Meeting with the Chief Commissioner, Central Excise, Ahmedabad Zone

A meeting of both Inspector and Superintendent Associations was held with the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, Ahmedabad Zone during her visit to Rajkot on 31.01.2012. Following joint representation was submitted to the Chief Commissioner Madam during the meeting which she had heard patiently and assured to look in the matter.

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ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL EXCISE AND CUSTOMS GAZZETED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS : RAJKOT UNIT

&

ALL INDIA CENTRAL EXCISE INSPECTORS’ ASSOCIATION

: RAJKOT BRANCH :

F.No. : AICEIA/RJT/1/2012 Date : 31.01.2012

To,

The Chief Commissioner,

Central Excise Ahmedabad Zone,

Ahmedabad (Camp – Rajkot).

Madam,

Sub : Concerns and problems of the officers of Rajkot sector.

With due respect, it is to state that the existing situation prevailing at Central Excise Commissionerate, Rajkot and Rajkot sector at large, has compelled both the associations to submit following few points for your kind consideration :-

1. Allowing resumption of Inspectors promoted to the grade of Superintendent at their respective Commissionerate and further issuance of order allocating Commissionerate within Sector by the Sectoral Cadre Controlling Authority :

(i) Recently some Inspectors have been promoted from the grade of Inspector to the grade of Superintendent Group B.

Due to administrative exigencies for issuing detailed order of Sector/Commissionerate, there is a time gap of 25 to 30 days, and even is some cases even more than couple of months. However, normally the promoted officers are provided with the period of 15 days, within which they are supposed to join new place of posting indicated in the promotion order in order to accept their promotion. Initially at the time of issuing promotion order, the officers are placed at the disposal of Ahmedabad Zonal office. However, during this intervening period, officers promoted, are placed in very peculiar situation. Since the Sector orders are not issued, sectoral cadre controlling authority at Rajkot is not in position to accept the resumption/acceptance report from the promoted officers. Therefore, for few days, till the sector orders are issued by the Ahmedabad Zonal office, the officers from Kandla, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Customs (Prev) Commissionerate Jamnagar are compelled to join the zonal establishment office at Ahmedabad. Both the Associations are of opinion and request your honour to issue suitable instructions to the sectoral cadre controlling authority at Rajkot, to accept resumption report of the officers promoted at their respective Commissionerate where they are presently posted, just as was system prevailing in the erstwhile period. This would spare the promoted officers from avoidable hardship they have to undergo at the time promotion. Joining at Ahmedabad would further entail the officer to get relieved from Kandla/ Bhavnagar/ Jamnagar/ Rajkot, join at Ahmedabad, again getting relieved from Ahmedabad, joining at Rajkot Sector, and again joining to the Commissionerate, where they are eventually posted. Most importantly during this intervening period the services of officer could not be availed and it is also a sort of wastage of manpower.

(ii) Further even after allocation of the promoted officer and the officer repatriated to the parent Commissionerate to the particular sector, the posting of the officer within the sector after being finalized by the local committee are again being sent to the zonal cadre controlling authority for approval and issuance of order there from. This appears to be duplication of process and further results in undue delays of posting. It is, therefore, requested that once the establishment orders allocating particular sector is issued by the CCO, the order for Commisssionerate should be issued by the local cadre controlling authority only.

2. Forwarding of willingness for deputation to other organizations/agencies:

It has been brought to the notice of the associations that the willingness submitted by the officers for deputations to other organizations/ agencies are not being forwarded to the concerned organizations/ agencies calling for willingness.

Madam, you are aware that the posting of Inspectors to other agencies such as DRI, SEZ, DGCEI, International Airports etc. are done on deputation basis. The primary objective of deputation postings is to expose the officers to different kind of work. The willingness for deputation to other organizations/ agencies/formations are being forwarded by other Commissionerate of Rajkot Sector and also other Commissionerate outside Rajkot Sector to the organizations/ agencies calling willingness. If the willingness for deputation submitted by the officers of Central Excise Commissionerate, Rajkot are not forwarded to the concerned organizations/ agencies in time it would deprive the officers of the opportunity of getting exposure of different kind of work. Hence, in the interest of justice and equality, it would be fair that the officers desirous for submitting willingness for deputation postings and to work with other organizations/ agencies may not be deprived from such prerogative and it is requested that their applications for deputation to other organizations/ agencies may be are forwarded to the concerned organizations/ agencies in time.

