NFPE writes to SSP on APAR

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES  UNION Group C

PALAKKAD DIVISION, PALAKKAD 678001

P3/Dlg  dt 23/12/13

To

The Senior Superintendent of Post Offices,

Palakkad 678001

Sir,

The Annual Performance appraisal Reports (APAR) for the period 01.04.12 to 31.03.2013 are received by the employees on 18.12.13. We are receiving widespread complaints from staff side regarding the dismal numerical grading awarded to them in the APAR. We have really taken a back to know the serious lapses in the area of employee assessment. We have made the following observations  on the effort put forth in the maintenance and preparations of APAR.

   1.   In the DOPT OM No.21011/1/2005-Estt(A) (Pt-II) dated 14.05.2009 a  Supreme court judgement was quoted as reference in which,  the objective  of writing the confidential report and making the entries was stated to give an opportunity for the public servant to improve his/her  performance.

But you have used the APAR to intimidate and demoralize a major section of employees by giving low marks compared to that given by your predecessors. This will only help in creating an antipathy towards work by the employees which is against the essence  of the relevant govt order cited above. 

    2.  In the Annexure –I of the same order, detailing the guidelines regarding filling up of APAR with numerical grading, it is clearly stated that the columns in the APAR should be filled with due care and attention after devoting adequate time.

It is seen that the exercise was carried out in a hasty ,irresponsible  and inadvertent manner by putting the numerical grades as 0.5 in all the attributes of the employee under Part III to arrive at an easy total of 5  to make the process easy. We understand that you have pooh- poohed all the DOPT orders in this regard and made the APAR maintenance a mere farce.

    3. It is really surprising to note that no mark was awarded to some employees, citing the reason that you have not seen them or have little knowledge about them !. In certain cases, you have furnished that you could not personally review the work of the official and hence no comments or marks. This is a grave mistake. The apathy in understanding your employees is a clear example of dereliction of duty.

    4.  The  inordinate delay in circulating the APAR for the period ending 31.03.2013 can not be justified .The time schedule prescribed in the Annexure III of DOPT OM No.21011/1/2005-Estt(A) (Pt-II) dated 23.07.2009   for various stages in preparation of APAR is not seen adhered to.

    5.  If the overall employee performance dipped at large during your stint  as divisional head,  comparing to the previous periods headed by others means, this alleged bad performance of the employees  is due to your worst performance in divisional administration . This procedure of your grading is your self declaration that your are incompetent to manage the division.

It is pertinent to understand that, the overall front running of this division is not because your personal dictatorial command as SSP, instead , due to the dedicated and sincere effort of all including the poor GDS employees. All your efforts to belittle the dedication, love and sincerity of our employees towards the development of this department, will not be tolerated by us any more.

Therefore we urge you to take an immediate remedial steps in this regard to boost the morale and dignity  of the employees , who are dejected at present .We demand cancellation of all such  APARs  and the entire process is to be re initialized  to ensue the  unqualified support of the employees in all the new ventures including business procurement. 

yours faithfully,

Secretary,                                                 President               

AIPEU – Group C (NFPE)                                 AIPEU – Group C (NFPE)    

PALAKKAD 678001                                       PALAKKAD 678001