Tuesday 22 July 2014

MEMORANDUM TO HONORABLE MINISTRY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (SUBMITTED BY CE AT NEW DELHI ON 17/07/2014)

Ref No. NDGBGOA(CE)/General/50/2014 -07                                        Date:-17-07-2014


To
The Hon’ble State Minister for Defence ,
 Ministry of Defence,
Govt. of India,
 South Block,  New Delhi.110011. 

Respected Sir,
                     Sub: Earnest pleas for reprisal of Grievances of Group B Gazetted Officers of    Ordnance Factories – Reg
                              On behalf of the members of the National Defence Group’B’ Gazetted Officers Association of Ordnance Factories, Ministry of Defence, I extend my heartiest congratulations on your assumption of charge as Honorable Minister of State for Defence of our great nation. We sincerely hope that Ordnance Factories will be back on track under your expertise and esteemed leadership. 
                             The Ordnance factories has played a creditable role in the supply of Arms, Ammunitions, Combat Vehicles and Clothing to the Indian Armed forces ,Navy, Air force and Para Military Forces, after Independence. Of late due to certain developments taken place, the Organisation has received setbacks and lost the luster. This has naturally lowered the morale of one and all connected with the Organisation. Now it is time to take strong measures to put the Organisation back on the track and put an end to the squabbles and make it a capable of providing latest requirements of the Armed Forces. It should be capable of reducing our dependency on imports and should be the first choice of the customers. This can be taken care by forming a committee of honest retired senior officers to study the existing conditions and suggest the remedial actions within a framed time.
       Sir, this association has formed recently and could recognize by Govt. of India on 5th July 2013. NDGBGO association represent the Group B Gazetted Officers (middle management level) of Ordnance Factories those have got highest experience in all the level (Production, Planning, Procurement, Administration, etc). This Association is not only limited for the cadre interest but also striving to bring back the Golden History of Ordnance Factories. The middle management cadres who are well known about reality of Ordnance Factories are always neglected by the top bosses and their voice was never been considered in any level (Factories, BOARD or Ministry level). The highest experienced cadre was always being used by top Officers to implement the orders without any discussions.                                                                                                                                                               
          It is deeply regretted that 5th and 6th CPC has demoralized the middle management cadre due to merging the cadres without any financial benefit. CPC has considered the industrial sectors at par with Office work of Central government Department. It is brought to your kind notice that, Government Industrial Organisations are degraded day by day for which more private and public sectors industrial setup is establishing in the country. This can be overcome by JOB EVALUATION SYSTEM in Govt. industrial organization. In the industrial set up in govt. organization, the highest experts of group B officers used to kept aside for decision making process and they were neglected for their deserved pay packages. But it is deeply regretted that the middle management cadre in Govt. Industrial Organisations were never compared with middle management cadre of private and public Industrial sectors which results the demoralization of the whole cadre. If the Back Bone (Middle management cadre) of any organization is not strong then definitely the organization cannot stand as its own.

         Moreover this cadre does not have any forum to address the Grievance of the cadres like Joint Consultative Machinery.  This scheme was introduced in 1966 with the object of promoting harmonious relationship and of securing the greatest measure of co- operation between the Government, in its capacity as employer, and its employees in matters of common concern, and with the object, and further of increasing the efficiency of public service.  However, such Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) scheme has been denied to Group’B’ Gazetted Officers at all the levels. In JCM forum, Group ‘A’ Officers are representing from Officials side and Group C employees are from staff side but there is no representation from Group B Gazetted Officers which results in the deprived position of the cadre. No opportunity has been assigned to Group B Gazetted Officers to express and short out their grievances.     Therefore, this Association is constrained to pray for the intervention of the Honorable Defence Minister in the following matter to undo the injustice that has persisted for decades.   
                 
1-Cadre Review of Group’B’ Gazetted Officers (JWM T/NT) It is brought to your kind notice that even after completion of two decades, the cadre review of Junior works Manager has not been carried out by OF Board.  As mentioned above, 5th and 6th CPC has merged the middle management cadre in Ordnance Factories resulted not only lack of promotional hierarchy but also created much more confusion in functioning of Ordnance Factories. The promotional channel for 7694 JWMs (Group B Gazetted) has been compressed to 188 AWM (Group A) with ratio of 41:1 which is negligible. Our Association has taken up the matter with OF Board as well as MoD many times after which a proposal from OF Board was forwarded to MoD and at present pending at Min. of Finance for approval. This association has suggested some modification in the OF Board Proposal keeping views on Functional requirement without any financial implication which was not been included by OF Board. Your kind intervention is requested in this regard at the earliest please.

