Irregular Transfer Order of Com. B Samal, Postmaster, Ashoknagar MDG ( Divnl. Secy, AIPEU, Gr.-C, Bhubaneswar) stands modified

Irregular Transfer Order of Com. B Samal, Postmaster, Ashoknagar MDG ( Divnl. Secy, AIPEU, Gr.-C, Bhubaneswar) stands modified

Dear Comrades,

As you know, Com. B Samal, Postmaster, Ashoknagar MDG, Bhubaneswar – 751 009  and Divisional Secretary, AIPEU, Group-C, Bhubaneswar  had been transferred from Ashoknagar MDG, Bhubaneswar – 751 009 to College Square MDG, Cuttack – 753 003 vide Circle Office Memo No.ST/26-14(2)/2014(Postal), dated 19.04.2016 and he was the only regular HSG-I official in Odisha Circle to be transferred as such. 

Com. Samal was regularly promoted to HSG-I cadre along with 28 others including 19 Fast Track officials vide Circle Office Memo No. ST/26-15/2013, dated 16.05.2013 and joined as Postmaster, Ashoknagar MDG, Bhubaneswar – 751 009 on 20.05.2013. Thus, as on date Com. Samal has not completed the post tenure of 4 years either in HSG-I cadre or as Postmaster, Ashoknagar MDG, Bhubaneswar – 751 009. This apart, he is also holding the post of Divisional Secretary, AIPEU, Group-C, Bhubaneswar Division and he has never availed immunity from transfer so far. 

In spite of categorical submission of the above facts to Circle office,  the above transfer order was released on the plea of completion of station tenure of 6 years in Bhubaneswar including ad-hoc period in HSG-I cadre. 

Soon after the receipt  of the Memo, an emergent Working Committee Meeting of AIPEU, Group-C, Bhubaneswar Divisional branch was held on 20.04.2016 and the fact was immediately brought to the notice of Circle Union, CHQ and Confederation. Hundreds of NFPE members of Bhubaneswar Division from all cadres ( P As, Postman, MTS & GDS etc) gathered in the campus of Chief PMG Office in the morning on 21.04.2016 to protest against the injustice done to Com. Samal which was personally observed by the Chief PMG, Odisha Circle before entering into office. Soon, Com. R C Mishra, Circle Secretary arrived in the campus and suggested the gathering not to react negatively before discussion with the Chief PMG. Then, both Com. Samal and Com. Mishra met the Chief PMG, Odisha Circle  in his chamber who gave a patient hearing to the grievances of Com. Samal in the presence of Shri D P Dash, AD(Staff), Shri S K Mohapatra, APMG (Vigilance) and Shri D K Samal, AD(PMU) and a cordial discussion went on for about 15 to 20 minutes. Com. Samal requested the Chief PMG to ask the AD(Staff) to justify the transfer with rulings which allow non-gazetted staff members to be transferred on completion of station tenure and if so the methodology of calculating the periodicity of 6 years.  

The Chief PMG directed the AD (Staff) to come with rulings. Showing the transfer guidelines issued by the Department on 31.01.2014, the AD ( Staff ) tried to convince the Chief PMG.   

But Com Samal argued that  the condition of station tenure for non-gazetted staff has been abolished vide DG P & T letter No.69/49/72-SPB, dated 29.08.1973 and No. 69/49/71-SPB I, dated 2 12.1971 where in it has been categorically instructed to transfer such officials to some other post in the same station on completion of tenure. The tenure for non-gazetted Postmasters including HSG is 4 years (DG P & T Letter No. 69/15/79-SPB-I, dated 14.02.1980). In addition, as per Para 4 (xi) of Directorate’s letter No. 141-141/2013-SPB.II, dated 31.01.2014 (circulating transfer policy) Gazetted and Non-Gazetted staff will not be transferred from a post before completion of the prescribed tenure. 

Secondly, it was also argued that the above memo under reference is quite surprising that out of 29 HSG-I officials promoted and joined with Com. Samal, he was the only official to be targeted as such though some of them have opted for Postmaster Cadre and some have retired in the meantime (not all).   

The above facts and figures had already been intimated to the Chief PMG through eMail by Com. P K Pattnaik, Divisional President on 20.04.2016. The Chief PMG, Odisha Circle told that he had already gone through the representation. 

We noticed that without going for further discussion, the Chief PMG directed the A D (Staff) to grant extension for one year since Shri Samal holds the post of Divisional Secretary. Actually no extension was required except cancellation since the memo was quite irregular and issued in contravention to the existing rules. To avoid further arguments and to bring instant solution, we agreed to the proposal of the Chief PMG. 

Again in the recently concluded Circle Working Committee-Cum-Council Meeting from 22.04.2016 to 24.04.2016 at Khurda, the above incident was seriously condemned and the steps taken by the members of Bhubaneswar Division in association with the Circle Secretary was appreciated by all. 

An unanimous resolution has been adopted in the above meeting to protest against the unruly activities of the Circle Office in applying all those rules in transferring non-gazetted staff which should have been applied to others. 

The modified Memo was released vide C O Memo No. ST/26-14(2)/2014(Postal), dated 22 / 26.04.2016. (reproduced below for information of the common members). 

The members of Bhubaneswar Division though happy with the modification are not at all satisfied with the reasons cited in the modified memo. 

The struggle has just begun. The Circle Secretary is soon going to submit a memorandum in accordance with the resolutions adopted in the recently concluded CWC of Odisha Circle. 

Com. B Samal expresses his deep gratitude and thanks to all the NFPE members of Bhubaneswar Division in general and our Circle Secretary in particular for extending their fraternal solidarity  to change the irregular Memo.