om:28-cl-2015-apr — Branch Postmaster or a person in charge of Branch Post Office who is in ED Cadre, should be present in the Post Office from 9 a.m. to 12 noon daily on working days and should be a resident of the village where the Post office is located. Para. 4 of the method of recruitment from niti's Compilation of Service Rules for Postal Gramin Dak Sevak is reproduced to state so as above. As the Applicant herein infringed these rules, he was removed from ED post following extant rules

Branch Postmaster or a person in charge of Branch Post Office who is in ED Cadre, should be present in the Post Office from 9 a.m. to 12 noon daily on working days and should be a resident of the village where the Post office is located. Para. 4 of the method of recruitment from niti's Compilation of Service Rules for Postal Gramin Dak Sevak is reproduced to state so as above. As the Applicant herein infringed these rules, he was removed from ED post following extant rules — This chunk discusses the rules requiring ED Branch Postmasters or Sub-Postmasters (EDBPM/EDSPM) to reside in the village where their post office is located, as well as the importance of maintaining t... — Facts: The Applicant, while working as Branch Postmaster, Chapalwada was issued with a charge-sheet containing two articles of charge for dereliction of his duties on various counts by violating Rules 133, 134, 136 and Rule 11 of Branch Post Office Rules, ( Seventh Edition) and also Rule 21 of the Department of Posts, Gramin Dak Sevak (Conduct and Employment) Rules, 2001 and not maintaining absolute integrity and devotion to duty. After following due process of rules to sustain the charges, the Applicant was removed from service by order, dated 29-4-2004 which is challenged in this OA. It is not necessary to go further into the case except noting that Applicant lived in Ghot village and was working at Chapalwada Post Office as Branch Postmaster. The case was examined by the Tribunal taking due note of allegations of the Applicant and the reply by the Respondents thereof. The Applicant's residence at Ghot, though noted by the Respondents, the Applicant was directed to remain at Chapalwada from 9 to 12 hours without fail. But no such permission was given to the Applicant to reside at Ghot. The Tribunal also analyzed the proceedings of the disciplinary case. As per GDS [ Conduct and Employment ] Rules, in the selection of ED Agents, residence would be a vital factor. According to the rules, the EDBPM / EDSPM must be a permanent resident of the village where Post Office is located. The ED in charge should keep in view the time of receipt, despatch and delivery of mails which need not be adapted to suit his timings. Department of Post's letter, dated 18-8-1977 and 20-1-1979 insists that ED Agents as far as possible reside in or near the place of their work. To substantiate, Para. 4 of the method of recruitment of niti's Compilation of Service Rules for Postal Dak Sevak is reproduced in the judgment. As per that rule, GDS should be resident of the vilage where the Post Office is located and keep the time of receipt, despatch and delivery of mails which should not adopt the convenience of the controlling ED staff. In this case, the Applicant even though a branch Postmaster of Chapalwada resided in nearby Ghot village. While checking the cash transaction of this branch Post Office by Postal authorities without intimation, there was a shortage of ₹ 1, 148 in cash balance and the Applicant was not present on that day of checking.