Clarification on premature closure of TD accounts - SB ORDER NO. 33/2011

SB ORDER NO. 33/2011

F.No.113-01/2011-SB

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi-110001, Dated: 13.12.2011

To

All Heads of Circles/Regions

Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.       

Subject:-                                Issue of clarifications regarding premature closure of TD accounts.

Sir / Madam,

The undersigned is directed to refer to this office SB Order No. 27/2011 dated 24.11.2011 vide which decisions taken by Min. of Finance regarding changes in POTD scheme effective from 1.12.2011 were circulated.

2.             Some circles have asked for clarifications regarding applicability of reduction in interest rate to be charged on premature closure of TD accounts to the old accounts. It is clarified that:-

(i)            In case of premature closure of 1 Year, 2 Year, 3 Year or 5 Year account which were opened even before 1.12.2011, if the deposit is withdrawan after 6 months but before the expiry of one year from the date of deposit, simple interest at the rate applicable to from time to time to post office savings account shall be payable. The rate of interest shall be 3.5% up to the period 30.11.2011 and 4% thereafter.

(ii)           In case of premature closure of 2 Year, 3 Year or 5 Year account which were opened even before 1.12.2011, if the deposit is withdrawan after the expiry of one year from the date of deposit, interest on such deposits shall be                calculated at the rate, which shall be one per cent less than the rate which was applicable at the time of opening of TD account. Interest calculation tables for the TD accounts opened before 1.12.2011 and opened on or after 1.12.2011 and applied for premature closure on or after 1.12.2011 are enclosed.

3.             It is requested that this clarification and interest calculation table may be circulated to all post offices immediately for information and necessary guidance please.

4. This issues with the approval of DDG(FS)

Yours faithfully,

(Kawal Jit Singh)

Assistant Director (SB)

Encl:- as above

Provision of Toll free numbers for PLI/RPLI purpose

The following Toll free Numbers have been provided at PLI Directorate New Delhi to give  improved services to the Customers in PLI/RPLI matters.  Customers can  dial either of these two numbers from any where in the country free of cost  for any information or grievance redressel.

Toll free Numbers : 155232  and  18001805232    

Postal Assistant/Stg Assistant- Revised recruitment rules 2011

Department of Posts has notified Department of Posts ( Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants) (Group-C Non-gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2011.  These have been published in Official Gazette on 3.11.2011.  They come into force from the date of publication in Official Gazette.

For direct recruitment 10+2 or 12 Standard candidates with atleast 60% marks with English as compulsory subject [ excluding vocational stream], 55% for OBC and 45% for SC/ST will be eligible.

GDS should have obtained 50% marks in +2 or 12th standard with English as a Compulsory subject and should have put in minimum 5 years service.They should be within 30 years of age (35 years for those belonging to Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and 33 years for other Backward Classes).

Post Office Savings Deposits to earn Higher Interest

 Post office savings bank deposits without any fixed maturity will earn interest of 4 per cent up from 3.5 per cent now.

And interest rates on other small saving instruments, such as the National Savings Certificate, will be indirectly linked to the market. The new rates could be notified from July 1, 2011 for the current fiscal year.

High interest rates offered by the banks seem to be luring people to withdraw money from the small savings. The Government was expecting Rs 24,182 crore through small savings during this fiscal, but till date far from any fresh accretion, there has been a net outflow of approximately Rs 11,000 crore. This means people withdrew more money than making fresh deposits.

There is also a proposal to discontinue the Kisan Vikas Patra scheme.

Ms. Manjula Praher is new Secretary, Posts

Ms. Manjula Prasher, an IPoS (1976) has taken over the charge of the Secretary (Posts)/ Chairperson, PSB/ DG (Posts), Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001 wef 01.11.2011F.N.

Validity of cheques, drafts cut to 3 months

NEW DELHI: Come April 1, 2012, your cheques and bank drafts will have a life of just three months instead of the earlier six. 

 In a notification on Friday evening, the Reserve Bank of India said these instruments will have to be presented within three months from the date of issue as it has been brought to its notice by the government that some persons were taking undue advantage of the sixmonth validity of cheques/drafts/pay orders/banker's cheques by circulating them like cash for this period.