3. Overstay of some of the officers in the Deputation postings :

There is a flip side to the above issue too. Just as some of the officers are not getting opportunity to get exposure to the deputation posting, some lucky few have dropped permanent anchor in the deputation posting. In quite contrast to above, there are few officers who have made deputation postings as their permanent HQ. In some of the deputation postings there are some officers who have been working for almost a decade. Normal tenure of any deputation posting is 2/3 years and any retention of officers beyond that stipulated period frustrate the very objective of deputation posting. The other officer desirous of working in such deputation postings would naturally not get opportunity to work, as some of the officers never move out of such deputation postings.

Department of Personnel and Training has issued Officer Memoradum F. No. 6/8/2009-Estt(Pay-II) dated 01.03.2011 which lays down consequences of overstay on deputation postings.

4. Posting of officers at SEZ :

Recently it has been gathered that the establishment orders for posting of officers to SEZ will be done by the jurisdictional Commissioner and following such instructions, orders of few officers for posting to SEZ were issued by Commissioner Rajkot and Bhavnagar. In quite contrast to above policy, it is to bring to the notice that order of posting of one of the officer to MPSEZ Mundra from Customs, Kandla has directly been issued by the office of Development Commissioner, Ahmedabad. It is requested to take up the matter with the Development Commissioner and the order may be got cancelled. Further, it is also requested to kindly take up the matter with the Development Commissioner for relieving of officers who have already completed their tenure in SEZ and posting other officers of the jurisdiction may be done by the Commissioner, Rajkot against the existing/ occurred vacancies in SEZ.

5. Un-even distribution of staff among Commissionerate :

(i) Posting of officers of Rajkot Commissionerate to Bhavnagar Commissionerate :

Madam, it is to submit that shortage of staff at Bhavnagar Commissionerate should be filled up by taking into consideration the working strength of the entire zone. Out of only 4 Admn. Officers in the entire zone, recently one of the Admn. Officers has been transferred to Bhavnagar Commissionerate whereas there are 28 Admn. Officers working at Ahmedabad. As a consequence of this, a number of administrative and financial tasks remain pending at Rajkot Commissionerate. This results overburden of work on the superintendents to whom the additional charge of administrative officer is given.

(ii) Non-allocation of newly recruited inspectors to Rajkot sector :

Recently 80 inspectors have been inducted in the Ahmedabad Zone. However, none of the inspector has been allotted to Rajkot sector. The officer should be proportionally allotted looking to the existing staffing position of each sector. Rajkot sector has also severe deficiency in the cadre of inspector.

(iii) Mid-term transfer :

It has been brought to the notice that recently, the Customs Commissionerate has sought 15 inspector for its Commissionerates. The names of the officers have probably been sent. Madam, on one hand, none of the officers out of newly 80 promoted inspectors are allotted to Rajkot sector and another hand there is deficiency of Rajkot sector is being increased by shifting officers to Customs formation. The members of this association are completely against any mid-term transfer and we request you not to disturb any officer in mid-term.

The members of this association are also opinion that there is no real deficiency of staff in customs formation. Since, the inspector, are made to do work and posted to non-executive sections like, CAO, Adm, Establishment etc. deficiency is noticed. Solution to this serious problem of improper utilization manpower needs to thrashed out, first.

Further any mid-term transfer at the time of ensuing Annual Budget period is likely to affect revenue prospect of the commissionerate.

