Grant of paid leave to the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS)
No.17-136/2001-GDS
Ministry of Communications & IT Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan,
Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110 001
Dated: April 24, 2003
Sub. Grant of paid leave to the Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Ref: Directorate OM No. 26-1/97-PC&ED Cell dated 17.12.1998, OM No. 14-2/99- PCC/PAP dated 5.3.1999, OM No.17-115/2001-GDS, dated 21.10.2002 & OM No.17- 136/2001-GDS, dated 10.1.2003
I am directed to invite your kind attention to this office letter No.17-115/2001-GDS, dated 21.10.2002 regulating the substitute and provisional arrangements made in place of regular Gramin Dak Sevaks. Para 8 (i) of the said instructions read:
*8. As per extant orders, a regular GDS is required to provide a substitute at his own risk and responsibility but subject to approval by the appointing authority. Hence it is the duty of the appointing authority to ensure that any ineligible person is not approved as a substitute and any “substitute” arrangement is not allowed to continue for long periods.
Accordingly the following guidelines may inevitably be kept in view while dealing with matters relating to “substitute arrangements” or their continuance:
(i) Before resorting to substitute arrangement the following options may be explored:
(a) In case of short-term arrangements, as far as possible, work will be managed by combining duties, and “substitutes” will not be provided in leave arrangements. In single-handed BOs, the work shall be managed by giving combined duty to GDS
2. Mail Deliverer/Mail Carrier (Gramin Dak Vitaraka/Vahak) of the neighboring BO/SO in whose beat the BO falls.
(b) Even in long term arrangements, the combination of duties as in (a) above will be resorted to; substitutes will be allowed only if work load of the BO as well as the financial position justifies such engagement or filling of the post on regular basis.
(c) In towns and citied, where departmental officials are also available in the same office, the possibility of managing the work by regular staff by combination of duties or by grant of OTA beyond normal working hours may be explored.”
2. Some Circles had sought some clarifications from the Directorate on the issue pertaining to paid leave. If “combination of duties is not feasible can engagement of substitutes be allowed in the case of paid leave also", Directorate had clarified, vide letter No.17-136/2001-GDS, dated 10.1.2003, that combination of duties is as last option while granting paid leave as regular GDS which implied that other options including engagement of substitutes were also open while granting paid leave.
3. Notwithstanding the above clarification, this office continued to receive representations from staff Unions expressing following difficulties due to issuance of above
(i) Combination of duties is affecting employment condition with extended working hours without any additional remuneration.
(ii) GDSS are not being granted paid leave due to misinterpretation of above instructions.
(iii) GDSS are being denied the opportunity to officiate in Postman/Gr. ‘D’ cadres.
4. The matter has been examined and it is again clarified that:
(i) Instructions dated 21.10.2002 do not provide that combination of duties should be resorted to even if the working hours of the combined duties exceed 5 hours. It is for the leave sanctioning authority to ensure that combination of duties whenever reasoned to does not exceed maximum 5 working hours a day of such GDS. In so far as issue of extra remuneration for additional work in concerned, there is already provision of combined duty allowance.
3 (ii) As regard alleged refusal of leave due to wrong interpretation of instructions dated 21. 10.2002, it is clarified that leave should trot be refused to GDSs when combination of dukes is not possible.
(iii) Further, instructions dated 21.10.2002 also do not prohibit making of
officiating arrangement against Group D/Portman cadre by engaging the GDSs. Para
8 (b) stipulates that even in long term arrangement, substitute will be allowed if work load and financial position of BO justifies such engagement 'or filling up of the post.
5. While the basic intention behind the issuing of instructions dated 21.10.2002 was no doubt to regulate and restrict the substitute and provisional arrangements approved/made by the appointing authorities, it was not intended to deny the legitimate leave to the GDSs. As such it is enjoined upon the leave sanctioning authorizes that they will not deny paid leave introduced vide Dtc OM dated 17.12.1998 on the grounds that duties of the GDS proceeding on leave etc cannot be combined with other GDSs/departmental staff.
6. Hindi version will follow.
