31.05.2015:

Income tax return forms to be made simpler:

'The government drew flak from taxpayers after it introduced new forms in April that were 14-page-long and sought extensive details on foreign trips, bank balances and capital gains, making the process of filing returns tedious. From now on, taxpayers won’t have to disclose details of all foreign travel undertaken and expenses incurred but they will have to give their passport numbers in the revised I-T return form. The taxpayers won’t have to mention the balances in their bank accounts but will have to disclose all their accounts, a finance ministry statement said. With the e-filing return forms expected to be released only by the third week of June, the government also extended the last date for filing of returns to August end from July end.' Read More

29.05.2015:

Tenure transfer orders in DE/AGM grade:

BSNL CO has issued tenure transfer orders in DE/AGM grade. View orders

29.05.2015:

Promotion to DGM (F) grade:

BSNL CO has issued promotion and posting orders in DGM (F) grade. View orders

29.05.2015:

Regular promotion to CAO grade:

BSNL CO has issued regular promotion orders in CAO grade. View orders

27.05.2015:

Regular promotion to DE/AGM grade:

BSNL CO has issued regular promotion orders to DE/AGM grade for six executives with retrospective effect. View orders

26.05.2015:

Meeting with Sr.General Manager (Pers):

GS met Sr.GM (Pers) today and thanked him for issue of retention orders in DE/AGM grade. He discussed about still left out requests, explaining the grounds and genuineness of the requests. Sr.GM (Pers) has noted down the names and has agreed to favourably consider the requests. GS also requested favourable consideration of retention requests in SDE (T) grade. Sr.GM (Pers) has assured that those cases will be taken up after considering the pending requests in AGM/DE grade.

26.05.2015:

Tenure transfers in SDE (T) grade:

BSNL CO has issued tenure transfer orders in SDE (T) grade View orders

26.05.2015:

Rationalisation of DATA STV:

BSNL CO has issued orders rationalising Data STVs under prepaid mobile services PAN India basis. View orders

25.05.2015:

Retention in parent circle on promotion as DE/AGM on regular basis:

BSNL CO has issued four orders retaining 11 DEs/AGMs in their parent circle upto 31.3.2016, on their regular promotion. View orders

25.05.2015:

Retention in parent circle on promotion as DE/AGM on regular basis:

BSNL CO has issued two orders retaining 10 DEs/AGMs in their parent circle on their regular promotion. View orders

25.05.2015:

Seniority List of Superintending Engineer (Civil):

BSNL CO has circulated the seniority list of SEs (Civil) absorbed in BSNL, as on 31.3.2015. View list

24.05.2015:

Meeting with General Manager (FP):

GS met GM (FP) on 22.5.2015 and discussed about promotion to DGM (F), CAO, AO grades. GM (FP) said that DPC has been completed in respect of promotion to DGM grade and orders are likely to be issued shortly. In respect of CAO and AO promotion he said that the process has been stopped due to court case. We requested him to approach the National Commission for Scheduled Castes for suitable advice. GM (FP) said SCT Cell has been addressed and all options will be examined.

22.05.2015:

Promotion to SDE (T) grade on the basis of LDCE held on 4.3.2012:

BSNL CO has promoted and posted one JTO as SDE (T) on the basis of LDCE held on 4.3.2012. View orders

22.05.2015:

Transfer and Postings in SDE (civil) grade:

BSNL CO has issued orders of transfer and postings in SDE (Civil) grade. View orders

21.05.2015:

Promotion to SDE (Electrical) - calling of Vigilance Clearance:

BSNL CO has called for Vigilance clearance in respect of 33 JTOs (Electrical) for consideration for promotion to SDE (E) on regular basis. View letter

21.05.2015:

Submission of declaration of assets and liabilities by public servant under Lokpal Lokayukta Act, 2013:

'It is to be noted that the last date for submission of declaratiom has been extended from 30h April 2015 to 15th October 2015 and revised form No II and IV as applicable is enclosed herewith.' Read More

21.05.2015:

Recruitment of Management Trainees (External) - Addendum to Annexure-A:

BSNL CO has issued addendum to Annexure-A of the notification of recruitment of MT (External). View letter

20.05.2015:

Meeting called by Sr.General Manager (Pers):

