The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering issuing a cabinet note in support of permanent deputation for Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officers. The proposal of permanent deputation is aimed to retain dissatisfied ITS officers with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).
As per DoT?s proposal ?Group A? ITS officers opting for permanent deputation will be required to work with BSNL and MTNL till retirement. And their compensation will be aligned with central government pay scales.
Nearly 1800 ITS officers are currently engaged in a tussle with BSNL and MTNL over compensation issue. BSNL and MTNL had planned to hire ITS officers who were left with two year?s service. And hire them in senior management positions. The operator?s new recruitment rules was expected to exclude most of the 44-odd ITS officers of the rank of chief general manager from being considered for re-absorption, as they fell in the over-58 age group. The retirement age at BSNL is 60 years. BSNL also wanted to consider non-ITS industry professionals with finance and civil or electrical engineering background for senior management positions, where suitable ITS candidates were not available. However, ITS executives who had been transferred to DoT from BSNL did not want to consider moving back to the BSNL.
