Team AIGETOA consisting of GS Shri Ravi Shil Verma, All India Convener Shri A A Khan, Dy GS Shri Pavan Akhand and AGSs Shri Vivek Kumar Singh and Shri Sunil Gautam met CMD BSNL Shri P K Purwar Ji on dated 29th November 2023 and had extensive discussions on the issue of Pending Promotions across various grades, Remedial actions pertaining to cancellation of the ALTTC takeover orders by DoT and the current status of 4G Roll Out.
We informed Hon’ble CMD about the current status of the pending Promotions across all the grades. We expressed our strong resentment on the casual handling of the Promotions (DPC as well as LICE) by Pers and Recruitment Section. We highlighted that despite promotion calendar being finalised and notified in March 2023 itself, it was unfortunate and sheer lack of empathy on the part of the concerned sections dealing with the issue. We told CMD BSNL that it was only in September that the process was initiated and responsibility must be fixed for the delay in the whole process. We told CMD BSNL that all the executives are feeling frustrated because of this inaction on the part of concerned sections. We said that this was the basic apprehension we have been raising time and again that in last many years of formation of BSNL and even at the time of DoT, department has always failed to conduct competitive examination in time and that has become a source of never-ending litigations on the various promotions.
We thereafter requested Hon’ble CMD BSNL for exploring the ways as suggested by AIGETOA earlier so that all the eligible executives can be covered for the promotion from SDE to AGM grade through SCF route, so that further delay in promotions can be avoided and justice can be extended to the candidates waiting for their long-awaited promotions since long. We also suggested the way out on how the promotions from AGM to DGM can take place and the consequential vacancies arising out of these promotions can be utilised for covering the promotions in SDE to AGM cadre and JTO to SDE cadre. We also requested CMD BSNL to direct Pers section to be ready with all the preparatory exercise in AO to CAO promotions as the judgement from Chandigarh CAT is expected soon. We said that BSNL must be ready to issue the promotions in AO to CAO cadre within a day as soon as the verdict is declared to avoid any further legal complexity. We also expressed our demand for executing JAO to AO promotions for the consequential vacancies arising out of the promotions from AO to CAO Cadre. We also highlighted that promotions in the cadre of PA/PS/PPS and CSS are also pending despite availability of the vacancies and the same must be done at the earliest. We also highlighted the plight of reversal affected candidates who have been waiting for their promotions since last one year and request his intervention in ensuring justice to the deprived lot.
Hon’ble CMD BSNL appreciated our concern and has directed the Pers team to submit a comprehensive report along with all the documents related to the status of the promotions and the corresponding show stoppers including the legal lacunae. CMD BSNL told that AIGETOA can also submit their inputs and after going through all the documents, all can sit together and find out the way for executing the promotions across various grades. We shall again be sharing the inputs to CMD BSNL and the methodology with respect to how the Vacancies can be utilised for ensuring the promotions across various grades. We also discussed the need for rationalising the LICE syllabus by making the topics optional and doing away with negative marking and implementing the percentile methods. We also emphasized upon the need for ensuring promotions through regular channel of Promotions and requested for ensuring sufficient number of vacancies by way of creating fresh number of posts. CMD BSNL appreciated our concern and assured that he will take the inputs into cognizance. He said he will discuss with his team on the way forward and emphasized that management is positive on the issue of promotions. He said that he has told his team to find way out with a thought that promotions will have to executed under any circumstances and if a positive thought is given, definitely way out can also be found out.
However, he was quite critical of unnecessary court cases especially in the context of AO to CAO Promotions, DGM Ad-hoc to Regular Promotions and JTO to SDE Promotions. We expressed that yes, we do agree that many a times, court cases derail the process but it has been observed at many instances that BSNL advocates appearing on behalf of BSNL also seek multiple adjournments on various grounds which further delays the process. At least BSNL CO units, circles and panel representing BSNL must be advised to not to seek unnecessary adjournments and that they must ensure filing of replies without seeking any adjournment. We expressed that we do understand that the legal process is slow but at least BSNL must ensure that there should not be any delay on their part. CMD BSNL assured to look into the matter.
Team AIGETOA also emphasized and highlighted upon the need for making the pay and perks in line with the contemporary CPSUs. We said when government is expecting BSNL to perform and work as par with other leading PSUs, parity must be there with respect to benefits also. We also discussed the current status of 4G Roll-out and CMD informed that almost all issues are settled and hopefully 4G will be rolled out shortly. We however said that gradually employees are losing patience and hence immediate breakthrough in 4G rollout is essentially required to over come the root cause of BSNL remaining as a loss-making PSU which is not only harming the interests of BSNL but also resulting into negating of many dues and rights to BSNL employees including 3rd PRC and residual issues of 2nd PRC and Pay losses. We said association and unions can’t remain mute to this situation and hence all steps must be taken to ensure an early roll out of 4G followed by implementation of 5G for BSNL.
ALTTC take over issue was also discussed and CMD informed that he had already conveyed the facts, figures and BSNL’s point of view including the resentment of employees. He Said that all the issues have been explained at the highest level and its now for the authorities to decide on the matter. We categorically expressed that as a responsible association and as a responsible employee, we remain committed for ensuring the wellbeing of BSNL and we will go to any extent to protect the interest of BSNL and its employees.
The meeting lasted for almost half an hour and various aspects were discussed in detail and we extended our thanks to Hon’ble CMD BSNL for sparing his valuable time and appreciating the concern of the employees associated with the issues.