6. Partial amendment to the existing transfer policy :

(i) As per para 5.5 of the terms and tenure of stay at different stations / cities of the country of the Group “A” Transfer Policy defined. At the said para, it is laid down that the time spent at certain (non-sensitive) posts shall not be counted for computing the overall period for particular station. Accordingly, keeping in view the provisions made vide para 5.5 of the Transfer / Placement Policy for Group-A officers, it is requested that a provision, on similar line may also be made in the case of Group-B and Group-C officers of the Commissionerate too. This Association proposes the following (non-sensitive) posts/sections in the commissionerate of Rajkot sector, the tenure spent at which, should not be counted for computing overall period at any Headquarters for the purpose of Transferring Group- B and C officers :

(i) Legal (ii) RRA, (iii) Vigilance (iv) Confidential (v) Adjudication (vi) Statistics (vii) Recovery (viii) Technical (ix) GSO / PRO (x) Training (xi) SPS (xii) All other charges where there is no direct and regular interface with the public and trade.

Accordingly, it is requested that the existing Transfer Policy of the Group B and C officer, be amended in line with the Transfer/Placement Policy of Group - A officers. However, while counting the tenure in the aforesaid manner, the officer should have option so as to include the tenure at above non-sensitive sections as well. While conducting the Annual General Transfer, 2011 the period for which the officers worked at above non-sensitive charge/s should be excluded for the purpose of counting station / Headquarters tenure of six / four years.

(ii) The present transfer policy provides for retention of an officer whose child is studying in Class XII. In this connection, it is requested to amend the transfer policy and to include Class X & XI as the exams for these standards are also being conducted at Board level. Your attention is also invited to para 9.5 of the transfer policy for Group ‘A’ officers which provide that “In case an officer requests for retention in a particular station on the ground that his/ her child is studying in Class-X or Class-XII, the Board/ Placement Committee may consider such requests”.

7. Timely issuance of AGT orders :

Annual General Transfer and Posting orders may be issued by 15^th April. Further entire process be completed within a maximum one month . It is also requested the minimum geographical dislocation should be done, as the same is very sensitive area and creates mass uproar and stir up sentiments amongst members of the association of this region.

Association would be greatly indebted to your Honour if the above concerns are looked into favorably.

Thanking you, in anticipation

Yours faithfully,
(G.K. Jhala) Secretary Superintendent Association	(D.J. Pandya) Secretary Inspectors’ Association

CEC Meeting at Hyderabad

The Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting of the AICEIA was held at Hyderabad (AP) during 27th & 28th January, 2012. The General Secretary of Hyderabad Circle with his team took a great pain to make the event awesome with professional touch of arrangement and warm Hyderabadi hospitality. The Office Bearers of the AICEIA, Rajkot Branch attended the meeting.

Jannab Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament was the Chief Guest. Shri S.B. Singh, Chief Commissioner was the Guest of Honour and Commissioners of Hyderabad-II, III and IV, Shri V. Nageshwar Rao, General Secretary of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, Andhra Pradesh were the Special Invitees. Delegates from Superintendent Association, SC/ST Association, Group-C Association and Group-D Association were also present.

In the closed session of the meeting, long pending issues alongwith forthcoming Cadre Restructuring were discussed at length and resolutions were passed to take up some of the matter at national level.

JCM held at CCP-Jamnagar on 24.01.2012

The J.C.M. meeting was held on 24.01.2012 under the chairmanship of the Commissioner of Customs, Customs (Prev.) Commissionerate, Jamangar. Group ‘B’ Non-Gazzeted Officer’s Association was also invited to attend the meeting along with other staff associations.

Following points were submitted by the Association for discussion in the said JCM :

A. Transfer Policy :

1. This Association would like to put forward grievances of the members being faced on account of past AGT orders. It has come to notice that the officers are transferred from one charge to another charge changing the station within two years. At this juncture, we would like to bring to your notice that till date the practice of transfer of officers followed by the administration was that at a station where there is more than one formation (sensitive and non-sensitive), the officer is allowed to continue his tenure at that station more than two years. The main and primary motive behind such practice adopted by the administration was minimum transfer and disturbance of the officer. That is too in the interest of the department.

