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Letter to Member (P) i/c/w grant of honorarium to part time IO/PO for conducting inquiries under Rule-10 of GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2011

No. GS/AIAIASP/GDS-Hon/2013                                 dated           1/2/2014

To, 

Shri Kamesh Chandra,

Member (P),

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

Respected Sir,   

          IP/ASP Association would like to draw 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 on the above captioned subject. 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. 

          It is further bring to honours kind 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 details, minimum Rs 5000/- and Maximum 10000/- are required to be sanctioned if the enquiry is completed within stipulated time frame. 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
	wef 23.08.2005	wef. 04.07.2011	wef. 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, DG 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.  

Since the minimum rate of honorarium has been revised for departmental inquiries and the FR 46 B stood amended (vide MOF, DOE I.CU.O.No.4.2/5/2008-IC dated 29.01.2009), the ceiling and the Financial Powers delegated for sanction of honorarium may also be revised suitably for all purposes. 

          A positive action is expected.  

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

(Vilas Ingale)

General Secretary

Copy forwarded for information and necessary action to :

1.   Shri Arun Malik, Director (SR), Department of Posts, Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marge, New Delhi 110001 w. r. to his letter No. 10-9/2013-SR dated 30^thSeptember, 2013.

2.   The Assistant Director General (PE-I) Department of Posts, Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marge, New Delhi 110001. He is requested to refer Director (SR) letter No. 10-9/2013-SR dated 30^th September, 2013 and present status of case may be intimated immediately.

3.   The Assistant Director General (VP) Department of Posts, Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marge, New Delhi 110001. He is requested to refer Director (SR) letter No. 10-9/2013-SR dated 30^th September, 2013 and present status of case may be intimated immediately.