To discuss the various issues related to preparation of seniority list according to Para 206 in compliance with the direction by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, a meeting was called by the Sr. GM (Pers) with the representatives of various executives associations on 19.5.2015. GS represented AIBSNLOA in the meeting . DGM (Pers), AGM (Legal), AGM (DPC), DM (Legal) and DM (DPC) were also present. Sr.GM (Pers) explained about the court case, efforts made by personnel section for preparation of correct seniority list in accordance with Para 206 and submission of seniority list to the committee formed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. We expressed our concern related to correctness of the seniority list. We told Sr.GM (Pers) that seniority list should be in accordance to the Eligibility list prepared by the DoT in year 1993, because it has names of all the officers who qualified TES Group B examination up to year 1991 and their eligibility list was prepared as per Rule 206 and the last promotion ordered on the basis of this eligibility list was issued in year 1998. Sr.GM (Pers) appreciated our views and told us that the seniority list submitted by the BSNL to the committee has been prepared in the same manner as we pointed out. Sr.GM(Pers) said that a considerable number of posts of DGMs are lying vacant and BSNL management could not give the promotion due to various cases pending in different courts. Now, the Management wanted to fill up these posts as per the seniority list prepared by the BSNL in compliance with the judgment given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. He wanted to know the views of all the executive associations. We welcomed the move of Sr.GM (Pers) and assured him to extend our help for issue of the promotion order at the earliest. After detailed discussions Sr.GM(Pers) informed the meeting that Management will take a decision in this regard shortly.

20.05.2015:

Increase in Service Tax Rate from 12% to 14% with Effect from 1st June, 2015:

In the Union Budget, 2015, an increase in the rate of Service Tax from 12% to 14% had been proposed from a date to be notified. The Finance Bill, 2015 has since been enacted and the Central Government has notified 1st June, 2015 as the date from which the rate of 14% would become applicable. The provisions levying Education Cess and Secondary and Higher Education Cess would also cease to have effect from same date i.e. 1st June, 2015, as the same would be subsumed in the service tax rate of 14%. Certain other changes have also been notified with effect from 1st June, 2015. However, the date of giving effect to the provisions relating to imposition of a Swachh Bharat cess on all or any taxable service will be done in due course.(PIB)

20.05.2015:

Request for Voluntary Retirement from Persons suffering with disability:

DoPT had circulated a draft memorandum on the subject on 6.2.2015, which was published in this site on the same day. Now DoPT has issued a formal O.M. on the basis of the observations of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Bhagwan Dass & Anr Vs Punjab State Electricity Board (2008) 1 SCC 579, without much modifications over the draft memorandum. View O.M.

19.05.2015:

LTC to Home Town - clarification:

DoPT has issued clarifications in respect of employees whose home town and place of posting is the same. View clarifications

18.05.2015:

Telecom Ministry seeks legal opinion on CAG report:

'The Telecom Ministry has sought legal opinion on a CAG report that stated undue benefits were extended to companies including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, RCom and Tata Teleservices on a number of issues, Reports PTI.' Read More

15.05.2015:

Meeting with DGM (Pers):

GS met DGM (Pers) today and requested him for early consideration of pending requests for transfer and modification of posting orders. DGM (Pers) said that own request transfers will be ordered first and later modification/retention requests will be taken up. We also expressed concern over the delay in implementing revised pay scale for Rajbasha Adhikari grade. DGM (Pers) said that reply from DoT is still awaited. We requested him that a reminder may be sent to DoT and DGM (Pers) has agreed to do so.

15.05.2015:

BSNL 3G Unused Mobile Data now adds on Next Recharqe:

This new facility of accumulation of unutilized balance data usage in BSNL Prepaid plans will also be applicable for all the customers of normal data STVs and longer validity BSNL 3G Data Plan Vouchers. As per the latest announcement of BSNL, this new facility (unused Mobile Data adds on next Recharge) will be applicable for all the GSM 2G / 3G prepaid mobile customers of all BSNL circles across India. Read More

14.05.2015:

Facility of unlimited free calls between 9 PM and 7 AM - Extension to all retail Broadband Combo Plans:

BSNL CO has extended the additional facility of unlimited free calls between 9 PM to 7AM on landline & mobile of any network within India under all the “Retail” Broadband combo plans including circle specific BB Combo plans & those BB combo plans which were earlier withdrawn for new customers but still some customers are working in these plans, effective from 1.6.2015 in all circles. View letter

13.05.2015:

Meeting with Director (HR):