For customer awareness, banks have been asked to print the change on cheques and drafts that will be issued from April 1, 2012.

Over the last few years, a system had evolved in which a cheque issued in favour of person A would be transferred to person B, on receipt of a commission, as banks were willing to credit them into someone else's account. With the new norms, RBI hopes to reduce such misuse . RBI also asked banks to ensure that account payee cheques and drafts are only credited to accounts of the person named in the instrument.

Although the break up was unavailable , bankers said the move would affect individuals more as companies usually deposit cheques and drafts within hours of receiving them as they do not want to lose out on any interest income.

Source: Economic times

Passenger Reservation System (PRS) centre is inaugurated at Jogipet SO

I am very much delighted to inform you that Railway Reservation centre is inaugurated at Jogipet SO. You are all hereby requested to utilize the service as and when required.

What is Post Forum?

• A system to foster better relationship with clients and to create a ready responsiveness to public needs. The Post Forum was introduced on 10.09.90. Post Forum is a representative body of users of a post office to advise the post office on matters of its service in public interest conceived in the widest sense. It shall consist of not more than 7 (seven) Members. They shall be users of the Post Offices. It will meet once every three months. However, in the initial phase, it would be appropriate to conduct meeting once in two months and after initial three to four meetings, the periodicity of meeting may be once in three months. To keep the focus on the relevant issues, it is most important that the Post Forum shall discuss the issues relating to the Post Office for which it was formed. 
• It is a body set up by the Divisional Head in a Post Office consisting of Postmaster, Customer groups and post office supervisors.

• The Postmaster is the head of the Post Forum.

• It is a platform for both Post Office and customers to know each other closely.

• It is a forum to know customer needs.

• It is a Forum to tell our .expectation from the customers.

• It is a platform to tell about ourselves to customers.

• It is a collective effort to identify the problems.

• It is a collective platform to recommend changes.

• It is a forum to bring people closer to the post offices.

• It is a change agent to bring improvement in the Services and work culture.

• It builds bond of cooperation and mutual respect.

LAUNCH OF INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE IN POST OFFICES IN ASSOCIATION WITH MONEYGRAM

The Department of Posts has entered into an International Cooperation Agreement with MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc., USA to offer to the general public the MoneyGram International Money Transfer Service through selected Post Offices in India. This service has been launched on 29^th September 2011 by Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development, Communications & IT in the presence of Shri Sachin Pilot, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications & IT.  This service is offered through the following 100 Post Offices initially. (Delhi Circle-20, Punjab Circle-40 & Tamilnadu Circle-40)

Observation of World Post Day on 9 th October

World Post Day is celebrated on October 9, remembering this date for the establishment of Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.

It was first celebrated at UPU congress which was held in 1969 in Tokyo, Japan.Since then, World Post Day is being celebrated all over the world highlighting the importance of postal services.

In continuation of World Post Day, India Post will celebrate  National Postal Week from 9thOctober to 14 th October as follows.
Oct-09  :   World Post Day 

Oct - 10  :   Saving Bank Day

Oct - 11  :   Mail day
Oct - 12  :   Philatelic day
Oct - 13  :   Business Development day
Oct - 14  :   Postal Life Insurance Day

Dearness allowance orders issued by Finance Ministry

Finance Ministry has issued the order for enhancing the Dearness allowance from 51% to 58% with effect from 1st July 2011. The arrears will be paid in cash. These orders of the Finance Ministry are to be  endorsed by DOPT and again by Dept of Posts for its implementation.

Removal of ceiling of maximum balance to be retained in PO SB account - amendment to Rule - 4 of POSB Accounts Rules-1981

                                                         SB ORDER NO. 20/2011

No. F.No.113-23/2005-SB

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi-110001,

Dated: 27.09.2011

To All Heads of Circles/Regions/ Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.

Subject:- Removal of ceiling of maximum balance to be retained in a post office savings account- amendment to Rule-4 of the Post Office Savings Account Rules 1981 regarding.

