Ministry of Railways has revised and accorded an approval for the up-gradation of thousands of clerical posts. According to a notification issued here on Thursday, lower division clerks were upgraded from grade-7 to grade-9, upper division clerks were upgraded from grade-9 to grade-11, and head clerks were upgraded from grade-14 to grade-16.
A senior official of Pakistan Railways revealed to Business Recorder that there were 3,204 sanctioned clerical posts in the department and out of them around 1,600 such posts were enrolled. According to the Establishment Division notification, ministries/divisions of the federal government sought different clarifications from the Establishment Division. The matter has been examined and it is decided that the consolidated reply shall be given to all. Therefore, the clarifications and the reply of the Division on same are as under:
(i): The existing assistants in-charge have been granted BS-16 as one time dispensation and the posts are declared as dying cadre. After the retirement of existing staff, who have been granted BS-16, the posts become vacant, what will be the status/fate of these posts? The Establishment Division replied that it is up to the administrative ministry/division to convert the same post into the post of assistant in consultation with the Finance Division.
(ii): Whether the facility of up-gradation is applicable only to the employees of ministries/divisions or it is also applicable to employees of attached departments/subordinate offices. The Division replied that the uniform recruitment rules of ministerial staff are applicable to all ministries/divisions/departments of the federal government.
(iii): Whether required training shall be a prerequisite to the up-gradation or otherwise. The Division replied that training is mandatory in the event of promotion and initial appointment. For initial appointment after selection before completion of probation period and for promotion before consideration for promotion passing of prescribed training is mandatory.
(iv): Will the officials on deputation also be up-graded at their place of present posting or they will be repatriated to their parent department for up-gradation? The Division replied that the official on deputation also stand up-graded at their place of present posting.
(v): Will the post of assistant/UDC/LDC working on contract basis will also be up-graded or otherwise? The Establishment Division replied that project staff/contract employees who have been appointed in the prescribed manner are also entitled to the benefits of this up-gradation, if it is not in conflict with their terms of appointment.
(vi): If a post has already been advertised in the newspapers without mentioning requisite basic IT training course from NITB before receipt of Establishment Division's OM in question dated 10-8-2016. Whether the recruitment process may be completed in accordance with the existing recruitment rules or the post may be re-advertised in the newspapers? The Division replied that necessary corrigendum of advertisement may be issued.
(vii): Whether the up-gradation of clerical staff is applicable on autonomous bodies? The Establishment Division replied that autonomous bodies may adopt the same decision in accordance with their respective service rules.
(viii) : Whether the higher scale BS-16 may also be granted to existing incumbents who are working against the post of assistant on acting charge basis or otherwise. The Division replied that acting charge appointment is made to those officials who otherwise are eligible for promotion but do not possess the required length of service for promotion under Rule 8 B of Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion & Transfer) Rules, 1973. Therefore, the incumbent of the post of assistant (BS-l5) working on acting charge basis will be allowed grant of BS-16 in due time after regularisation to the post of assistant (BS-15).
(ix): Whether for grant of BS-16 to assistant will be notified or office order will be issued. The reply is that Establishment Division's DO letter provides notifying of all appointments in BS-16 and above in the gazette of Pakistan. The Establishment Division vide its OM No l/13/96-R-6, dated 10-8-2016, has upgraded the post of assistant to BS-15 and grant of BS-16 is allowed to existing incumbents of the post. The substantive pay scale of the post of assistant is BS-15 and BS-16 is only grant. Therefore, office order may be issued.
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