0 Admissibility of commission to SAS Agents- Clarification

SB ORDER NO. 17/2011

No.116-01/2007-SB

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi-110001, Dated: 09.09.2011

To

            All Heads of Circles/Regions

            Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.

Subject: - Admissibility of commission to SAS Agents.

Sir / Madam,

            The undersigned is directed to say that there are lot of audit paras raised by teams of DG P&T Audit in many circles regarding irregular commission paid to SAS agents where the investment was made exceeding the limit of Rs.50,000/- by cash at a time. One Draft Audit Para relating to Delhi and NE Circles has become CAG Para.

2.         As per agency rules, prior to issue of SB Order No.3/2011 dated 11.3.2011, limit for acceptance of cash at a time from SAS agents was Rs.50,000/- which has now been reduced to Rs.10,000/-. In 2004, Regional Director, National Savings Institute, New Delhi vide letter no. Misc/2004 dated 3.11.2001 had intimated the Delhi Circle that agents are not entitled for commission on cash deposits of more than Rs., 50,000/- at a time. CAG Para was also referred to Min. of Finance (DEA) which opined that commission if paid in such cases is irregular and recovery of commission paid cannot be waived.

3.         It is therefore requested that where any SAS agent deposited cash more than Rs.50,000/- at a time in any post office and commission was paid to him, the commission paid has to be recovered from the concerned agent if his agency is active and action should be taken against the officials responsible for accepting cash deposits exceeding the prescribed limit. Where the agent is inactive but his agency is not lapsed, his appointing authority may be asked to recover the amount from his security deposit. In case the agency of agent is expired and not further renewed or agent has already expired, such cases may be referred to this office.

4.         In future, it may be ensured that no cash more than the prescribed limit of Rs.10,000/- at a time should be accepted from the SAS agents as no commission is payable on such irregular deposits.

5.         It is requested that necessary action may be taken immediately to circulate this letter to field units and any violation of these orders by postal staff should be viewed seriously.

6. This issues with the approval of DDG(FS).

Yours faithfully,

(Kawal Jit Singh)