Proposal for down-gradation of vacant STS posts -reg.

To,

The Secretary (Posts),

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhl-110001

No. CHQ/POA/25/2025-27. Dated : 08.04.2026.

Respected madam,

Sub:- Proposal for down-gradation of vacant STS posts -reg.

Ref:- 1. Department of Expenditure O.M. No. 7(1)/E.Coord-I/2017 dated 05.01.2024.

2. Department of Posts letter No. Q-25/4/2024-PE-I-DOP dated 27.09.2024.

3. Department of Posts letter No. R-04/13/2024/SPG-DOP dated 15.10.2025.

-o-o-o-o-o-

A kind reference is invited to this association letter no. CHQ/POA/17/2025-27 dated 19.01.2026.

1. Our Association places on record our humble gratitude for settling the long pending hurdles in the process of JTS promotion and is much thankful to all senior officers who had actively involved themselves for ordering the long pending JTS promotion from cadre of PS Group B upto the vacancy year 2025, lighting the lamps of many officers stagnated in the cadre for years together.

2. However, while ordering the said promotion, the termination of Ad-hoc arrangements ordered earlier had created an imbalance in the administration of Circles due to more vacancies in the cadre, besides the personal inconveniences to the officers working on Ad-hoc basis in the middle of the academic year.

3. Considering the hike in the annual targets and implementation of various new products and projects like 24/48Speedpost and Day Definite Delivery etc., managing the Divisions on additional charge becomes so crucial and hectic, leading to reduction in performance and perfection. It has been noticed that in many bigger Circles like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the charge of 3 or 4 Divisions is with a single officer developing enormous pressure on them though they are doing their best to manage the given responsibilities.

4. The situation arises because of huge vacancies in STS cadre ie., out of 102 STS posts, only around 60 officers are working leaving remaining 40 as vacant.

5. In accordance with Point. 10 of OM of Department of Expenditure cited under reference 1, communicated by Department of Posts vide letter cited under reference 2, proposals for temporary / permanent down-gradation of Posts below SAG level [Level 14] can be submitted to Department of Expenditure with proper justification.

6. The justification for down-gradation of STS posts are furnished for kind consideration;

6.1. In the next 2 years viz., 2027&2028 (2027 -5, 2028-7), there are possibilities of filling up only 12 vacancies in STS cadre due to non-availability of eligible officers in JTS cadre

6.2. Further, there is hard chances for filling up of the vacancies arising in STS cadre due to promotion to JAG, in the next 2 years (around 20), resulting further more vacancies in STS cadre

6.3. Down gradation of the STS posts will not increase the financial burden whereas it will help the Department to improve the operational efficiency

6.4. There is no undue advantage to any one because of the down gradation as the Department will get the eligible officers to be promoted to the next level, eliminating the chances of stagnation besides filling up of maximum vacant posts

6.5. Due to the recent increase in the PS Group B cadre and timely promotions ordered, there are sufficient officers in Group B cadre unlike JTS/STS cadre, to manage the resultant vacancies in PS Group B cadre even after the promotion of eligible officers to JTS cadre, being proposed after down gradation of posts from STS to JTS

6.6. Eligible officers will be promoted to the STS cadre from JTS cadre, fulfilling the criteria in future, by upgradation of the temporarily down graded posts without any practical inconveniences

7. Considering all the above, it is requested to

7.1. Order Ad-hoc promotion to the eligible officers for the vacancies in JTS cadre which are identified for filling up through DR quota

7.2. Submit proposal to Department of Expenditure for down-gradation of vacant STS posts where there are remote chances for filling up in the near future

7.3. Simultaneously, initiate the process for filling up of the vacancies due to the proposed down gradation of posts, to avoid operational delay, if the proposal is approved by DoE, being a genuine and justified one on operational and administrative grounds

8. The following are the justification for temporary down-gradation of vacant STS posts:-

8.1. The number of officers eligible for getting promoted to STS posts in next 2 years are as follows:-

Year

No of officers eligible

to be promoted

Remarks

2027

Only 5 officers from DR 2022 are available for consideration.

2028

Only 7 officers from DR 2023 are available for consideration.

And seniority of SLY officers joined during 2024 is yet to be fixed by Directorate taking into consideration of Ad-hoc promotion period.

While of number of eligible officers to get promoted to STS posts are very less, around 20 officers might get promotion from STS posts and join in JAG cadre in next 2 years. This will further reduce the number of officers actually available in STS posts. Hence taking into consideration the need to have proper monitoring at ground level, down-grading vacant STS posts is utmost necessary now.

8.2. Upon down-gradation, the vacant STS posts can be filled up with regular JTS officers, which will help the Department to manage the day-to-day activities smoothly.

8.3. The STS posts can be upgraded again as and when regular promotion is ordered from JTS to STS. While ordering promotion from JTS to STS cadre, equal number of posts, may be upgraded.

8.4. With this arrangement, additional charge in Divisional Head posts will be reduced to larger extent and will help the Department in concentrating on business related activities.

8.5. There will be no additional expenditure for the Department, since posts are downgraded to lower cadre only.

8.6. Officers in PS Group B can be promoted to JTS on regular basis and this will not bring much imbalance in PS Group B cadre since more than 100 officers joined in PS Group B posts recently.

9. Keeping in view the benefits in down-grading vacant STS posts available in the Department, it is kindly requested to;

9.1. Take up the case with Department of Expenditure for down-grading vacant STS posts available in the Department.

9.2. Initiate process of offering regular promotion to PS Group B Officers, to the cadre of Junior Time Scale, equivalent to the number of posts available in DP quota.

9.3. Offer ad-hoc promotion to PS Group B Officers to the cadre of Junior Time Scale, equivalent to the number of posts lying unfilled in DR quota, till such time the posts are regularly filled up through DR quota.

With regards.

(Rajiv Kumar)

General Secretary

Copy to :

The Dy. Director Geneal, Estt. Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110001