Meeting Minutes on Postal Employee Concerns

SR-08/1/2025-SR-DOP (Part-I) dated 12/09/2025

From: Government of India, Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts (SR Section)
Date: September 2025
Subject: Minutes of the Meeting held on 20.08.2025 with the Bharatiya Postal Employees Federation.

Purpose: To record the discussions and decisions from a meeting between Department of Posts officials and representatives of the Bharatiya Postal Employees Federation (BPEF).

Key Attendees:

• Department of Posts (DoP): DGPS, Member (O), Member (P), CVO, various DDGs (Personnel, Estates, MO, Estt).
• Federation Representatives: A large delegation (30+ people) led by Mr. Anant Kr. Pal, Secretary General, BPEF, including leaders from various affiliated unions (Postal Administrative, Employees Gr. C, RMS, Mail Guard & MTS, Postman & MTS, etc.).

Meeting Summary:

1. The Secretary (Posts) welcomed the participants and congratulated the unions for their support during the implementation of the major IT 2.0 modernization initiative.
2. The Secretary emphasized the evolving role of India Post beyond traditional mail, highlighting its contribution to financial services and citizen-centric utilities.
3. Reforms and enhanced benefits in Postal Life Insurance (PLI) schemes were mentioned.
4. The Secretary urged the federation representatives to withdraw their proposed strike and continue cooperating for the department's growth.
5. The union representatives appreciated the meeting and the department's welfare actions over the past year.
6. 41 specific demands from the unions were discussed in detail. The department's response or decision on each demand is recorded in a detailed annexure (summarized below).

Conclusion: The meeting served as a forum for discussion between the department and its employees' federation. While the department acknowledged the concerns and provided updates on many issues, several major demands (like pay, higher insurance, and gratuity for GDS) are dependent on decisions from other ministries (MoF, DoE, Health) or are under examination. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks.

Extracted List of 41 Demands and Decisions

Document: Minutes of the Meeting with Bharatiya Postal Employees Federation (20.08.2025)
Source: Government of India, Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts

1. Demand: Immediately issue orders to stop allotting targets for incentive work & indoor staff. Stop daily "Login Day tortures".
Decision: Staff should be motivated to work each day, eliminating the need for any "Login Day".

2. Demand: Merge 50% DA with Basic pay due to delay in the 8th Pay Commission.
Decision: This matter pertains to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

3. Demand: Fix the pay of Re-employed Ex-Servicemen as per a specific 1986 DoP&T OM.
Decision: The matter was sent to DoP&T, which returned it with comments. It is still under consideration.

4. Demand: Grant 52 days of extra salary or Earned Leave for working 52 extra Saturdays.
Decision: Rules for compensatory leave/overtime are already covered by existing DoP&T guidelines (referenced OMs from 1976 & 1991). A clarifying letter was issued in 2020.

5. Demand: Stop recovery from subsidiary offenders; recover only from principal offenders.
Decision: Instructions have already been issued to all Circles. A workshop will be organized.

6. Demand: Stop harassment of GDS by allocating combination of duties with other offices.
Decision: Instructions clarify that combination of duties is to be done within the same office only.

7. Demand: Increase GDS Group Insurance to ₹5 lakhs and Gratuity limit to ₹5 lakhs.
Decision: MoF did not agree to increase GIS. The ₹1.5L gratuity cap was set after balancing welfare and financial implications.

8. Demand: Include GDS officials in the purview of the 8th Pay Commission.
Decision: The matter was referred to the Department of Expenditure (DoE). A reminder was sent. Reply is awaited.

9. Demand: Review the GDS-SDBS scheme to enhance the limit.
Decision: The proposal had huge financial implications and would widen the revenue deficit. The matter was dropped.

10. Demand: Grant Group Medical Health Insurance of ₹10 lakhs to GDS staff.
Decision: Ministry of Health declined, stating CGHS is not being extended to new groups due to stretched resources.

11. Demand: Regulate all LSG, HSG II, and HSG I officiating arrangements with pay within a month.
Decision: Existing instructions from 2011, reiterated in 2022 and 2025, govern this. They have been re-circulated.

12. Demand: Extend service association facilities to the Bhartiya Postal, RMS, Administrative Supervisors Association.
Decision: The matter has been referred to DoP&T for clarification.

13. Demand: Stop abolition of MMS and restore merged/abolished RMS sections & mails.
Decision: The requirement of sections is examined based on operational and financial aspects case-by-case.

14. Demand: Stop combination of Postman beat duties. Fill all vacancies under Mission Mode Recruitment.
Decision: Filling vacancies is a continuous process at the Circle level. An exam for all backlog vacancies is scheduled for 31.08.2025.

