Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts – DE Section
Order No. A-34018/03/2025-DE
Date: 17 April 2025
In continuation of the ongoing litigation concerning the Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) Direct Recruitment conducted for the vacancy years 2013–2014, the Department of Posts has issued a formal order for reinstatement of affected candidates. The cases in question relate to termination based on CFSL reports and are under consideration before various judicial forums, including CAT, High Courts, and the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
Summary of Administrative Decision
The Postal Directorate, after examining legal opinion provided by the Department of Legal Affairs (DOLA) and the Ministry of Law and Justice, and taking into account the connected legal proceedings and records, has approved the following instructions:
(i) Reinstatement of Eligible Candidates
Candidates whose appointments were terminated solely on the basis of a negative CFSL report, or where authorship was not conclusively established, and whose cases remain pending before Hon’ble Courts, are now eligible for reinstatement.
This directive applies specifically to those candidates whose legal circumstances are identical to the CAT/Court cases considered in the present decision.
(ii) Due Process for Cases Involving Additional Material
In instances where any adverse material is available against a candidate beyond the CFSL report, the competent authorities are instructed to proceed in accordance with law, following principles of natural justice. This includes providing a reasonable opportunity to be heard prior to any further action.
(iii) ‘No Work No Pay’ Principle
The Department has reaffirmed that the principle of ‘No Work No Pay’ is to be strictly enforced in all reinstatement cases. The reinstatement shall not result in any retrospective financial claims for the period of absence.
Instructions to Circles
All concerned Postal Circles—Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand—have been directed to issue reinstatement orders without delay. The order must be dispatched on 17.04.2025 itself to the candidates who fall within the scope of this approval.
Post-reinstatement, the Circles are instructed to make training arrangements at the earliest possible date.
Administrative Authority
This decision has been issued with the approval of the Secretary (Posts) and has been signed by Shri Ravi Pahwa, Director (GDS), on behalf of the Postal Directorate.
The present order brings clarity and closure to a long-standing legal matter affecting several candidates of the PA/SA 2013–2014 recruitment cycle. It reinforces the commitment of the Department to uphold principles of fairness, legality, and administrative transparency.
Affected individuals and field units are advised to refer to the full circular for compliance and necessary action.