2. In the last AGT orders, it seems that all the stations were put in the category of two years expect Jamnagar and remote stations. In the present scenario, an officer would have minimum three transfers with a change of station during Customs tenure of four years if he/she is posted outside the Jamnagar station. Sir, you may also appreciate the fact that frequent transfers cause avoidable instability, resulting in inadequate development of expertise of an officer and grasp of the responsibilities, besides resulting in avoidable expenditure. This Association would like to draw your attention to the Transfer /Rotation / Placement policy framed by the Chief Commissioner, Customs, Gujarat Zone dated 10.06.2011 issued from F.No. II/3-11/Estt/2011/CCO wherein guidelines for classification of station is given at Para 6 which is reproduced below :

“6. POLICY TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE COMMISSIONERATES:

Every Commissionerate shall classify all its stations into three categories which will generally have a maximum of tenure as mentioned below:

Category 1 : 4 years (maximum)

Category 2 : 2 years

Category 3 : Remote/ difficult/ hard postings with one year tenure

The above categorization would be based on the level of development of the place, its connectivity, availability of medical, educational and other amenities, etc. A Commissionerate may not have all the three categories. …”

It is pertinent to emphasis that the development of place, its connectivity, availability of medical, educational and other amenities etc. have to be taken into count while categorising any station for its tenure. As on date, in the jurisdiction of Jamnagar Customs Commissionerate, there are many stations which have now well developed, have good transport connectivity, better availability of medical, educational and other amenities and also have more than one formation both sensitive and non-sensitive. Out of those, two stations viz. Bhavnagar and Porbandar are also the district headquarters.

3. As per the present policy, if an officer is transferred frequently i.e. three to four transfer during Customs tenure, how could Department expect adequate development of expertise, grasp of responsibility from him when the officer himself is under undue hardship and in state of instability. On the other hand, the Department has also to bear unnecessary and avoidable expenditure on transfer allowances. In the circumstances, categorization of station for its tenure needs urgent revision with a view to ensure longer tenures at posting, wherever feasible, in the interest of officers as well as exchequer.

B. Circulation and forwarding of willingness for deputation postings.

This Association has already taken up the matter with the administration for circulation of willingness called for by the other agencies like DRI, NCB, SEZ, International Airports etc. The same has not been circulated to the lower formations and even if it is circulated the willingness has not been forwarded to respective authorities in time depriving the officers from the exposure of deputation postings. Same has been circulated and forwarded in other Commissionerates of the zone.

C. Infrastructure :

The major issue concerns with the availability of infrastructure at lower formations. The fact may be appreciated that basic facilities and good working environment definitely increase the efficiency of the officer. There are so many lower formations including remote places where basic facilities including good office premises as well as proper furniture, drinking water etc. are lacking. Many of the Shore Guard units though being the preventive formations are not having vehicles as well as other related articles/equipments. The position of arms and ammunitions is also poor, either same is not available or not in a working condition. In the current modern era, telephone, computer, internet, photocopier machine etc. are also required for speedy communication. The Association would appreciate urgent intervention of the administration in the matter.

D. Issue related to arms licence.

The department is providing arms to the officers on loan basis on the condition that the officer should be possessing valid arms licence issued by competent State authorities. Instances have come to notice that when any officer requests for the no objection certificate from the department for applying to the State authorities to obtain arms licence, unwarranted queries are being raised for one or other reason and that too in piece-meal thereby delaying the matter. In absence of such NOC, the State authorities simply reject the arms licence application. The Association would like to urge the administration to look into the matter and direct the concerned suitably. It would be highly appreciated if the strong recommendation for arms licences is also provided along with such NOC.

E. Issue related to inter-commissionerate transfer.

It has brought to the notice of the Association that the request applications for inter-commissionerate transfer submitted by the officers on spouse ground are not being forwarded to the higher authorities. Even the officers who are under order of inter-commissionerate transfer are not being relieved causing the seniority loss to the individual officer due to delay in relieving. This Association would like the administration to look into the matter positively in terms of the DOP&T’s guidelines in this regard.

F. Non-issuance of pay-slips and income-tax liability notice.

It has come the notice of the Association that in many of the Customs formations, monthly pay-slips are not being issued. It has also been the general practice in the department that the notice with regard to income-tax liability are being issued in the month of December so as to make the individual officer aware regarding his/her income-tax liability and planning for savings thereof. This has not been followed in many of the formations.

G. Any other point raised during the time of meeting.

The office bearers of the Association attended the said JCM on 24.01.2012 at Jamangar and discussed all the above points at length. The Association looks forward for the positive response on the issues from the administration.