News pertaining to August 2008

• 29.08.2008:BSNL has issued more orders modifying circle of posting for SDEs who have been promoted to STS Adhoc. View Order ONE    TWO

• 28.08.2008: The board of state-run BSNL on 27.08.2008 skipped discussion on its proposed public offer as the company is still trying to make the employees union agree to dilution of equity. - PTI 

• 28.08.2008: We have been pursuing with concerned section regarding holding of DPC for left out SDEs for promotion to STS on adhoc basis.  Now CRs have been called for in respect of 26 SDEs for holding the DPC. View order...

• 28.08.2008: BSNL has issued more orders modifying circle of posting for SDEs who have been promoted to STS Adhoc.  BSNL is issuing such orders modifying the circle of posting, in piece-meal manner and many more requests are under consideration.  We are pursuing the cases continuously and are making sincere efforts to settle them.  View orders:      ONE        TWO

• 27.08.2008: DPC for promotion from JAOs/AAOs to AOs :  BSNL is trying to conduct a DPC for promotion from JAOs/AAOs to Accounts Officers against around 1500 vacancies. This is said to be in the advanced stage.  Now the Vigilance Clearance for some candidates are being awaited. These are expected to be received shortly and the DPC may start very soon.

• 27.08.2008: DPC for promotion from JTOs Telecom to SDEs Telecom against competitive quota:  The DPC which was initiated some months back for promotion of about 1800 successful candidates against the combined vacancies numbering 4068 for the vacancy years 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04 2004-05 and 2005-06 is to be conducted soon. The vigilance clearance, in respect of the eligible candidates from some circles, are still awaited. These Circles are being issued another reminder soon. The unfilled vacancies will be added to the vacancies of the next examination when it is conducted.

• 27.08.2008: DPC for promotion of JTOs Telecom to SDEs Telecom against seniority quota:  BSNL will shortly issue eligibility list of the JTOs Telecom for their consideration for promotion to SDEs Telecom against the seniority quota for the vacancy years 2006-07 and 2007-08. The vacancies are being identified 

• 27.08.2008: DOT issues orders calling for option from remaining Group A officers for absorption in BSNL/MTNL. View order...

• 26.08.2008: It is reliably learnt that DOT shall issue orders tomorrow calling for option for absorption of the remaining Group A Officers in BSNL/MTNL, with some modified terms and conditions. A time limit of 5 weeks will be reportedly allowed for submitting options.

• 25.08.2008:BSNL issues one more order modifying circle of posting of SDEs on promotion to DE Adhoc. View order...

• 25.08.2008:TDSAT impleads COAI in BSNL petition: Accepting the request of GSM operators' body COAI, the telecom tribunal TDSAT has today impleaded it in the petition filed by state-run BSNL challenging removal of Access Deficit Charge (ADC). Read More...

• 24.08.2008:Absorption of Group A Officers:-  DoT is yet to  issue necessary orders with a few modified terms and conditions of service to call for option for absorption of the remaining Group A Officers in BSNL/MTNL. The delay is due to non receipt of certain clarifications being obtained from the Ministry of Finance. Indications are there that the officers concerned are not at all enthusiastic on this matter and majority of them may not opt for absorption in BSNL.  However, It is premature to comment on the possible outcome of the fresh efforts being initiated to give another opportunity to the remaining Group A Officers for submitting their option. We have earlier reported that the Petitions from some ITS Group A Officers in regard to absorption pending since long in Delhi High court are to come up for hearing on 30.09.2008.

• 24.08.2008:IDA Pay Scale for AAOs:-  DoT is understood to be agreeable to accept the proposal of BSNL Board to grant IDA Pay Scale of  Rs 11875-300-17275 against the CDA pay scale of Rs 7450-225-11500 for the AAOs absorbed in BSNL. It is further learnt that at this moment, it is being examined whether there is any need to send the proposal to DPE for their approval. In this issue also, there is positive indication and the proposal may not be sent to DPE. However, for the time being, we are keeping a keen watch over the issue.

• 24.08.2008: BSNL issues orders of promotion from SE (Civil) to CE (Civil). View Orders...

• 22.08.2008:BSNL calls for ACRs of 58 SDEs likely to be considered for promotion to STS Adhoc. View order...

• 22.08.2008:BSNL issues another order modifying circle of posting of SDEs on promotion to DE Adhoc. View order...

• 21.08.2008:BSNL issues another order modifying circle of posting of SDEs on promotion to DE Adhoc. View Order...

• 19.08.2008:BSNL Corporate Office Circle Body of AIBSNLOA has been formed with more than 70 members in a grand meeting held today. View Circle Office-bearers list...

• 19.08.2008:Central Trade Unions have called for a Nation-wide strike on 20.08.2008 in protest against the price rise & economic and labour policies of Central Government. In BSNL, some non-executives' unions have decided to participate in the Strike.  We extend moral support to the Strike and express our solidarity with the striking employees.

• 14.08.2008:The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission.  The revised pay scales will come into effect from 1/1/2006 and revised rates of allowances from 1/9/2008.  The Cabinet has also decided that arrears will be paid in cash in two installments – first installment of 40% during the current year (2008-09) and the remaining 60% in the next financial year (2009-10). Read More...

• 14.08.2008:BSNL has made certain modifications  in Clauses 6 (a), 10, 11 (a), 11 (e) and 13 (iv) of BSNL Transfer Policy. View the modifications...

• 14.08.2008: DOT releases final seniority list of 147 competitive quota officers who had passed the competitive examination held in the year 2002/2003. View letter...

• 13.08.2008:BSNL issues orders diverting 500 JTO posts from outside quota to 35% department quota for promoting the qualified TTAs. View order...  This vindicates our stand vis-a-vis the Punjab High Court orders

• 11.08.2008:BSNL issues another order modifying circle of posting of SDEs on promotion to DE Adhoc. View order...

