SOME LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The Latest developments on some strike charters are finished hereunder for the consumption of our members.
● Orders on officiating pay in higher posts – ordered are placed for signing will be released within two days.
● Orders to recommend grant and relief up to 3 days EL to Head Postmasters – will be released tomorrow or day after tomorrow.
● Order to bring staff on Sundays & holidays – orders issued last week itself. Copy could not be obtained today. Will be exhibited after its receipt.
● Revision of Recruitment Rules to Group D – Draft has been approved and will be notified by amendments to recruitment rules.
● Two more chances to appear LGO exam for those exhausted six chances – instead of two more chances, the file has been placed for enhancement of six chances to eight chances. Since the explained the urgency for its implementation in the notified LGO exam, it is assured to released the orders before the end of this month.
● It is informed that the revision of postman recruitment Rules for Postmen will be finalized by considering the number of candidates passed in the proposed postmen examination.
● Orders for dropping the confirmation examination –The draft on orders has been placed for approval.
● Revised Recruitment Rules for Postal Assistants – As per the RR 2002, there are 49 Categories eligible to appear the exam and most of the categories are not in existence. Now the existence of the category is being processed and the recruitment rules will be finalized.
(i) All the outsider candidates' secured 60% marks will be allowed to appear the PA recruitment examination.
(ii) Unfilled LGO vacancies will be thrown open to GDS without any mark condition.
● Revised Recruitment Rules for HSG I – The Staff Selection Commission have raised some queries which have been replied. It is expected that the HSG I Recruitment Rules will be returned from SSC within a week or fortnight, 100% HSG I posts for general line has been already incorporated in the revised recruitment rules.
● Postmaster's cadre Grade III will be filled up regularly only after the approval of HSG-I Recruitment Rules since the seniority to the existing HSG-I Officials on adhoc basis shall be given seniority in the newly formed cadre.
● Appearing PH candidates for IPO exam – now the department has approved for allotment of vacancies for PH candidates in IPO exam and the file will be sent to social welfare Department for information and formal approval.
● MACP fixation on acquiring TBOP/BCR – orders have been issued.
● Cadre Restructuring Committee – we could not meet the concerned Director (SR) informed that it will be convened shortly.
● Separate cadre for PO & RMS Accountants, will be sorted out in the committee.
● We requested to expedite the release of tenure posting conditions imposed on the single handed SPMs.
● Cash handling point to GDS – Proposal for formation of a committee has been initiated to review and implement the decision.
● Protection of TRCA – File has been submitted to Finance (IFW)
● Grant of Special Allowance to all irrespective of MACP I, II, or III – the IFW sought linking of old files and files have been submitted for approval.
● Treasury Allowance – File has been submitted to IFW.
● Director (SR) told that he is processing the case of allotment of staff quarter with reference to old orders related to post attached quarters and will finalise the shortly.
In respect of other issues, we could not take follow up action today and will process further after returning from Lucknow Federal Executive (i.e.) on 28.07.2011.

Ms.HILDA ABRAHAM WILL BE OUR NEW CHIEF POSTMASTER GENERAL

Ms.Yesodhara Menon is promoted and posted as Member (Personnel), New Delhi and our new CPMG will be Ms.Hilda Abraham, likely to take over the charge of the cirle on 1st Aug,2011. We wish both ALL THE VERY BEST AND BRIGHT CAREER.

ನೀವು ತಿಳಿದಿರಬೇಕಾದ್ದು-ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ವಿಷಯ

Kindly refer to the news item in recent TIMES OF INDIA wherein a item related to the inner house feud of the Hindu family who have approached court for settlement of contradictions within the family over the appointment of an OUTSIDE EDITOR. 5 of the Kasturi family resigned from the posts they hold now in protest against this move and moved court also. N. Ram against whom this fight has begun by the other family members has told the press that an editor from outside the family was appointed as per the RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MCKINSEY which strongly advocated for this move. Another historic establishment having a long tradition of more than 135 years in the press media is being ruined by the entry of MCKINSEY.