2- Granting of MACP in Promotional Hierarchy ( Pending with Min. of Fin.)-  After implementation of Modified Assured Carrier Progression Scheme many Govt. employees has approached to Honorable CAT. In this regard Honorable CAT Chandigarh, as well as Principal Bench, New Delhi, has passed order more than three judgments  for granting MACP in Promotional Hierarchy  for which  Min. of Finance has not  yet issued clear guidelines as a result uniform policy has not been followed in all the Govt. Department.
In this regard OF Board has submitted representation for clarification on granting MACP in promotional hierarchy but it is pending at Min. of Finance. Your kind intervention is requested in this regard at the earliest please.

3-Grievance redressal mechanism’ for Group B – Gazetted officers – Middle management cadre always considered to be the Back bone of Organisation. Group B – Gazetted officers cadre does not have any forum to address the Grievance of the cadres like Joint Consultative Machinery. Group ‘A’ Officers are representing from Officials side and Group C employees are from staff side but there is no representation from Group B Gazetted Officers which results in the deprived position of the cadre. No opportunity has been assigned to Group B Gazetted Officers to express and short out their grievances.     Therefore, this Association is constrained to pray for the intervention of the Honorable Defence Minister to include our cadre for redress of our Grievance.  

4-Incentive scheme for Group B – Gazetted Officers in Ordnance Factories- It is brought to your kind notice that the pay package of a Group B Gazetted Officers is very low as compared to Group B Non Gazetted and Group C employees in Ordnance Factories resulting demoralization of the cadre. After becoming Group B Gazetted cadre all the allowances like Over Time Allowance, PLB, etc were curtailed as a result the monthly salary become less as compared to Non Gazetted Status. Therefore your kind consideration for extending incentive for Gazetted cadre is requested. 

5-Reinitiation of Cancelled Transfer Order of JWMs:-  Sir, OF Board ,Kolkata has published Transfer Order  (vide order no. JTR-60/A/GB/2012 dtd 29-02-2012) of nearly 180 JWMs. But it is a matter of concerned that except transfer of 40 JWMs all other JWMs transfer was materialized. It is deeply regretted that OF Board has cancelled the transfer of 40 JWMS( vide letter no JTR-60/A/GB/2012 dtd  07-12-2012 ) after completion of 10 month by which the Concerned JWMs and their family are facing much more difficulties as all of them has got the transfer in Compassionate ground. NGDGBGOA has discussed this point in various forums at OFB as well as MOD but it was assured all the time but no action has been taken so far. Hence, your kind intervention in this matter is requested to grant the JWMs and their Family a real Justice at the earliest.

6-LDCE for AWM (Group-A) from JWM (Group B) – Sir, in all the department there is a provision of Limited departmental Candidates Examination from Group B to Group A Cadre which is not prevail in our department as a result many Group B Gazetted Officers are Leaving to other Department from our Organisation. Therefore Provision of LDCE from JWM to AWM may be initiated with proper revision in SRO of Group `A’ cadre for better utilization of talent in Group B cadre
7-Approval of  proposed amendments in SRO/RR of JWM T&NT- Sir,O.F.Board has submitted Proposed amendments in SRO of Chargeman and  JWMs  which is pending in MOD for approval. Needful action may please be taken for early approval and amendment of SRO and Recruitment Rules.

 NDGBGOA requests Hon’ble State Minister for Defence for his kind intervention on the above long pending legitimate grievances   of Jr. Works Manager (Group’B’ Gazetted) of Ordnance Factories for enhance their morals.
               With deep regards,
                                                                                                                  Yours truly.
                                                                                                                        -sd-
                                                                                                           ( JAIGOPAL  SINGH )
                                                                                                            GENERAL SECRETARY
COPY TO:-
  1. Hon’bleDefenceSecretary,New Delhi
  2. Hon’bleSecretary,Min. of Finance,New Delhi
  3. Secretary, DefenceProduction,MoD,New Delhi
  4. Jt.Secretary(P&C), DefenceProduction,New Delhi


Friday 18 July 2014

GENERAL SECRETARY VISIT TO MoD AND MoF AND 7th CPC, NEW DELHI



GENERAL  SECRETARY VISIT TO MoD AND MoF AND 7th CPC, NEW DELHI

NDGBGOA HAS TAKEN UP FOLLOWING POINTS AT MINISTRY AND PAY COMISSION

1-    CADRE REVIEW OF JWMs- Cadre review proposal was forwarded to ministry of Finance by MoD. General Secretary has met the concerned authority at Ministry of Finance and requested to expedite at early as possible as JWM cadre review has not been carried out by OFB for last 20 years. The concerned authority has replied that it will be complete by September.