Sir/Madam,

The undersigned is directed to say that issue of removal of ceiling of Rs.1 lac in single savings account and Rs.2 Lac in Joint Savings Account fixed in the year 2000 was under consideration in the Min. of Finance (DEA). This issue was linked to the benefit of exemption in Income Tax on the interest earned in Post Office Savings Account under Section10(15) (i) of Income Tax Act, 1961 by the CBDT and Min. of Finance (DEA). After sustained efforts on the part of this Directorate, Min. of Finance (DEA) has now amended Rule-4 of the Post Office Savings Account Rules 1981 vide G.S.R.681(E) F.No.2/5/2006-NS-II dated 15.9.2011 (copy enclosed). Some major benefits of this amendment are given below:

(i) From 1.10.2011, there will be no limit for retaining balance in single as well as joint savings account.

(ii) A depositor or depositor(s) can deposit any amount into single as well as joint savings account.

(iii) Maturity value of any savings instrument can be credited into savings account of the depositor standing in the same post office irrespective of the balance in the account.

(i) Any cheque either issued by Postmaster or any other authority irrespective of any amount can be credited into post office savings account irrespective of the balance in the account.

(ii) From the Financial year 2011-12, Interest income of Rs.3500/- in the case of single account and Rs.7000/- in case of Joint account will be exempted from Income Tax. (Section 10(15) (i) of Income Tax Act, 1961 amended vide Notification No. 32/2010 {F.No. 173/13/2011-IT A.I}/S.O.1296(E) dated 03.06.2011)

(iii) It is the duty of the depositor(s) to show the interest income earned from Post Office Savings Account(s) beyond the limit prescribed above in the Income Tax return and pay due Income Tax.

1. It is requested that all field units may be directed to give wide publicity to these changes in the shape of Public Notice and printing of leaflets.

2. This issues with the approval of DDG(FS).

Yours faithfully,

(Kawal Jit Singh)

Assistant Director (SB)

Warm Greetings

Sri. V.Hanumanthu joined as ASP (Hqrs), O/o SPOs, Sangareddy on 12.09.2011 viz. Sri.P.Bhaskar, ASP relieved on transfer to Hyderabad City Region and Sri.A.S.Chalapathi Giri joined as ASP, Sangareddy Sub-Division on the A/N of 29.08.2011 viz. Sri.A.Mallaiah, ASP relieved on transfer to Hyderabad City Region.  We the staff of Sangareddy Division warmly welcome the new incumbents and heartful thanks to outgoing officers.

India Post bags Today's Traveller Award-2011

Department of Posts has won the Today`s Traveller Award for Best Customer Service Organisation for the year 2011. The award was presented by Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of Tourism here on 23rd August 2011.
The award citation says "Department of Posts has done a commendable job in reaching every citizen of India with its path-breaking innovations. There has been a major transformation in Department of Posts’ manpower development, whereby both the front and back office staff and the entire personnel make sincere efforts to understand and address customer`s needs, respond to their inquiries/complaints and provide efficient and reliable services with a good degree of enthusiasm."

HSG I PM is empowered to relieve staff on E.L - Directorate orders

 

No 51-4/2011- SPB – 11

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg

New Delhi – 110001

Dated 01-08-2011

To,

1. All Chief Postmasters General
2. All Postmasters General

Sub: Grant of leave to the staff working under HSG I Postmaster.

Sir / Madam,

It is observed that HSG.I Postmaster is competent to grant only casual leave to the staff working under him/her. The applications for grant of other kind of leave to staff are forwarded by him/her to the Division office for approval. It has been brought to the notice of the Directorate that at times the said procedure takes time and  if such officials who donot have casual leave left in their accounts want to proceed on earned leave immediately to some unforeseen circumstances, they face problems in proceeding on leave at short notice.

2. The matter has been looked into. It has been decided by the competent authority in the Directorate that in such pressing circumstances, HSG I Postmasters while recommending earned leave may relieve the official of his duties in anticipation of grant of leave by the competent authority, provided :

I. The earned leave applied for by the individual is not for more than the period of three days.

II. No substitute is required in case the official proceeds on leave.

III. The leave may be recommended by the HSG I Postmaster by recording that it is being recommended subject to the availability of leave in the credit of the applicant.

IV. The official may be relieved after duly following the procedure of handing/taking over of the charge.

V. If later on the sanctioning authority finds that the official does not have the leave applied for to his credit he should obtain the revised application from the individual for the kind of leave he/she is entitled to at the earliest.

