Cut-off eligibility date for promotion and calculation of vacancies including chain vacancies

No.25-10/2014-SPG

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

(Personnel Division)

Dak Bhawan, Sarsad Marg,

New Delhi- 110001

Dated: 09th July, 2014

I am directed to refer to above mentioned subject and to enclose herewith an O.M No 22011/6/2A13-Estt(D) dated 28.05.2014 issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DOP&T) vide which it has been provided that the crucial date of eligibility shall be 1st April of the vacancy year in case of financial year based vacancy year i.e. where the Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) are written financial year-wise and in case of calendar year based vacancy year i.e, where APARs are written calendar year-wise, the crucial date of eligibility shall remain as 1st.January of the vacancy year. These instructions shall come into force in respect of vacancy year 2015-16 (financial year) commencing from 1st April, 2015 and vacancy year. 2015 (calendar year) commencing from 1st, January, 2015 and shall, accordingly, be applicable to all such subsequent vacancy years.

2. In respect of all the cadres of the Department of Posts, the APAR of the officials/officers are written financial year-wise and, hence, system of eligibility cut-off date and calculation of vacancies will be financial year-wise from the year 2015-16 onwards in accordance with ibid DOP&T OM for all the cadres. Therefore, the existing system of calendar year for the Circle cadres, wherever being followed, will come to an end with the end of current calendar year i.e. 2014 with advent of new system. The vacancies arising during the period from 1st January to 31st March, 2015 will be merged with the vacancies arising during the financial year 2015-16. This will be first and last kind of adjustment to ensure smooth transition to new system having uniformity acess all the cadres in the Department of Posts so far as calculation of vacancies and eligibility cut-off date are concerned.

3. With regard to ‘Chain Vacancies’, it is mentioned that in Para 7 of DOPT- OM No. 22011/9/98-Estt (D) dated 08.09.1998 (copy enclosed), it is provided that “existing and clear anticipated vacancies in a grade as well as chain vacancies on it account of retirement etc. in the higher grades, which can be clearly anticipated in the same vacancy year, may be taken into account by the DPC. Subsequently, DOP&T vide their OM No. 22011/9/98-Estt (D) dated 06.10.1999 (copy enclosed) issued further instructions on the issue in consultation with the UPSC stating that chain vacancies on account of retirement etc. in the higher grades in a vacancy (Panel) year shall include the vacancies which can be clearly anticipated as likely to become available in the concerned grade by promotion of officers of the Service to higher grades during that vacancy (panel) year. Therefore, it is evident that seniority quota vacancies arising in higher grades in a vacancy year will percolate down to the lower cadres/grades and should be taken into account along with the clear vacancies arising in a particular lower grade.

4. Keeping in view the above instructions of DOP&T, it has been decided that:

(I) For eligibility cut-off date and calculation of vacancies:

(a) System of eligibility cut-off date and calculation of vacancies will be financial Year- wise from the year 2015-16 onwards in accordance with ibid DOP&T OM for all the cadres in the Department and the eligibility cut-off date will be 1st April.

(b) The existing system of calendar year for the circle cadres, wherever being followed, will come to an end with advent of new system year for the Circle cadres, wherever being followed to an end of current calendar year i.e.2014 with advent of new system.

(c) The vacancies arising during the period from 1st January to 31st March, 2015 will be merged with the vacancies arising during the financial year 2015-16. This will be first and last kind of adjustment to ensure smooth transition to new system having uniformity across all the cadres in the Department of Posts so far as calculation of vacancies and eligibility cut-off date are concerned.

(II) For calculation and inclusion of ‘Chain Vacancies’:

(a) In respect of taking into account the chain vacancies of Postal Service Group ‘B’/ Sr. Postmaster and above cadres (which are all India cadres) for Circle’s cadres, a Circle will take into account vacancies arising from HAG to PS Group’B’/Sr. Postmaster cadres due to death/retirement/resignation/deputation/ VR etc. in that Circle in a particular recruitment year as chain vacancies for lower cadres in addition to existing/anticipated vacancies in the said lower cadre arising in that vacancy year. For example, if a CPMG (in HAG) retires in a Circle, the said Circle will take into account that vacancy as chain vacancy in all the Circle level cadres. Similarly, it will be applicable to vacancies arising in SAG, JAG, STS, JTS & PS Group ‘B’, Sr. Postmaster cadres in the hierarchy concerned in that Circle.

(b) Circle will factor in the vacancies arising in a vacancy year in Circle level Group’B’ cadres viz. ASPs, lPs, HSG-1, HSG-ll, PM Grade-lll, PM Grade II etc. as chain vacancies for feeder cadres (lower cadres) in the hierarchy concerned in addition to existing/anticipated vacancies in the said lower cadre arising in that vacancy year.

(c) Circle will undertake similar exercise for other Circle cadres while workings out the ‘chain vacancies’ and existing/anticipated vacancies of a cadre. A sheet showing the tree of chain vacancies upto Group’B’cadres is also annexed facilitating effective and correct calculation of vacancies. It is requested to ensure compliance and action as per the above in respect of cut-off eligibility date for promotion and calculation of vacancies:, including chain vacancies.

5. A sheet showing the tree of chain vacancies upto Group ‘B’ cadres is also annexed facilitating effective and correct calculation of vacancies.

6. It is requested to ensure compliance and action as per the above in respect of cut-off eligibility date for promoticn and calculation of vacancies, including chain vacancies.

sd/-

(Raj Kumar)

Director (Staff)