2-      S.R.O for JWMs  - The matter was taken up with MoD and it was replied by MoD ,D Fy-I that  once cadre review completed the it will be easy to include all the cadres Recruitment Rules or otherwise further delay may take place.  

3-      MACP in Promotional Hierarchy- The matter was taken up at MoF and DOP&T and explained about all the Judgments. MoF clarified that no decision has been taken up in this regard.It was requested to take a positive decision at the earliest. 

4-      Revoke of cancelled Transfer order of JWMs by OFB – The matter was taken up at MoD and it was requested to direct OFB to revoke the cancelled transfer.

5-      Submission of Memorandum to Secretary 7th CPC- The memorandum from NDGBGOA was submitted to the secretary 7th CPC  and explained about the problem faced by the cadre in 6th CPC. It was highlighted that Ordnance Factories are Industries/Manufacturing unit which should not be compared as Offices which was done by 6th CPC. Industrial allowances should be considered to all the cadre in Ordnance Factories irrespective of Gazetted and Non Gazetted. 

This is for the information to all the members.

General Secretary/NDGBGOA

Saturday 12 July 2014

NDGBGOA/HAPP Branch COURT CASE AGAINST VIOLATION OF SRO-227

Comments on the reply statement of the respondents against SRO violation case in  OA 852 of 2013


1) As per SRO 227 OFB has to promote 50% of AWM vacancies from the feeder grade ie JWM cadre from the year 2002. As the same was not implemented in true spirit many JWMs retired from the service with utmost dissatisfaction which is against the natural justice.

2)Honorable Judge passed interim order dated 26-06-2013, on recruitmentof AWM through UPSC Advertisement in this OA number , even then theauthorities of OFB have taken actionagain for filling the vacancies through UPSC and to this effect advertisement was published in employment news dated 22-03-2014 by ignoring the interim order passed by the Honorable CAT.

3) In the reply statement submitted to the court, the respondents accepted that as per the recruitment rules 50% of the vacancies to the post JTS is done by promotion from the post of Junior Works Manager (Tech & Non- Tech) and 50% bydirect recruitment through UPSC.

4) Further mentioned that “ the rules nowherestates that 50% of the vacancies are to be filled up by the direct recruitment and the remaining vacancies by promotion as inferred in the para. As a matter of factthe practice that is followed in this regard is that the total number of posts are divided into direct recruits and promote in the ratio of 50:50 and vacancy arising out wastage from JTS promote is filled up by promotion while those vacancies arising out iswastage in JTS direct recruits is filled up by direct recruitment.”

5) The above contention of the respondent is totally misguiding the Honorable court. As per the statement of the respondent, 50% of the posts earmarked for promotion works out to 188 and 187 for direct requirement in terms of SRO227. The SRO 227 is in operation from the year 2002. It means that these 188 posts earmarked for promotion should have been filled by promotion in the year 2002. As per the Promotion policy time bond promotion is operated from AWM (JTS) to WM on completion of 4 years of service as AWM. Had it been followed in true spirit then there would not have been any anomaly.

6) The actual fact can be assessed from the data furnished below.Manpower Inventory in IOFS as on:10/07/2014
Designation Sanctioned Actuals Deputation Total Vacancies SC ST OBC P_CH MINORITY
DGOF -      1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
MEMBER- 8 8 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0
HAG        -  11 5 0 5 6 0 0 0 0 0
SAG           224 217 12 229 7 32 13 0 0 7
JAG          492 358 47 405 135 66 20 50 0 10
STS          606 362 6 368 244 61 35 73 11 7
JTS(PRO) 188 169 0 169 115 54 25 62 12 10
JTS(DR)   187 227 0 227 -40 54 25 62 12 10
Total        1717 65 1412 213 93 185 23 34

NOTE; TILL DATE THE DETAILS OF 71 AWMS PROMOTED ON 26-06-2014 WERE NOT MADE AVAILABLE IN THE COMNET.

a) Total number of Group- A posts = 1717
b) From total 1717 posts occupied by promotees iS 262+71= 333
c) From the total 1717 Posts still vacant = 401
d) From the total 1717 posts occupied by Directrecruitees =1150
The above data is based on the information published in OFB comnet as on 10-07-2014. The above will change from time to time based on wastages/ induction.

7) Further, it is brought to the kind notice of the honorable Court that prior to 2002 SRO number 8 was existing wherein it was mentioned that 66.66% is to be filled by Direct Recruitment and the remaining by Promotion from feeder grade. Further, the total number of Group-A officer retired during the period
from 2002 to 2013 is mentioned below.