WILL THIS SORRY SORDID AFFAIRS OPEN THE EYES OF POWERS-THAT-BE IN DOP.

News source: Comrade.Srivenkatesh our leader from Chennai

ನೌಕರರ ಒಗ್ಗಟ್ಟು ತೋರಿದ ಹಾವೇರಿ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಬಂಧುಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು.

ಇತ್ತೀಚಿಗೆ ಅಂದರೆ ೧೫.೦೭.೨೦೧೧ ರಂದು ಹಾವೇರಿ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಮಾಸಿಕ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಸಭೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ ಅರ್ಧ ಘಂಟೆಯೊಳಗಾಗಿ ಅಂಚೆ ಅಧೀಕ್ಷಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಶಿವರಾಜ ರವರು ತಾವು ತಮ್ಮ ಇಚ್ಚೆಗನುಗುಣವಾಗಿ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಸುವುದಾಗಿಯೂ ಮತ್ತು ಸಭೆಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ಸಂಘದ ಮುಖಂಡರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಅನುಚಿತವಾದ ಪದ ಪ್ರಯೋಗ ಮಾಡಿದರು. ಇದರಿಂದ ಕೆರಳಿದ ಎಲ್ಲ ನೌಕರರು ತೀವ್ರವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟಿಸಿದರು. ಮಾಸಿಕ ಸಭೆಯನ್ನು ಬಾಯ್ಕಾಟ್ ಮಾಡಲಾಯಿತು. ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಸ್ಟರ್ ಜನರಲ್ ರವರಿಗೆ ತಂತಿ ಕಳುಹಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

ಈ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆಗೆ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಕಡೆಗಳಿಂದ ಉತ್ತಮ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ನೌಕರರಿಂದ ಮೂಡಿಬಂತು. ಹಾವೇರಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಅಂಚೆ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಸತತ ಎರಡು ಘಂಟೆಗಳ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ನಂತರ ನೌಕರರ ಶಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿವರ್ಗ ಮಣಿಯಲೇ ಬೇಕಾಯ್ತು. ಅಂಚೆ ಅಧೀಕ್ಷಕರು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರೆದುರು, ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ (ಈ ಟಿವಿ, ಉದಯ ಟಿ.ವಿ., ಟಿ.ವಿ ೯ ) ದೆದುರು ತನ್ನ ಕ್ಷಮೆ ಯಾಚಿಸಿದರು. ಕೇವಲ ಕ್ಷುಲ್ಲಕ ಕಾರಣಗಳಿಗೆ ರಾಜ ನಿರಾಕರಿಸುವುದು, ನೌಕರರ ವಿರುದ್ದ ಅನುಚಿತ ಪದ ಪ್ರಯೋಗ ಮಾಡುವುದು, ಎಂ, ಎಲ್/ ಸಿ ಸಿ ಎಲ್ ರಜೆಯನ್ನು ಮಹಿಳಾ ಉದ್ಯೋಗಿಗಳಿಗೆ ನಿರಾಕರಿಸುವುದು ಇವೆ ಮುಂತಾದ ರೀತಿಯ ದಬ್ಬಾಳಿಕೆಗೆ ನೌಕರ ವರ್ಗ ರೋಸಿ ಹೋಗಿತ್ತು. ನೌಕರರನ್ನು ಶೋಷಿಸಿದ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗೆ ತಕ್ಕ ಬುದ್ದಿಯನ್ನು ಕಲಿಸಿತು

ಹಾವೇರಿ ವಿಭಾಗದ ನೌಕರ ಬಂಧುಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೋರಾಟ ಇತರರಿಗೆ ಮಾದರಿಯಾಗಲಿ. ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ವರ್ಗ ಇನ್ನಾದರೂ ಬುದ್ದಿ ಕಲಿಯಲಿ.

ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ ವಾಗಿ ದುಡಿಯುವ ನೌಕರ ಯಾವುದೇ ಹುಚ್ಚಾಟ ಗಳಿಗೆ, ಬೆದರಿಕೆಗೆ, ಬಗ್ಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಹಾವೇರಿ ವಿಭಾಗದ ನೌಕರರು ಇಂದು ತೋರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಜೆ. ಸಿ ಜಯರಾಮ ನಾಯ್ಕ ಮತ್ತು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಪದಾದಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗ ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ತುಂಬು ಹೃದಯದ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅರ್ಪಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

Salaried employees — when no return is required?

Salaried employees — when no return is required?
QUESTION: There has been news item about a new scheme sparing liability for salaried employees with income below Rs.5 lakhs, subject to certain conditions which are not clear for them. Could you clarify the same?
ANSWER: Notification No. 36/2011 dated 23rd June, 2011 would exempt salaried employees, whose income does not exceed Rs.5 lakhs in cases where the only other income for them is by way of interest from savings account not exceeding Rs.10,000. Salaried employees drawing income upto Rs.5 lakhs are likely to have other incomes from deposits other than from savings bank account including income from those classes of investments for which deduction is available under section 80C. Only an extremely limited number of taxpayers would be able to take advantage of the scheme.
It is necessary to bear in mind that for employees to be able to avail the benefit, they have to ensure that there is not only adequate tax deduction at source, but also such tax has been deposited by the employer and so certified in Form 16, which should contain employee’s Permanent Account Number (PAN), details of income, tax deducted at source and deposited to the credit of the Central Government. Tax deduction and deposit should cover the entire tax payable. If there is any claim of refund of over-paid taxes, the need for return is not avoided. For the employees, who have served more than one employer during the year, the scheme would not be applicable.
It is further made clear, that the scheme would have no application, where return is required by a notice for assessment under section 142(1), for reassessment under section 148 or on a searched person under section 153A or on a third party to search, where documents or assets relating to the assessee has been discovered under section 153C.
There was no need to impose so many restrictions, which go against the spirit of the policy announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech. The exemption should have been granted to all salaried employees and senior citizens, who have income from sources other than business or profession or capital gains, upto Rs.5 lakhs as long as adequate tax has been either deducted or paid by way of advance tax, subject, no doubt, to enquiry by the Assessing Officer, when so required. Such a course of action would not only help a large number of small taxpayers, but also reduce the proliferation of paper work in the Income-tax Department.
Courtesy : Hindu 18.7.2011

CHANGE IN DESIGNATION OF SORTING POSTMAN-CLARIFICATION.

D.G. Posts No. 25-20/2008-PE.I dated 12th July, 2011.

Please refer to this Directorate's letter of even number dated 04.05.2011 vide which the post of Sorting Postman has been re-designated as Postman and both Postman and Sorting Postman have been given a common generic designation Postman.

2. During the meetings of the Staff Federations with the Secretary (Posts), the Federations have raised following issues in connection with the implementation of the ibid order in the fields:
(i) Circles are either abolishing or redeploying the posts of Sorting Postman. Such posts may be restored.
(ii) All the Postman are being put on the job of Beat Sorting at a time.

3. This is wrong interpretation and implementation of the said order of the Directorate. Nowhere in the order is it mentioned that posts of Sorting Postman are either to be abolished or redeployed and all the Postmen are to be put on the Beat Sorting work at a time. In fact, the order is very lucid that post of Sorting Postman is re-designated as Postman. Therefore, such abolished or redeployed posts of Sorting Postman may be restored immediately. The designation of the existing Sorting Postman may not be changed.

