Clarification on Remuneration for Holiday Duty by Postal Assistants
It has been brought to notice that queries are being raised regarding the nature of remuneration or compensation admissible to Postal Assistants who are required to perform duty on holidays or Sundays, particularly for tasks such as UPSC booking, exam-related bookings, or other time-sensitive assignments.
One such case pertains to duty performed on a Sunday for 11 hours in connection with UPSC-related booking.
After examining relevant instructions and established precedents, the following clarification is issued for general guidance.
1. Payment of Honorarium in Special Circumstances
Where Postal Assistants are assigned duties beyond normal working hours or on closed holidays for specific, time-bound assignments—such as UPSC booking, SSC examination answer script handling, EPIC distribution during elections, or CPC data work—the competent authority may approve an honorarium, subject to rules and availability of funds.
In such cases, the honorarium shall be paid on lines similar to that admissible for SSC exam-related work, as per prevailing Departmental instructions.
However, the amount of honorarium is not directly linked to the employee’s daily wage. It is a token financial recognition for work beyond duty hours and must not be equated with regular salary entitlements.
2. Daily Salary vs Honorarium: Clarification
While it may appear that the honorarium sanctioned is less than the notional one-day salary of the official, it is important to note that:
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Honorarium is not a substitute for regular salary;
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It is granted at the discretion of the competent authority for work of an occasional or intermittent nature;
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Comparison with daily salary is not tenable, as the nature of remuneration differs in both character and principle.
As per conduct rules and CCS instructions, government servants may be required to perform duty on closed holidays, in the interest of public service, subject to compensatory provisions.
3. Compensatory Off as a Preferred Option
In several field units, including major Postal Divisions, it is a common practice to grant compensatory off (C-off) in lieu of duty performed on Sundays or public holidays. This practice aligns with administrative flexibility and has been followed in the case of:
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Election-related booking drives
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CPC end-of-year data processing
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Special parcel drives and press bookings during festivals
The Postmaster or Divisional Head may sanction a compensatory off to be availed on a working day, depending on office exigencies and staffing position.
Employees are encouraged to opt for compensatory off, which not only provides rest but ensures parity with the effort and time invested.
While honorarium is admissible under departmental rules for certain categories of holiday duties, it must be understood as symbolic financial appreciation, and not as daily wage compensation. The Department values the commitment of staff who render service during non-working days and facilitates compensatory mechanisms, either through honorarium or compensatory off, depending on the nature of duty and administrative convenience.
Officials are advised to discuss such cases with their Postmaster or Divisional Authority, who shall decide the appropriate compensatory mechanism based on departmental guidelines.
📌 Related References:
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Rule 12 of FRs – Pay for Extra Work
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DoP Orders on Honorarium for SSC/UPSC-related bookings
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CCS (Conduct) Rules on Duty Obligations
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Election Commission Coordination Guidelines (EPIC drives)