GS along with AGS (HQ), OS (North) and CS BSNL CO Circle met Director (HR) and requested him to stop MT recruitment from outside and fill the external quota vacancies with available expertise within BSNL. Director (HR) said that notification has been issued and nothing can be done and suggested that we should allow young blood to be infused in BSNL. We contended that BSNL should have acted during the past 15 years when young blood was available and seeking to discard now the young blood infused during the past 15 years is not correct. We also pointed out that there are many lacunae that need to be filled in the notification. The notification does not mention the year of vacancy this recruitment pertains to. STS posts upto 2013-14 have already been filled on regular basis under seniority cum fitness quota and posts pertaining to 2014-15 are yet to be filled. It has not been mentioned whether the external recruitees will be junior to all those are working as regular STS as on date, as was mentioned in DGM Direct Recruitment. Inter-se-seniority among departmental promotees, internal candidates and external candidates was specified in the MTRR 2013, when the ratio for departmental promotees vs MT recruits was 50:50. After the ratio has been modified as 75:25 the method of fixing inter-se-seniority has not been specified. This is going to be a bone of contention resulting in court cases. We also mentioned that it is not clear whether pay protection will be given to the BSNL executives in higher pay scales if they are selected under external quota. Therefore we requested that the MT recruitment may be deferred till all these points are clarified. Director (HR) said that these will be clarified in the course of time and nobody should try to stall the process.

13.05.2015:

Transfer and Postings/retention in DE/AGM grade:

BSNL CO has issued four separate orders of transfer and postings/retention in DE/AGM grade. View orders

12.05.2015:

Grant of age concession to the Persons with Disabilities suffering from (a) blindness or low vision, (b) hearing impairment and (c) locomotor disability or cerebral palsy for direct recruitment to civil posts/services under the Central Government:

DoPT has circulated the draft O.M. on the above subject and has called for views/comments of all stake holders. Read More

12.05.2015:

Payment of Honorarium to Part-time Inquiry Officers and Presenting Officers:

BSNL CO has endorsed DOPT letter dated 23-6-2014 clarifying that payment of Honorarium to IOs/POs for conducting inquiry in departmental proceedings would be outside the purview of general delegation under FR 46 B, which limits the maximum amount payable as honorarium to an individuall in a financial year to Rs.5000/-. View clarification

11.05.2015:

DoT failed to fine firms for violating tower radiation rules - CAG:

'The Comptroller and Auditor General has pulled up DoT's vigilance arm of for failing to impose penalty to the tune of Rs 4,300 crore on telecom operators for violating mobile tower radiation rules. ' Read More

11.05.2015:

CAG pulls up DoT for favouring Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices, others:

'The national auditor has accused the telecom department (DoT) of giving "undue benefits" to four dual-technology operators - Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices, Shyam Telelink and HFCL Infotel Ltd -- disregarding the recommendations of the sector regulator on computation of spectrum usage charges (SUC).' Read More

11.05.2015:

DoT move led to Rs 3,367-crore gain for Reliance Jio Infocomm, says CAG:

'The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in its report submitted to Parliament Friday, said the telecom department (DoT) allowed Jio to migrate from just an internet service provider (ISP) to a full services provider, who could offer voice services, under a new license — Unified Licence (UL) — at a cost far lower than the market price prevalent in August 2013. "This migration, allowed at prices discovered in 2001, resulted in undue advantage of Rs 3,367.29 crore to Reliance Jio Infocomm (formerly Infotel)," the CAG said in the report.' Read More

11.05.2015:

CAG raps DoT vigilance arm for inaction against violators:

'The CAG has pulled up the vigilance arm of the Department of Telecom (DoT) for not taking timely action on violation of rules by companies including Reliance Communications and Airtel.' Read More

11.05.2015:

Tenure transfers in SDE (T) grade:

BSNL CO has issued two tenure transfer orders in SDE (T) grade. View orders

10.05.2015:

CHQ writes to CMD requesting abandoning the move for recrutiment of Management Trainees from outside:

'We therefore request you to kindly consider the genuine concern raised by us in the background of the advantages listed out above and to cause cancellation of notification for recruitment from outside and to hold only the internal examination for filling up the entire 200 + 200 vacancies in Telecom Operations and Telecom Finance.' Read More

10.05.2015:

Meeting with CMD:

GS along with OS (North), CS and CWC Member of BSNL CO circle met CMD on 7.5.2015, handed over CHQ's letter requesting abandoning of MT recruitment from outside and explained the concerns raised by us in the letter. CMD said that nothng can be done at this stage, since BSNL Board has already approved recruitment from outside and DoT representative in the Board will not agree to any change. We explained that the present notification has also many grey areas, like the vacancy year pertaining to which the notification has been made, what will be the method of fixation of inter-se-seniority between those promoted under seniority cum fitness quota, which is now 75% and those who are to be recruited under internal and external quota in the ramining 25%, what will be the pay of those who come out successful in the internal examination who are already drawing DGM scale (age limit for appearing in the examination being 50) etc. We expressed our concern that lack of clarity on these issues is likely to result in otherwise avoidable litigations. CMD wanted us to discuss these issues with Director (HR). We propose to meet Director (HR) and discuss these points.