Total retired from OFB service = 2540.
Retired only from AWM = 1189 +

8) In addition to the above it is also to the kind notice of the Honorable CAT that in para 13 of the reply statement of the respondents it is denied that the vacancies arising against promotional posts have not been carried forward.
Whereas in para11 the respondents admitted that promotion quota vacancies for the year 2009,2010,2011,2012 totaling 76 numbers promotions were ordered vide OFB letter dated 12-07-2013. Which is again a misleading
statement made by the respondents. Further it is stated in para 11 that 200vacancies to be filled by promotion from JWM are under process. Which is contradictory to the statement given in para10.

9) In para 14 it is stated that the procedure followed for Direct Recruitment and Promotion are very different. The intention of the respondents in making such a statement is not known. No documentary evidence has been produced. Further, the statement in this para14 is contradictory to the guidelines issued
by DOPT in respect of promotion.

10) The statement relating to determining of relative seniority is also false & misguiding which is evident from the fact that nothing has been mentioned about the relative seniority of the 76 promotees, promoted vide OFB 381/ 4142/A/G dated 12-07-2013 since, as per the statement of the respondents in para 11 the above promotions has been ordered against the vacancies of 2009,2010,2011 & 2012.

11) From the above data it is clear that 1150 were directly recruited and only 333 were promoted from JWM to AWM which is a clear violation of DOPT order and honorable court to order for promotion of 1150 JWMs to AWM withretrospective effect which is as per SRO 227.

THESE ARE THE GENERAL POINTS SUBMITTED TO THE ADVOCATE

AND THE OTHER 14 POINTS WERE NOT PUBLISHED.

Wednesday 2 July 2014

COURT CASE POSITION OF NDGBGOA

DEAR MEMBERS,

                      NDGBGOA BRANCHES HAS APPROACHED TO COURT OF LAW AT DIFFERENT CAT . THE HEARING DATES ARE FURNISHES BELOW.

1- NDGBGOA/CFA BRANCH CASE AT CAT CHENNAI ON NATURE OF DUTY AND FINANCIAL BENEFIT-
 OA NO-1763/2013 FILED ON 13.12.2013,  THE HEARING IS ON  07/07/2014.


2- NDGBGOA/AFK BRANCH CASE AT CAT MUMBAI FOR INCREMENTAL BENIFIT TO PROMOTION OF CM II TO CM I AND AF TO JWM  BETWEEN 01/01/2006  AND 01/09/2008

OA NO-381/2014, THE CASE HEARING IS ON 11TH JULY 2014.


FOR INFORMATION.

GENERAL SECRETARY
NDGBGOA/CE

INTERVIEW POINTS WITH THE CHAIRMAN & DGOF

No. NDGBGOA(CE)/General/34/2014                                                                                   Date:- 24/06/2014
To,
The Chairman& DGOF
Ordnance Factory Board,
10 A SK Bose Road
Kolkatta – 700001       
                                                                                          Kind attn- Dir/IR  