4. Further, in the third para of the aforesaid order, it is indicated that concerned Divisional Head or Sr. Postmaster has to work out the exact requirement of Postmen required for Beat Sorting on the basis of the total number un-registered mail received for delivery as per the existing norms. Hence, concerned authorities in the Division to decide the number of Postmen to be put on the Beat Sorting job on the basis of existing norms. Thus, all the postmen are not to be put on the Beat Sorting work at a time. Rather, each one of them should be assigned the said job on turn-by-turn basis while observing the existing norms.

5. Further, the number of postmen deployed for Beat Sorting should be to ensure that Beat Sorting, is completed one hour before the postmen leave for delivery so that necessary documentations and procedural requirement could be completed, which are necessary for carrying out the delivery effectively.

6. It, is therefore, requested to please look into the issue personally and ensure correct and effective implementation of the Directorate's order dated 04.05.2011.
7. It may please be accorded Top Priority.

This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.

INDIA POST TO LOSE ITS MONOPOLY; GOVT. FORCES COURIER COS TO CHARGE DOUBLE RATES

NEW DELHI: A planned overhaul of a 113-year-old postal law proposes to end government monopoly completely in the next decade and a half, but, ironically, sets the clock back for courier companies, which are governed by a different policy at present. The draft Post Office Bill 2011 aims to open the letter mail segment to the private sector in 15 years by withdrawing all exclusive rights to India Post and removing all pricing curbs on private courier companies. The Department of Posts has sent the draft bill for cabinet approval to replace the archaic Indian Post Office Act 1898. The amendment will also provide greater legitimacy to the courier industry.

"Considering the role of couriers in the present economy, opening up the letter mail sector to them will not only accord legitimacy to the private operators but also would be recognition of market reality," said an official in the department privy to the cabinet note. Courier companies are not celebrating, though. They say the transition regime proposed is too harsh and could end up killing the over Rs 7,000-crore domestic industry that engages nearly one million workers and pays Rs 1,200 crore in service tax.

In the run-up to the complete deregulation , the draft bill has proposed to open the express mail segment (EMS) with a "reserve area" of 50 gm for all articles at a price multiple of twice the government EMS rate. That is, a courier firm will have to charge at least Rs 50 for a package weighing up to 50 g, which is twice the Rs 25 charged by India Post for its Speed Post service for a similar package. At present, couriers are allowed in the EMS segment without any restriction or price, making the market fiercely competitive. The reserve area regulation will give India Post time to prepare for a more competitive regime.

"The proposal to have a reserve area for EMS is unfair and will lead to anti-competitive behavior by the postal department," said Vijay Kumar, chief operating officer, Express Industry Council of India . It could lead to the extinction of the courier industry, he said. Introduced in 1986, Speed Post is the only EMS service provided by India Post. The department has strongly defended the proposal to impose a reserve area by citing international examples. Globally, postal deregulation has been in phases and exclusive rights for state-run postal business still exist in many countries. In India, the courier industry has run ahead of the postal laws because it was allowed under the foreign direct investment regime, which allows 100% overseas investment in the business. International courier companies, such as DHL, TNT, FedEx and UPS, secured FIPB approval under the 100% FDI route.

The bill will now recognize them under the postal law, but the proposed transition turns the clock back somewhat by imposing restrictions that did not exist earlier. "Over 60% of the business for small- and medium-sized courier business in India is dependent on document delivery, which is typically within the 50 gm weight segment ," said RK Saboo, deputy managing director, First Fight Couriers. The proposal was retrogade and would force small courier firms to close down, he said.

The private industry is also not enthused by the entry in the normal mail business, or letter mail segment , where the draft bill has fixed a reserve area of Rs 150 gm for all registered couriers at a price multiple of Rs 2 times the postage of letter mail. The industry says India Post service is highly subsidized, which industry says will make it difficult for it to compete. The bill, which is likely to be introduced in the forthcoming monsoon session of Parliament, has also proposed to simplify registration and licensing of couriers without charging any fees. Most large domestic courier companies in the country like DTDC, First Flight and Skypak are all registered with the Registrar of Companies
Source: The Economic Times. July 9, 2011