VI. Ef the official needs earned leave for more than three days or wants to extend the earned leave beyond three days he should apply for same well in advance so that it is sanctioned as per the existing procedure.

Yours faithfully,

                                                                                                                                   -Sd-

(B.P.Sridevi)

Director (Staff)

Number of chances to appear LGO examination increased

                                                             No 60-10/2011-SPB-I

Government of india

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhavan, New Delhi-I10116

Dated the 26th July, 2011

Subject: Increase in the number of chances to appear in the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LGO Examination) to fill up the posts of Postal Assistant /Sorting Assistant.

Sir /Madam,

          I am directed to refer to the Directorates letter No. 37-63/98-SPB-I (Pt ) dated 20/26.8.1999 regarding increasing the number of chances to appear n the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LGO Examination) to fill up the posts of Postal Assistant Sorting Assistant from 5 to 6. The matter has since been reviewed and it has been decided by the competent authority to increase the number of chances for OC candidates to appear in the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LGO Examination) to fill up the posts of Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant from 6 to 8. It has also been decided to increase the chances for SC/ST candidates to appear in the said examination to 10 provided there are vacancies reserved for candidates belonging to SC/ST and in case any SC/ST candidate is appointed on the basis of his/her 9^th  or 10^th  chance he/she shall be appointed against the vacancy reserved for SC/ST, as the case may be, irrespective of his/her merit in the examination.

2 It is requested that these instructions may be given wide publicity immediately.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

B P Sridevi

Director ( Staff )

Don't hold meetings/Melas on Sundays & Holidays in a routine manner - orders issued by Directorate

Don't hold meetings/Melas on Sundays & Holidays in a routine manner - orders issued by Directorate

Copy of Directorate Lr. No. 16/56/2011-SR dated  8-7- 2011

To

All Heads of Circles

Subject: - Organizing frequent meetings/melas on holidays and Sundays – denial of legitimate rights to the employees to avail Sundays etc.

Sir/Madam,

I am directed to state that the issue of organizing frequent meetings/melas on holidays and Sundays, thus depriving the employees of their legitimate right to avail the break was considered in a meeting taken by Secretary to discuss charter of Demands served with the notice of indefinite strike w.e.f. 05.07.2011 by Postal Joint Council of Action.

2. While in certain circumstances it may be unavoidable strategically beneficial for the Department to hold meetings/melas etc on holidays and Sundays, it may not be done so in a routine manner. Needless to say, the weekly break and holidays etc. have their own significance and it may be kept in view while calling the officials for duty during the break.

3. This may be brought to the notice of all concerned.

Yours faithfull

Sd/-

(Subhash Chander)

Director (SR & Legal)

Telefax: 23096021

ముసాయిదా పోస్టాఫీస్ బిల్లు-2011'

ముసాయిదా పోస్టాఫీస్ బిల్లు-2011'

తపాలా విభాగం (డిపార్ట్‌మెంట్ ఆఫ్ పోస్ట్స్) కేంద్ర మంత్రి మండలి ఆమోదానికై 'ముసాయిదా పోస్టాఫీస్ బిల్లు-2011'ని పంపింది. స్పీడ్ పోస్ట్ ద్వారా పంపే యాభై గ్రాముల బరువు ఉన్న ఉత్తరాలకు పోస్టాఫీసు వసూలు చేసే చార్జీకి, అంతే బరువు ఉన్న లేఖల బట్వాడాకు కొరియర్ కంపెనీలు విధిగా రెట్టింపు వసూలు చేయాలని ఆ ముసాయిదా బిల్లు ప్రతిపాదించింది.

Holidays and Restricted Holidays for 2012

Holidays and Restricted Holidays for 2012

Holidays and Restricted Holidays during the year 2012 for Central Government Offices and Establishments…

Central Government Organizations which include industrial, commercial and trading establishments would observe upto 16 holidays in a year including three national holidays viz. Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, as compulsory holidays…

ANNEXURE-I (Holidays)

LIST OF HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2012 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LOCATED AT DELHI / NEW DELHI

Sl.	Holiday	Date	Saka Date	Day
1	Republic Day	January 26	Magha 06	Thursday
2	Milad-Un-Nabi or Id-E-Milad (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad)	February 05	Magha 16	Sunday
3	Maha Shivaratri	March 20	Phalguna 01	Monday
4	Holi	March 08	Phalguna 18	Thursday