          Sub: Interview with The Chairman & DGOF/OFB – requesting of .
                         Ref: - NDGBGOA (CE/GENERAL/34/2014 dtd 29-04-2014
R/Sir,
          With reference to above, National Defence Group’B’ Gazetted Officers Association (NDGBGOA) has requested  the Honorable Chairman & DGOF to grant his valuable time to discuss the following points pertaining to Group `B’ Gazetted Officer with the Office bearers of NDGBGOA, but it has not been granted till date. Therefore this Association  request Hon’ble DGOF/Chairman once again for granting his valuable time to discuss the below mentioned points or to direct  Hon’ble Member/per for granting an interview  on behalf of him to resolve the issues pertaining to Group B Gazetted Officers at the earliest please.
  1.        Discrepancy in cadre review proposal for JWM (Technical & Non-Technical) – It is brought to your kind notice that two different proposals have been sent by OFB for JWM/NT. The cadre review proposal forwarded to MoD byA/NG  & A/NI Section for JWM/NT are entirely different from one another. It is surprised to note that OFB has sent two different proposals to MoD for one cadre of JWM(N/T). Moreover, NDGBGOA proposes to make JWM(SG) or Section Manager in a single grade in the grade pay of 5400(PB-3) and thereafter promotion to WM. As the cadre review has taken a very long time, your personal intervention is requested in this regard. 
  2.       Promotion from JWM to AWM – It is ill-omened to notice that except JWM to AWM all promotional orders by OFB are being operated in time. Your kind intervention is requested in this regard.
  3.       MACP in promotional hierarchy- MACP in the hierarchy of post may be ordered at the earliest as per the decision from various Court.
  4.  PS Cadre Factories at par with OFB and secretariat- PS cadre of Factories may be treated at par with PS Cadre in OFB and ministry as per the recommendation of 6th CPC.
  5.   Advance DPC for JWM to AWM Promotion and granting seniority as per date of DPC:- It is  regretted to note that OF Board is not serious to  grant promotion to JWM and every time they assured  but  timely they have not setup advance DPC committee for promotion JWM to AWM in time like a IOFS promotion  as a result the promoted AWM are becoming Junior as compared to DR. therefore it is requested to consider the seniority of promoted AWM w.e.f their date of DPC.
  6. Publishing of correct Seniority list of JWM(T/NT):-  Recently O.F.Board has published Seniority list where many names of JWM have been left out and  in this matter  many times the above discrepancies brought  to notice of  DIR/NG and DDG/NG. But till date OFB has not published correct Seniority list. Seniority List should be published in discipline wise in every year 01 January.
  7.   Reinitiate  Cancelled Transfer Order:- NGDGBGOA has discussed this points in various forum and every forum OFB has  assured but no action has been taken so far.
  8.    Transfer policy – The transfer policy framed by OFB is not strictly adhered to by OFB itself. It is brought to your kind notice that in the recent transfer orders of JWMs, some JWMs who are having less than two year service were transferred and some of the JWMs of HVF have been transferred although the existing strength there is less than sanctioned strength. In contradictory the JWMs who have got transfer on compassionate ground are not being released by the concerned GMs.
  9.   Nature of duties of JWM(T) & (N/T) – After regular deliberations, OFB accepted to publish the nature of work of JWM(T) & JWM(N/T) in Ordnance Factories but till date it has not been published.
  10.   Revival of Training Policy  of Group `B’ Gazetted Officers–As JWMs are functioning as Head of Sections in Ordnance Factories, the training for JWMs may be conducted at NADP and not along with LDC/UDC/Chargeman. A separate committee may formed comprising OFB officials and Association Representatives to revive the training policy of Group `B’ Gazetted Officers
  11.    A/G Section for all Gazetted Officers – As A/NG Section is dealing with matters related to large number of Chargeman&JWM, our association proposes that the dealings related to JWM should be carried out by A/G Section.
  12.   Direct recruitment of Chargeman – It is deeply distressedto notice that JWM(T) are still being deputed for Shift Duty, Plant/Workshop Operations by the concerned General Managers due to non-availability of Chargeman. Even though OFB has made advertisement for recruitment for Chargeman in August2013, still it is not materialized. Your kind intervention is requested in this regard.
  13.    PLB & Risk allowance – PLB should be granted to all the Group `B’ Gazetted Officers as the cadre is directly involved in production activities. Risk allowance should be extended to all Group `B’ Gazetted Officers posted in such sections wherever the Industrial Employees are eligible.
  14.  LDCE for AWM from JWM – Provision of LDCE from JWM to AWM may be initiated with proper revision in SRO of Group `A’ cadre for better utilization of talent in Group B cadre.
  15.    R&D and modernization in Ordnance Factories – R&D and modernization activities are not keeping pace with global developments & therefore Ordnance Factories are lagging behind in these areas.  These activities should be undertaken on time bound basis. For better R&D and modernization activities in Ordnance Factories, the services of experienced JWMs should be utilized.
  16.   Honorarium for conducting inquiry – Honorarium should be made to all Gazetted Officers for conducting departmental inquiry in revise rates (O.M No. 142/15/2010-AVD, dated 31.07.2012)
  17. Defence quota in railway bookings – Railway Board may be requested for including Ordnance Factories for booking tickets under Defence quota as many Staff& Officers are finding difficulty to book tickets since many deputations are in short notice.
  18. Amendment in Hard Station list in Transfer Policy – The hard station list as per recent transfer policy should be amended and it should be at par with hard station list of DSC and Accounts.
  19.    Implementation of SRO & RR of (JWM T/NT) Group’B’ Cadre.

 20  Recording of Minutes of all the Official meetings between OFB and Association – It is requested to record Minutes of all the Official meetings between OFB and NDGBGOA and distribute the same to all concerned by which the follow up action for all the points discussed can be taken care.
Hon’ble Chairman& DGOF is requested to kindly grant consent for a meeting to discuss the above cadre related points.
   Kind regards,
                                                                                                                              Yours faithfully,

                                                                                                                                (Jaigopal Singh)
                                                                                                                              General Secretary