Revised PS Group B RR: General Line Cadre

Revision and Amendment in Recruitment Rules for Postal Service Group ‘B’ – Addressing Concerns of Discrimination and Stagnation in General Line Cadre

 Download Revised PS Group B RR: General Line Cadre in PDF

Introduction

The All India Association of Supervisor Cadre (AIASC) has raised concerns regarding the draft recruitment rules (RR) for Postal Service (PS) Group ‘B’ Cadre, circulated via the Directorate’s OM No.9-14/2010-SPG (Vol.II) dated 11/13.11.2024. The association strongly opposes the revised methodology that subsumes the 25% Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) quota into the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) quota, thereby eliminating promotional opportunities for General Line Cadre officials.

 

Key Concerns and Background

1. Historical Representation of General Line Cadre
   Prior to the restructuring:
• 6% of posts in PS Group-B were earmarked for the General Line Cadre.
• After the merger of Postmaster Group-B with PS Group-B, the representation of the General Line Cadre became negligible.
2. Elimination of the LDCE Quota
• Earlier, the selection for PS Group-B was split: 75% via DPC and 25% via LDCE (19% for IP line and 6% for General Line Cadre).
• The new RR scraps the LDCE quota completely, allotting 100% of the posts to the IP line via DPC.
• This eliminates promotional avenues for HSG-I officials and directly impacts career progression.
3. Pay Parity Issues and Discrimination
• Under the 7th CPC, IP and ASP cadres are positioned in Pay Levels 7 and 8, respectively. HSG-I officials, however, remain stagnant at Level-7.
• Despite multifaceted roles (Project Arrow, CSI, Finacle, PLI, GST), the General Line Cadre has been consistently neglected in terms of pay upgrades and promotional pathways.
4. Postmaster Cadre Abolition
• The Postmaster Cadre, introduced in 2010, offered clear career progression with a defined path to Senior Postmaster Group-B.
• However, the cadre was abolished in 2019, and no DPC was ever convened for Senior Postmaster promotions, leaving officials in a state of career stagnation.
• Postmaster Cadre officials were also barred from appearing for LDCEs such as Inspector Posts, PS Group-B, and AAO between 2011-2016, citing duplication of promotion channels.

 

Impact on General Line Cadre

1. Stagnation in HSG-I Posts
• HSG-I officials face a complete lack of promotional avenues beyond their current posts.
• Officials with over 20 years of service risk stagnating without any upward career mobility.
2. Disparity in Promotional Opportunities
• Unlike other government departments (e.g., Army, Banks), where equal opportunities exist for operational and administrative cadres, the General Line Cadre in the Postal Department faces systemic discrimination.
• For example, MTS, Postman, and PA/SA cadres retain dual channels for promotion (DPC and LDCE), but PS Group-B does not.
3. Non-Recognition of Talent
• LDCE provides a platform for young, talented officials to advance based on merit and performance. Eliminating LDCE stifles growth opportunities for deserving General Line Cadre officials.

 

Proposed Solutions

To ensure fairness and career progression for all cadres, the AIASC has proposed the following:

1. Reintroduce a 50:50 Selection Ratio
• 50% of PS Group-B posts should be filled through DPC.
• 50% of posts should be filled through LDCE, open to both HSG-I and ASP cadres in a 50:50 ratio.
2. Interchangeability of HSG-I and ASP Posts
• The Department should allow interchangeable postings for HSG-I and ASP officials.
• This would enable General Line Cadre officials to gain experience in administrative roles, fostering holistic departmental growth.
3. Proportional Representation for General Line Cadre
• Given the 510% increase in General Line posts post-cadre restructuring, the reserved percentage in PS Group-B should increase proportionately to 30% (from 6%).
4. Revive Postmaster Cadre Pathways
• Officials from the abolished Postmaster Cadre must be compensated through restored promotional opportunities, such as DPCs for Senior Postmaster Group-B.

 

Conclusion

The proposed changes to PS Group-B Recruitment Rules risk perpetuating stagnation and widening the divide between IP Line and General Line Cadres. The AIASC advocates for the restoration of fair promotional avenues, ensuring that General Line officials are not left discriminated against or deprived of career growth.

The association urges the Hon’ble Secretary (Posts) to consider these submissions while finalizing the draft RR, ensuring an inclusive and equitable system for all cadres in the Department of Posts.

 

(Narinder Pal)

General Secretary

All India Association of Supervisor Cadre (Gr. B)

Camp at: Sub Postmaster (ISG-D), Pathankot MDG, Punjab

Website: www.aiascchq.blogspot.in | Email: aiascchq@gmail.com