• 10.08.2008:BSNL issues more orders modifying circle of posting of SDEs on promotion to DE Adhoc. View orders...

• 10.08.2008:BSNL issues transfer orders to DEs who have completed tenure and substitutes for them. View orders...

• 09.08.2008: Following the approval, by the Cabinet, of certain proposals contained in the DoT memo on absorption of Group A officers in BSNL/MTNL, DoT is preparing to call for options, from the left out Group A officers, for absorption in BSNL/MTNL.  Orders calling for options may be released any time next week.

• 08.08.2008:CHQ writes to Hon'ble MOC on release of 3G spectrum to BSNL: On behalf of the members of this Association and on my personal behalf, I express my gratitude and sincere thanks to you for according approval for release of one block of 3G spectrum each to BSNL and MTNL....We hope that we will not be let down by the typical bureaucratic functioning of BSNL/MTNL. Read More...

• 08.08.2008:MoC pulls up BSNL on slow growth of value added service biz: Concerned over the slow growth of BSNL, Telecom Minister A Raja has asked Department of Telecom to work out a mechanism where important decisions could be expedited fast to drive more revenue for the PSU. Read More...

• 08.08.2008:BSNL unions reject share offer of Rs 2 lakh/employee:According to Mr Raja, BSNL would list at Rs 300-400, pegging the BSNL’s valuation at $37-45 billion, which is not even half of the $100 billion valuation that the company’s management has been claiming since January 2008. Read More...

• 07.08.2008:BSNL denies advantage in 3G field: BSNL has denied any first mover advantage in the 3G arena, despite the award of 3G spectrum ahead of private sector players. Last week, telecom minister, A Raja, while announcing the 3G guidelines, had said BSNL/MTNL would be given 3G spectrum with immediate effect and would pay the eventual highest bid price only after the 3G auctions. Read More...

• 06.08.2008:CHQ writes to Director (HRD) requesting early consideration of all the representations from   the   SDEs  Telecom posted outside their present circle of postings on their promotions as DEs Telecom on adhoc basis. 'Even the `transfer policy’ circulated by BSNL provides that ‘upto STS level, transfer of officers involving change of station would normally be avoided after 56 years for inter circle transfers’. Therefore, such candidates are to be unaffected and retained in the same circle while posting on promotion.  We further understand that in some cases the CGMs have recommended such cases by giving fresh vacancy position. In this regard, we further understand that CGM, Chennai Telephones has given a complete list of the SDEs, mentioning clearly therein the period of service left for them to retire from service, and has recommended for reposting.' Read More...

• 05.08.2008:CHQ writes to CMD on BSNL Executives' Promotion Policy vis-a-vis Recruitment of Management Trainees:
  "Best solution lies if the BSNL Board takes out bare minimum number of posts at STS level per year as per requirement subject to the ceiling that number of Management Trainees will be restricted to 30% of the total posts. Whatever number of MTs are  recruited in a year, 50% of them shall be from internal candidates and rest 50% from external candidates."
  "Best policy is to allow carry over of unfilled quota of posts of any stream to the subsequent recruitment year’s quota of posts of same stream. However, if some of these posts still remain unfilled at the end of second recruitment year, the same should be transferred for the promotion of the Departmental  (seniority quota) candidates."
  "Recruitment of MTs for HRM Stream: There has to be recruitment against 50% posts of MTs from eligible internal candidates."
  "Age limit for internal candidates need to be raised at least upto 45 years for a period of next 8 years since the optees have so far lost these many years in absence of BSNL’s inability to put the promotion policy in place from the date of their absorption (1.10.2000)."
  "Pay scale not to be a bar for internal candidates."
  "According to the prescribed qualifications as at present, the Executives from Electrical, Civil, Telecom Factory and Architectural Wing are having no opportunity to enter the cadre of Management Trainees. This violates the assurance given at the time of calling of option that the promotion policy will be “uniformly evaluated in the various stream of disciplines.” Read More...

• 05.08.2008:BSNL issues promotion orders from CAO to DGM (F) on adhoc basis. View orders...

• 04.08.2008:BSNL issues orders re-allotting 16 lady officers on promotion to STS Adhoc, to their home circles. View orders...   Modified orders have been already issued for some officers from ETR, Karnataka and UP-West. View Orders...     More such modified orders are in the pipeline. We are pursuing the issue further.

• 04.08.2008:Court case on Absorption of ITS Group A officers: The case came up for hearing in Delhi High Court on 31.07.2008. Counsel appearing on behalf of DoT informed the Court that some proposals relating to absorption of ITS Group A officers have been approved by the Cabinet and that DoT needed more time for  taking further action on the matter. The date of next hearing has been fixed for 30th September 2008. In regard to absorption of ITS Group A officers in MTNL, the case, in which MTNL Executives' Welfare Association is a petitioner, will be heard on 4th December 2008.

• 02.08.2008:BSNL Board clears 10% IPO plan:The BSNL board has cleared the company’s proposed $10-billion listing, a top Department of Telcom (DoT) official told Economic Times on Friday. Read More...

• 02.08.2008:Minister of Communications, while announcing the guidelines for 3G, has announced the guidelines for Mobile Number Portability also. As per the guidelines, MNP would first start in the four metros in next two months and subsequently roll out in rest of the country over the next 6-12 months. As per the guidelines, the whole country will be divided into two MNP zones consisting of 11 service areas with two metros in each zone. The MNP service provider and the mobile operators would not be allowed to have equity (direct or indirect) stake in each other's operations.

• 01.08.2008:BSNL initiates the process of holding DPC for promotion of Sr.AOs to CAO Adhoc. View letter...    View eligibility list...