5	Mahavir Jayanti	April 05	Chaitra 16	Thursday
6	Good Friday	April 06	Chaitra 17	Friday
7	Buddha Purnima	May 06	Vaisakha 16	Sunday
8	Janamashtami (Vaisnava)	August 10	Sravana 19	Friday
9	Independence Day	August 15	Sravana 24	Wednesday
10	Idu'l Fitr	August 20	Sravana 29	Monday
11	Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday	October 02	Asvina 10	Tuesday
12	Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami)	October 24	Kartika 02	Wednesday
13	Idu'l Zuha (Bakrid)	October 27	Kartika 05	Saturday
14	Diwali (Deepavali)	November 13	Kartika 22	Tuesday
15	Muharram	November 25	Agrahayana 04	Sunday
16	Guru Nanak's Birthday	November 28	Agrahayana 07	Wednesday
17	Christmas Day	December 25	Pausa 04	Tuesday

ANNEXURE – II (Restricted Holidays)

LIST OF RESTRICTED HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2012 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LOCAGED AT DELHI/NEW DELHI.

Sl.	Holiday	Date	Saka Date	Day
1	New Year's Day	January 01	Pausa 11	Sunday
2	Makar Sankranti	January 14	Pausa 24	Saturday
3	Pongal	January 15	Pausa 25	Sunday
4	Basanta Panchami / Sri Panchami	February 28	Magha 08	Saturday
5	Guru Ravidas' Birthday	February 07	Magha 18	Tuesday
6	Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti	February 16	Magha 27	Thursday
7	Shivaji Jayanthi	February 19	Magha 30	Sunday
8	Holika Dahan	March 07	Phalguna 17	Wednesday
9	Chaitra Sukladi / Gudi Padava / Ugadi / Cheti Chand	March 23	Chaitra 03	Friday
10	ram Navmi	April 01	Chaitra 12	Sunday
11	Ester Sunday	April 08	Chaitra 19	Sunday
12	Vaisakhi	April 13	Chaitra 24	Friday
13	Vishu	April 14	Chaitra 24	Saturday
14	Mesadi	April 14	Chaitra 25	Saturday
15	Vaisakhadi (Bengal)/Bahag Bihu (Assam)	April 14	Chaitra 25	Saturday
16	Guru Rabindranath's Birthday	May 08	Vaisakha 18	Tuesday
17	Hazarat Ali's Birthday	June 04	Jyaishtha 14	Monday
18	Rath Yatra	June 21	Jyaishtha 31	Thursday
19	Raksha Bandhan	August 02	Sravana 26	Thursday
20	Jamat-UI-Vida	August 17	Sravana 27	Saturday
21	Parsi New Year's day	August 18	Sravana 30	Tuesday
22	Vinayaka Chaturthi	August 21	Sravana 30	Tuesday
23	Onam	August 29	Bhadra 07	Wednesday
24	Ganesh Chaturthi	September 19	Bhadra 07	Wednesday
25	(Maha Saptami Additional)	October 03	Asvina 11	Monday
26	Dussehra (Maha Astami) (Additional)	October 21	Asvina 29	Sunday
27	Dussehra (Maha Navami)	October 23	Kartika 01	Tuesday
28	Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday	October 29	Kartika 07	Monday
29	Karaka Chaturdasi (Karva Chouth)	November 02	Kartika 11	Friday
30	Narak Chaturdasi	November 12	Kartika 21	Monday
31	Deepavali (South India)	November 13	Kartika 22	Tuesday
32	Govardhan Puja	November 14	Kartika 23	Wednesday
33	Bhai Duj	November 15	Kartika 24	Thursday
34	Pratihar Sashthi or Surya Sashthi (Chhat Puja)	November 19	Kartika28	Monday
35	Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom Day	November 24	Agrahayana 03	Saturday
36	Christmas Eve	December 24	Pausa 03	Monday

It may happen that the change of date of the above occasions has to be declared at a very short notice. In such a situation, announcement could be made through T.V. / A.I.R. / Newspapers and the Heads of Department / Offices of the Central Government may take action according to such an announcement without waiting for a formal order, about the change of date.