10.05.2015:

CHQ writes to Sr.General Manager (Pers) on Declining of promotion – period of bar for subsequent promotion:

'While issuing orders accepting foregoing of promotion to DE/AGM grade, BSNL CO has stipulated that these executives who had declined the promotion will not be promoted again for a period of one year w.e.f. the date of issuance of the order accepting the foregoing of promotion or next DPC whichever is later.' Read More

10.05.2015:

Meeting with General Manager (Pers):

GS along with OS (North) and AGS (HQ) met GM (Pers) on 6.5.2015 and discussed the following:

(i) DE(T) to DGM(T) promotion :

Explaining the details given in our letter, we requested GM (Pers) that action may be initiated to fill up around 800 DGMs posts lying vacant. GM(Pers) assured us that necessary action will be taken on our request. He appreciated our views and informed us that revised seniority lists in accordance to Para 206 have been prepared and submitted on 02.05.2015 to the committee formed by Hon'ble Supreme Court of India but the committee wants some more clarity in respect of the lists prepared by the BSNL. The committee has asked BSNL to remove all the shortcoming observed by it and to resubmit the lists on the date of next hearing on 22.5.15. After one more sitting, the committee will submit its report to Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Once the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India approves the seniority lists, the process for holding DPC will commence to fill up the vacant DGM(T) posts.

(ii) SDE(T) to DE(T) promotion:

We requested GM (Pers) for filling up posts in DE/AGM grade which have fallen vacant consequent to retirement, declining of promotion by a large number of executives and for filling up the posts being kept unfilled in order to accommodate untraceable executives. GM (Pers) assured us that he will examine our proposal and an early decision will be taken for filling up the vacant posts.

(iii) Consideration of requests for transfer, reallotment and permanent retention in DE/AGM grade:

GM (Pers) informed us that he has asked for a list of all pending requests and he will give due consideration to the requests.

(iv) Declining of promotion - bar for further promotion:

We argued that according to DoP&AR instructions, those who decline promotion will be debarred for a period of one year from the date of refusal of first promotion or till a next vacancy arises whichever is later. But BSNL letter says it will be for a period of one year from the date of acceptance of foregoing of promotion. We wanted suitable corrigendum to be issued. GM (Pers) has agreed to examine the matter.

07.05.2015:

BSNL services come under attack in Lok Sabha:

'Members in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday came down heavily on BSNL for “poor” services across the country as the government defended the telecom operator saying it has been suffering since the days of UPA government.' Read More

07.05.2015:

Tenure transfers in SDE (T) grade:

BSNL CO has issued tenure transfer orders in SDE (T) grade. View orders

07.05.2015:

Promotion from JTO (Civil) to SDE (Civil) grade:

BSNL CO has issued promotion and posting orders in SDE (Civil) grade in respect of one JTO (Civil) notionally w.e.f.10.5.2010. View orders

07.05.2015:

Tenure transfers in DE/AGM grade:

BSNL CO has issued tenure transfer orders in DE/AGM grade. View orders

06.05.2015:

CHQ writes to Sr.General Manager (Pers) requesting issue of promotion orders in STS (T) grade:

'In accordance with Hon’ble Supreme Court of India judgment, Seniority lists 6 & 7 of SDEs (T) have been provisionally revised vide BSNL Lr.No.56-03/2015-Pers (DPC) dated 1.4.2015. Last date for communicating errors and omissions in the provisional lists has passed on 18.4.2015 and therefore final revised seniority lists are expected to be circulated shortly. Thus an obstacle for holding DPC for promotion to STS (T) will be removed.' Read More

06.05.2015:

CHQ writes to Sr.General Manager (Pers) requesting issue of promotion orders in DGM (T) grade:

While we request you to kindly cause early issue of promotion orders to those DEs/AGMs who had qualified in 1985, we would also request you to kindly ensure that the process of holding DPC for promoting the executives who had qualified in the year 1987 is initiated immediately so that promotion orders can be issued in the near future. Read More

06.05.2015:

Issue of Government Displeasure etc - CVC advises branch offices not to recommend issue of warning/displeasure:

'Such nature of advices are non-enforceable since it is legally not sustainable as it is not a statutory penalty under the applicable rules governing serving Government servants or retired Government servants.' Read More