15. Demand: Fill 4 Superintendent Sorting (RMS) posts through HSG I (RMS) officials from the gradation list.
Decision: Necessary action is being taken to fill these directorate-level posts.

16. Demand: Fill 4 AD Recruitment posts through HSG I (CO & RO) officials from the gradation list.
Decision: No specific decision recorded in the provided text.

17. Demand: Restore 10% Seniority quota for Assistants Accounts officer cadre to Senior Accountants.
Decision: A DO letter has been sent to the Cadre Controlling Authority. A reminder will be sent.

18. Demand: Circulate the Administrative powers for HSG II, I & NFG officials.
Decision: The relevant manuals and gazette notifications are already online. A clarifying letter will be circulated.

19. Demand: Grant HSG I NFG to all officials after 2 years without the 10% restriction.
Decision: DoE only approved 235 NFG posts (not 10%). The suggestion will be placed before the new restructuring committee.

20. Demand: Increase HSG I NFG posts by 10% (50 posts) after merging PM Grade III officials.
Decision: It is informed that the Postmaster cadre was merged in 2019.

21. Demand: Convene a review DPC for HSG II/I in Tamilnadu Circle for omitted officials from 2016-18.
Decision: Merger is prospective. Guidelines were issued to protect seniority, so no one is disadvantaged.

22. Demand: Instruct specific Circles regarding HSG II/I notional promotions without applying declination rules from the pre-merger era.
Decision: No specific decision recorded in the provided text.

23. Demand: Fix the inter-se seniority of HSG I officials promoted after a review DPC for 2022-2023.
Decision: Seniority will be fixed as per existing DoP&T guidelines.

24. Demand: Classify Gazetted status for HSG-I cadre officials.
Decision: The proposal was examined and dropped. A new mechanism within existing financial powers will be worked out.

25. Demand: Withdraw the proposed PS Group B RR 2024 and amend the 1993 rules with new quotas.
Decision: The matter is under examination in consultation with DoP&T.

26. Demand: Declare PS Group B LDCE 2023 results immediately based on a CAT judgment.
Decision: The matter is still sub judice. Results will be declared after the final court outcome.

27. Demand: Implement RMS cadre restructuring within 6 months.
Decision: A committee has been constituted for this purpose.

28. Demand: Implement a one-time service condition relaxation to fill all vacant HSG II/I posts.
Decision: Relaxation was given for 2022-23. A new proposal for further relaxation is with DoP&T.

29. Demand: Merge LSG, HSG II, HSG I cadres of other wings (like CO/RO) with Postal cadres.
Decision: A previous merger proposal was withdrawn due to union opposition. A new committee has been formed for composite cadre restructuring.

30. Demand: Withdraw IDC guidelines on article handling. Deploy HSG I officials as in-charge.
Decision: The article numbers are per existing Establishment Norms. Instructions will be reiterated clearly.

31. Demand: Make provisions for out-of-turn promotion for good workers and sports persons.
Decision: Promotions are as per the concerned Recruitment Rules (RRs).

32. Demand: Ensure immediate repairing of all Government quarters.
Decision: Will be done based on priority and availability of budgetary support.

33. Demand: Ensure proper maintenance of RMS Rest Houses.
Decision: Will be done based on priority and availability of budgetary support.

34. Demand: Make special relaxation in Rule 38 transfer for Ex-servicemen, Lady Staff & Sports persons.
Decision: The existing transfer policy already lists preferences (PwBD, compassionate appointment, medical, spouse, general).

35. Demand: Ensure availability of Toilets & recreation rooms for ladies staff in every office.
Decision: Will be done as per need and priority, subject to funds. 187 ladies toilets and 59 feeding rooms have been built since 2021-22.

36. Demand: Immediately increase uniform allowance for postman officials.
Decision: A proposal to increase it to ₹8,500 was rejected by MoF. The allowance was increased by 25% from 01.01.2024 due to DA rise.

37. Demand: Utilize vacant P&T quarters as training centres or sell/lease them to staff.
Decision: Will be done as per need and priority, subject to availability of funds.

38. Demand: Implement DoP&T OM on deciding representations from government servants in a time-bound manner.
Decision: Guidelines are being followed timely.

39. Demand: Ensure timely sanction of Medical, TA, and CEA allowances within one month.
Decision: Instructions have already been issued to clear all allowance claims within one month of receipt.

40. Demand: Provide a one-time relaxation in the 66.66% vacancy rule for Rule-38 transfers of Postman & MTS.
Decision: The limit is for operational continuity. Visibility of vacancies will be provided to Circles from the CEPT system.

41. Demand: Issue directions for officers to behave well with staff. Close official social media groups.
Decision: Field units have been "suitably advised."