dialogue, both the officers apprehending the position, assured that Department will re-look into the matter and shall accordingly convey the approval, but till date nothing is heard from Directorate despite issue of series of reminders.

It is therefore once again requested to put on place orders to resolve this vital issue at the earliest.

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

(Vilas Ingale)

General Secretary