Question : GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS

(a) whether the Government has issued any guidelines for appointment of Extra-Departmental Employees/Gram Dak Sevaks in the Department of Posts;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has any proposal to regularise the services of Gramin Dak Sevaks;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the number of Extra-Departmental Employees/Gramin Dak Sevaks who have served for more than a decade are being sent out of service without any fault;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to reinstate those employees?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI GURUDAS KAMAT)

(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. The guidelines for appointment of Gramin Dak Sevaks are given in the Annexure.

(c) No, Madam. The Gramin Dak Sevaks work on a part-time basis ranging from 3 to 5 hours per day and they are governed by separate set of Conduct & Employment Rules, which are non-statutory in nature and not framed under Article 309 of the Constitution of India. Hon’ble Supreme Court of India held that the Gramin Dak Sevaks are holders of civil posts but outside the regular civil service.

(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.

(e) to (g) If a Gramin Dak Sevak Post is rendered surplus, the incumbent is accommodated in the alternative post in the following manner:-

(i) The surplus Gramin Dak Sevak is accommodated as far as possible under the accounts jurisdiction of the Sub Office where he is working subject to availability of vacancies and also fulfillment of the conditions of educational qualification prescribed for the post, etc.

(ii) If there is no vacancy in the Branch Offices under the Accounts jurisdiction of the Sub Office, the surplus Gramin Dak Sevak is informed of the details of the vacancies available in the whole division/sub division and he is asked to exercise option for choosing the post.

(iii) If he is not willing, his name is kept in the waiting list which is maintained for two years offering him any vacancy that may arise subsequently in the Accounts jurisdiction of the Sub Office and if he refuses to avail himself of the opportunity, his name is deleted from the waiting list.