FNPO Appeals for Implementation of Court Judgments for Postal Employees
Call for Uniform Application of Legal Decisions to Prevent Financial and Administrative Burden
The Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO), a major recognized federation within the Postal Department, has formally appealed to Sri Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Communications and Minister for Development of the North-Eastern Region, to implement various court judgments uniformly across all similarly placed employees. This appeal aims to prevent significant loss of time and financial resources for both the government and the affected employees.
Background and Congratulations
On behalf of FNPO, Secretary General Sivaji Vasireddy extended heartfelt congratulations to Sri Jyotiraditya Scindia on his new role as Union Minister for Communications. The FNPO pledged its full support for the smooth functioning of the Department of Posts and emphasized its commitment to delivering excellent services to the nation.
Key Issues and Legal Precedents
1. Implementation of Court Judgments Across the Board
FNPO highlighted the need for swift implementation of judiciary orders on various service matters and applying the same relief to others in similar situations. Several courts, including the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and the Supreme Court of India, have ruled that once a legal principle is established, it should be applied uniformly to all similarly placed employees without requiring individual litigation.
Specifically, the FNPO cited the Premraj case (CWP 1807/2010) and other related cases, where the court emphasized that it is unnecessary for every similarly situated person to approach the court for individual relief once a principle is settled.
2. Grant of Notional Increment for Pension Revision
The issue of granting notional increment to officials who retired on June 30th or December 31st for the revision of pension and benefits was discussed. Despite several court orders in favor of such employees, the Postal Directorate's current implementation only applies to those who were part of the original litigation, excluding others who are similarly placed. This selective application has been deemed unfair by the FNPO.
3. Regularization of Services Rendered as RTP/SA
The FNPO also addressed the need for the regularization of services rendered by Reserve Trained Pool (RTP) Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants (PA/SA) based on Supreme Court judgments. Despite court orders favoring the regularization of these employees, the implementation remains limited to those who have individually approached the courts.
4. LDCE Promotions and MACP Benefits
The FNPO called for the appointment of employees to the next higher cadre through Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations (LDCE) to be treated as direct recruitment for the purpose of Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP). Courts have ruled in favor of this approach, recognizing LDCE promotions as direct recruitment rather than internal promotions. This interpretation should be uniformly applied to avoid litigation and administrative inconsistencies.
Call to Action
The FNPO requested the Hon’ble Minister to take appropriate steps to implement these court judgments uniformly across all similarly placed employees. This would not only uphold the principles of natural justice and equality before the law, as enshrined in Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, but also prevent unnecessary litigation and financial burden on the government.
The FNPO emphasized that implementing these judgments would streamline manpower management and eliminate unproductive administrative tasks.
Conclusion
The FNPO’s appeal to Sri Jyotiraditya Scindia underscores the importance of fair and consistent application of legal decisions in the postal sector. By addressing these issues, the government can ensure justice for all employees and optimize the use of public resources.
