Gazetted Status to HSG-I Cadre

Request for Grant of Gazetted Status to HSG-I Cadre - reg.

SIVAJI VASIREDDY

Secretary General

No. FNPO/HSG-I/Gazetted Status dated 11.02.2026

To

The Secretary &

Chairman Postal Services Board,

Dak Bhawan,

New Delhi -110001.

Respected Madam,

Subject: Request for Grant of Gazetted Status to HSG-I Cadre – reg.

Ref: My Federation letter of even number dated 13.08.2025.

On behalf of the FNPO Federation, the following few lines are submitted for your kind personal notice, perusal, and favourable consideration.

We wish to draw your kind attention to a serious administrative anomaly prevailing in the Department of Posts regarding the appointment of Head of Office (HO) and Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) in Head Post Offices.

As you are aware, the Department of Posts is a Central Government organization governed by the same financial regulations as other Central Government departments. However, it is observed that the standards prescribed under the General Financial Rules (GFR), Delegation of Financial Powers Rules (DFPR), and guidelines followed under CAG oversight are not being implemented in letter and spirit in this matter.

In this context, we respectfully submit the following points for your kind consideration:

Violation of Rule 13 of DFPR and GFR 2017: As per the rules, a Head of Office should authorize only a Gazetted Officer to function as DDO. While all other Central Government departments strictly follow this principle, in the Department of Posts, Selection Grade Postal Assistants (Non-Gazetted Operative Staff) are frequently required to perform these duties.

Convenience Over Compliance: It is observed that, in some cases, responsibilities of sensitive financial nature are delegated to subordinate staff, which appears to be driven by administrative convenience rather than strict compliance with financial rules. Such staff are not treated as competent authorities for these roles in other Central Government departments under CAG guidelines.

Risk of Audit Objections and Recovery Issues:

The DDO is responsible for maintaining Cash Books, reconciling bank accounts, and authorizing payments from the Consolidated Fund of India. If such documents are signed by officials who are not Gazetted, it may create legal and procedural vulnerabilities. Any financial irregularity in such circumstances may result in audit objections and complications in fixing responsibility.

Lack of Statutory Protection:

A Selection Grade PA does not possess the statutory authority required to handle compliance matters such as GST and Income Tax returns of the department. This practice places staff under undue mental stress and professional risk without adequate legal safeguards.

Need for Administrative Accountability:

Appointment of Gazetted Officers such as ASPs/AAOs as DDOs would ensure greater accountability, financial discipline, and professional handling of government funds, in line with the framework envisaged by the Ministry of Finance.

In view of the above, appointing Non-Gazetted staff as DDOs in Head Post Offices appears inconsistent with the spirit of GFR 2017 and DFPR. Grant of Gazetted Status to the HSG-I cadre or suitable administrative reforms in this regard would be a progressive step to bring the Department of Posts in line with the standards followed in other Central Government Ministries and Departments.

My Federation therefore request your kind and favourable consideration of this justified demand and early necessary action.

Yours sincerely,

(SIVAJI VASIREDDY)

Secretary General

Copy to:

The Member (P), Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001 for information and with a request to take immediate necessary action.