Temporary down-gradation of vacant STS posts to JTS level for strengthening field administration – regarding.

 To,

The Secretary (Posts)

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg

New Delhi – 110001

No. CHQ/POA/40/2025-27. Dated: 29.10.2026

Sub: Temporary down-gradation of vacant STS posts to JTS level for strengthening field administration – regarding.

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

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

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

Respected Sir,

Kind reference is invited to this Association's earlier letter No. CHQ/POA/17/2025-27 dated 19.01.2026 & CHQ/POA/25/2025-27 Dated: 08.04.2026 regarding promotion to the JTS cadre.

At the outset the present cadre position of JTS/STS officers calls for an immediate and practical intervention, particularly in the interest of effective administration of Divisions.

 Acute shortage of officers at the supervisory level

Against approximately 102 sanctioned STS posts, only around 60 posts are presently occupied, leaving nearly 40 STS posts vacant.

The vacancy position is having a direct impact on field administration. In several Circles, particularly larger Circles such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Maharashtra, officers are being required to hold additional charge of multiple Divisions. In some cases, a single officer is reportedly managing three or four Divisions.

While the officers concerned are discharging these additional responsibilities to the best of their ability, such arrangements cannot be considered an effective long-term substitute for adequate regular supervisory strength.

The issue has assumed greater importance because of the continuous increase in business targets and the implementation of new products, services and delivery initiatives, including Speed Post 24/48, Day Definite Delivery and other operational programmes. Effective implementation of these initiatives requires adequate supervisory presence at the Divisional level.

The STS vacancy position is unlikely to improve in the immediate future

The peculiar feature of the present situation is that, despite a large number of vacant STS posts, the availability of eligible officers for promotion to STS in the immediate future is very limited.

As per the present position:

Vacancy Year

Officers likely to be available for consideration

2027

5

2028

7

Thus, only around 12 officers are presently expected to become available for consideration for STS promotion during the next two years, subject to fulfilment of the prescribed conditions.

Further, the seniority position of SLY officers who joined during 2024 is yet to be finalised by the Directorate, including consideration of the period of ad-hoc promotion. This may have a further bearing on the availability of officers for promotion to STS.

At the same time, it is understood that around 20 STS officers may become eligible for promotion to JAG during the next two years. Consequently, the existing STS vacancies may increase further.

Therefore, the normal promotional channel alone is unlikely to address the shortage of supervisory officers in the immediate future.

 A practical solution: temporary down-gradation of vacant STS posts

In these circumstances, this Association proposes that vacant STS posts, particularly those which are unlikely to be filled in the near future, may be temporarily down-graded to JTS level with the approval of the competent authority.

The Department of Expenditure O.M. cited at Reference 1, as communicated by the Department vide Reference 2, provides for consideration of proposals for temporary/ permanent down-gradation of posts below SAG level, with proper justification.

The present case, in our considered view, provides a strong operational justification for invoking this provision.

This proposal does not seek creation of additional posts. It seeks only optimum utilisation of already sanctioned but presently vacant posts.

 Why the proposal merits favourable consideration

The proposed arrangement would provide the following benefits:

(i) Immediate strengthening of field administration:

Vacant STS posts can be utilised at JTS level by promoting eligible PS Group 'B' officers.

(ii) Reduction in multiple additional charges:

Availability of additional JTS officers would enable better distribution of Divisional responsibilities and substantially reduce the burden of managing several Divisions by one officer.

(iii) Better supervision and monitoring:

Regular availability of supervisory officers at the Divisional level would improve inspection, monitoring, business development, delivery performance and implementation of new departmental initiatives.

(iv) Better utilisation of available manpower:

The PS Group 'B' cadre presently has a sizeable pool of officers, particularly following recent appointments/promotions. Their utilisation through JTS promotion would address the present mismatch between available manpower and sanctioned posts.

(v) No creation of additional posts:

The proposal involves only temporary utilisation of existing vacant sanctioned STS posts at a lower level. Hence, it does not involve creation of additional posts.

(vi) No permanent alteration of cadre structure:

The arrangement can be made purely temporary and subject to periodic review.

(vii) No prejudice to STS promotion:

The temporarily down-graded posts can be restored to STS level as and when sufficient eligible JTS officers become available for regular promotion to STS.

(viii) Prevention of stagnation:

The proposal would simultaneously provide additional promotional opportunities to eligible PS Group 'B' officers without compromising the future promotional prospects of JTS officers.

5. Simultaneous filling of JTS vacancies

The benefit of temporary down-gradation can be realised only if the resultant JTS vacancies are filled expeditiously.

Accordingly, it is requested that, simultaneously with the proposal to the Department of Expenditure, the Department may kindly initiate:

regular promotion of eligible PS Group 'B' officers to JTS against the posts available under the Departmental Promotion quota; and

ad-hoc promotion of eligible PS Group 'B' officers to JTS against the posts earmarked for Direct Recruitment which remain unfilled, until such vacancies are regularly filled through the DR process and suitable instruction to CPMG for making local arrangement if and when required for administrative as well as operational need,

This would ensure that sanctioned manpower is put to productive use without avoidable delay.

 Temporary and self-correcting mechanism

The proposed arrangement may be structured as a temporary and dynamic mechanism.

The Department may review the position periodically and restore the temporarily down-graded STS posts as and when eligible officers become available for promotion from JTS to STS.

For example, if a particular number of JTS officers become eligible for promotion to STS, an equivalent number of temporarily down-graded posts may be restored to STS level.

Thus, the proposal would neither permanently dilute the STS cadre nor create any structural imbalance. It would merely provide the Department with the flexibility required to address the present mismatch between sanctioned posts, available officers and operational requirements.

 Prayer

In view of the above, this Association earnestly requests the Department to kindly consider the following measures on priority:

Take up for temporary down-gradation of suitable vacant STS posts to JTS level, particularly those posts where there is little likelihood of immediate filling through regular STS promotion.

Initiate the process for regular promotion of eligible PS Group 'B' officers to JTS against the posts available under the Departmental Promotion quota consequent upon such down-gradation.

Consider ad-hoc promotion of eligible PS Group 'B' officers to JTS against unfilled DR-quota vacancies, until such vacancies are filled through regular Direct Recruitment.

Initiate the necessary preparatory action simultaneously so that, immediately upon approval of the proposal by the Department of Expenditure, the resultant vacancies can be filled without further administrative delay.

Provide for periodic review and restoration of the temporarily down-graded STS posts as and when sufficient eligible officers become available for promotion to STS.

In this backdrop, temporary down-gradation of vacant STS posts to JTS level is a balanced, practical, cost-conscious and reversible solution. It would strengthen field administration, reduce the burden of additional charges, improve monitoring and business performance, utilise available manpower more effectively and provide timely career progression to eligible officers.

We, therefore, earnestly request your goodself to kindly accord favourable and expeditious consideration to the proposal and initiate necessary action immediately.

The Association is confident that a favourable decision on this proposal will substantially strengthen the Department's field administration and contribute to improved operational efficiency and service delivery.

    With regards,

Yours faithfully,

(Rajiv Kumar)

General Secretary

Copy to: The Deputy Director General (Estt.) / (Personnal)

                         Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

                         for kind information and necessary.