Department of Posts (DOP) Announces Amendment to Recruitment Rules for Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants (PA/SA) New Delhi, August 1, 2024.
Download PA SA Recruitment Amendment Rules 2024 in PDF
The Ministry of Communications, through its Department of Posts, has introduced an amendment to the recruitment rules for Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants. This amendment, published in the Official Gazette of India as G.S.R. 470(E) on August 1, 2024, modifies the existing recruitment framework to enhance clarity and fairness in the selection process.
Overview of the Amendment
The amended rules, officially titled the "Department of Posts (Postal Assistant and Sorting Assistant) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2024," are implemented under the authority of Article 309 of the Constitution. The primary focus of these amendments is to adjust the eligibility criteria for examinations and modify certain post classifications within the postal services.
Key Changes in the Recruitment Rules
Eligibility for Limited Departmental Competitive Examination
The revised rules stipulate that both juniors and seniors may be eligible for the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination or Competitive Examination, provided that certain conditions are met. Specifically, if juniors who have completed the required qualifying or eligibility service are eligible for the examination, their seniors can also be eligible if they are not short of the requisite service by more than half of the required period or two years, whichever is less. Additionally, seniors must have completed their probation period and both the senior and junior should have been recruited through the same mode and held the same feeder cadre prior to their current posts. Importantly, this condition will not apply to juniors who have lost their seniority due to a transfer under Rule-38 of the Postal Manual Volume-IV.
Omission of Specific Postal Assistant Posts
The amendment includes the removal of certain positions from the recruitment rules:
- The position of Postal Assistant in the Foreign Post Organisations located in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
- The position of Postal Assistant in Savings Bank Control and Internal Check Organisations.
Revised Notes for Various Posts
The amendment introduces updated notes for several posts:
- Postal Assistant (Circle Office and Regional Offices): The new note aligns the eligibility conditions for both juniors and seniors with the updated examination criteria.
- Postal Assistant (Post Office): Similar updates are made to the eligibility conditions for this category.
- Sorting Assistant (Railway Mail Service): The eligibility conditions for this role have also been updated to reflect the changes made for other posts.
Implementation and Communication
The amendments will take effect from the date of their publication in the official Gazette. The Department of Posts has instructed all relevant departments and officials to disseminate this updated information to ensure compliance and understanding across the board.
Background and Previous Notifications
This amendment follows the principal notification published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide G.S.R. 459 (E), dated June 17, 2022, which was subsequently amended by G.S.R. 21 (E), dated January 13, 2023. The updates are part of ongoing efforts to refine and improve the recruitment process for postal services.
For Further Information:
For detailed information or queries regarding these amendments, officials and candidates are encouraged to contact the Department of Posts directly.
Publication Details:
The notification has been uploaded by the Directorate of Printing at the Government of India Press and published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi.