06.05.2015:

Reservation for persons with disabilities - amendment in Para 14 and Para 15 (i) of DoP&T OM dated 29.12.2005:

BSNL CO has circulated DoT, DPE and DoPT orders on the subject. View letter

05.05.2015:

Recruitment of Management Trainees (Telecom Operations & Telecom Finance) in BSNL from internal candidates:

BSNL CO notified recruitment of 200 Management Trainees (150 Telecom Operations and 50 Telecom Finance) in BSNL from internal candidates, with written test to be held on 8.8.2015. View notification

05.05.2015:

Recruitment of Management Trainees (Telecom Operations & Telecom Finance) in BSNL from external candidates:

BSNL CO notified recruitment of 200 Management Trainees (150 Telecom Operations and 50 Telecom Finance) in BSNL from external candidates, with written test to be held on 9.8.2015. View notification

02.05.2015:

Brief Note on the meeting of Forum with Secretary, DoT on 1.5.2015:

As scheduled, all the constituents of joint forum attended the meeting with Secretary, DoT at 1700 Hrs of 1.5.2015. GS represented AIBSNLOA. In the two hours meeting, Forum presented its arguments in support of all the strike demands. DoT Secretary's response on important issues is reproduced below:
On Govt/ DoT support for revival of BSNL, Secretary DoT said that DoT will not extend any help to BSNL for purchase of equipments for expansion of network. Finance should be arranged by the BSNL on its own. The reasoning was that other telecom operators will definitely oppose any help by DoT, in the name of level playing field. Further the Secretary said that no soft loan as demanded by the Forum can be given by DoT to BSNL and BSNL should make its own arrangements by obtaining loan from banks. However in respect of Payments due to BSNL, it was informed by the Secretary DoT that USO subsidy for Rs. 1250 crores will soon be paid by DoT to BSNL and the file in this respect was under process. In respect of around Rs 6700 crores to be refunded in lieu of surrendered BWA spectrum it was said that this year the Government has made a provision for 800 crores only. However DoT is now taking up the matter with GOI for providing some more amount in this head so that more money may be refunded to BSNL. As far as the demand of return of Income Tax amount is concerned, it was assured by Secretary DoT that work is under progress and will be completed by 31st May 2015. It was also informed that out of Rs.20000 crores USO fund received, Rs.15800 crores has been paid to BSNL. However it will not be possible for DoT to pay any kind of subsidy to BSNL. For that, efforts should be made by BSNL only. DoT cannot differentiate between BSNL and other telecom service providers. Secretary DoT was very vocal that “BSNL services are not good, there is lot of call dropping problems and landlines are also not working properly. When BSNL says that BSNL have a workforce of more than 2 Lakhs employees then everybody is responsible for this. Unions / Associations should make efforts to educate their members and ask them to become customer friendly and give their best for improving the service conditions.”

In respect of automatic revision of pension whenever pay scales were revised, the Secretary DoT said that he will examine whether this can be taken up with the next Pay Revision Committee. In respect of fitment of 78.2 IDA merger for pensioners who retired between 1.1.2007 and 10.6.2013, secretary DoT said that some calculation work is in progress and soon afterwards it will be forwarded to Cabinet for its approval.

On the demand of pension contribution on the basis of actual pay drawn, it was assured by the Secretary DoT that he will get the issue re-examined and forward it to MOF for further action.

In respect of merger of BSNL and MTNL it was told by the secretary that whenever a decision is taken, HR issues will be addressed first before actual merger takes place.

On the issue of transfer of assets to BSNL, the Secretary DoT said that wherever property is in the name of DoT, 98 to 99 % assets will be transferred to BSNL but wherever title is not clear property will be kept by DoT. But efforts should be made by the respective circles for getting the property transferred in BSNL’s name.

On DoT's commitment made in the MoUs that Center/State governments and PSUs should give priority to BSNL for their telecom service requirements, Secretary DoT said that if BSNL services are improved all the departments and Ministries will prefer to take services from BSNL. Now it is mandatory for MPs to have services from BSNL/ MTNL only but they are also complaining that this restriction should be removed because they are not happy with BSNL services.

01.05.2015:

Preparation of Long Stay List of SDEs (T) working as DMs/ Managers in BSNL CO:

BSNL CO has circulated provisional lists longest serving male and female officers of BSNL CO in order to post DMs/ Managers from SDE (T) cadre of BSNL CO against the officers coming to BSNL CO on completion of hard tenure. View letter