A
Co-ordination Meeting of all office bearers of the National Body of All India
Central Excise Inspectors’ Association was held in New Delhi on 26.07.2015.
Com. Anupam Neeraj, President chaired the said Meeting. The main agenda of the Meeting
was to review the recent developments like JAC, Stagnation, All India
Seniority, 7th CPC, GST Victimization of Office Bearers, ICT, Ensuring
CEC Meeting, Strike Call given by COC and other organizational matters. The
details (Minutes of the Meeting) are as under:-
1.
Joint
Action Committee:-
AICEIA has always been committed towards
bringing all the Associations working under CBEC, together on common issues.
Even, we held many meetings with other sister organizations for fighting
together. Although, we have not had so good experiences of past, we tried again
and again to create a common platform to work together for common causes. The
first condition for JAC formation laid down was that it will not take-up the
Cadre specific issues as the difference of interests of the different Cadres
have been the prime reasons for losing this platform in past. Realising the
need of the hour, eleven Recognised Associations in CBEC attended the meeting
at Kolkata on 28.06.2015 to form the JAC and also to chalk out the charter of demands
which were in consensus and these demands are as below:-
a.
The CBEC should consult the member of Associations/Federations
before submitting the views of the CBEC to the 7th CPC. A meeting of all the Associations/Federations
must be convened by CBEC in this regard, immediately;
b.
Timely DPC’s should be ensured and all
the vacancies in all the cadres should be filled up immediately for smooth and seamless
functioning of the Department;
c. Vacancies available at higher levels for
want of eligible candidates may be downgraded under GFR 254 and filled up with
officers from lower grades;
d.
The units with a turnover of more than
Rs 10 lakhs should not be given to the States and the CBEC should consult with
the Staff Associations/Federations before making any organisational changes
with reference to implementation of GST. Proper training should be imparted to
all officers concerned for implementation of GST;
e. All Recruitment Rules should be
finalised in consultations with the Associations/Federations concerned immediately;
f. Minimum Five functional promotions must
be granted in the career of an employee entering the Department;
g.
MACP
anomalies must be removed immediately without any further delay;
h.
Time
bound disposal of vigilance cases should be ensured;
i.
Immediate
provision of essential infrastructure and office space to all officers as per
the prescribed norms;
j.
Employee Grievance Redressal Mechanism
is to be put in place at Central as well as zonal level for on the spot redressal
of staff grievances;
k.
The 1% incremental incentive amount
should percolate down to the welfare of all Cadres in the Department in proportion
to their strength; and,
l.
Implementation of the comprehensive
health insurance scheme at the earliest. Accordingly, it was decided that the
Convener shall submit a representation to Chairman, CBEC with a copy to
Secretary (Revenue), Govt. Of India along with the charter of demands with a
request to provide immediate audience to all office bearers of constituent
Associations of JAC. In the meeting it was decided that Convener should be
appointed from IRS (Indirect Taxes).
OA
and Joint Conveners should be two each from Customs & Excise side.
Accordingly, following panel was formed:-
A.
CONVENER: Shri Lokanath Mishra, Secretary General of IRS (Indirect Taxes)
Officers Association. B.JOINT-CONVENERS:
1.
Shri Ravi Malik, Secretary General,
AIACEGEO
2.
Shri Asim Pramanick, President,
AICESTMOA
3.
Shri Ashis Chakrabarty, Secretary
General, All India Customs Gr-C Officers' Federation.
4.
Shri Venugopal Nair, President , All
India Customs Preventive Service Federation.
The
charter of demand was signed by the office bearers of all the organisation. On
the basis of the charter one appointment was given by the Chairman, CBEC on
23.07.2015 where the issues were discussed and the Chairman assured the
delegation of timely and proper redressal of the issues.
2.
Stagnation
and All India Seniority:-
As
we know that the cadre of Inspector of Central Excise is the most stagnated
cadre in Central Government Departments. For removal of stagnation, we
approached every nook and corner of the North Block including CBEC to Ministry
to Judiciary. Till date, we have not achieved the desired result except
repeated assurances. The Secretary General apprised the Central Committee
Members about the work done by the National Body in this regard at different
forums. Com. Anupam Neeraj, President apprised the House about the Meeting
fixed with Sh. Jayant Sinha, Hon'ble Minister of State (Finance), Govt. Of India
on different issues pertaining to the cadre on 27.07.2015. The House discussed
the points, which should be the part of the memorandum given to the Hon'ble
Minister. The matters pending before the Court were also discussed during the Meeting.
3.
7th Central Pay
Commission:-
The
Secretary General apprised the Central Committee Members about all the meetings
with the 7th CPC including the last meeting held on 17th June 2015. We put our
demands effectively, which are as follow-
•
Accord Pay-Parity between Superintendent
of Central Excise and the Dy. SP, CBI i.e. to place the Superintendent of
Central Excise in the Grade Pay of Rs. 5400 in PB-3;
•
To
evaluate the manpower requirement at short intervals;
•
To
conduct periodic Cadre Reviews;
•
To strengthen the Audit & Anti
Evasion mechanism considering that the entire tax control has been shifted from
physical control to production based control to audit based control;
•
Training
and incentives to staff to enable computerization of the Department in a
full-fledged manner;
•
Abolition
of Control Room Duty and Uniform for Central Excise and Service Tax;
•
Reasonable
Uniform Allowance for maintaining Uniform in Customs;
•
To
notify new Recruitment Rules for Central Excise Inspectors as Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted
Officers;
•
Payment
of Rummaging Allowance on par with Inspectors of Customs;
•
Payment of Local Travel Expenses (Petrol
Allowance) on par with Inspectors of Income Tax
•
Payment
of Risk Allowance;
•
Parity
with the CBI Inspectors w.e.f. 01.01.1996; and,
•
Same
entry pay level for both the Direct and Promotee Officers.
Apart
from the above, we also asked Hon'ble Commission to recommend five MACPS, MACPS
on the Pay Scale of next Promotional Posts, abolition of NPS etc. Hon'ble
Chairman agreed for at least four MACPS & MACP on next promotional post but,
did not agree on abolition of NPS. Hon'ble Chairman also did not agree to
adding new allowance similar to other Departments. However, he told that
allowances will be enhanced to some extent. The 7th CPC will submit its
recommendation in the month of August 2015.
4.
Goods &
Service Tax:-
The
Goods and Service Tax is expected from April 2016 and the Association is also
gearing up for safeguarding its members' right in the new regime of indirect
taxation. The GST report of Com. Rajashish Dutta discussed at length and areas
were identified in which the Association has to work for safeguarding the
rights of its members.
Com.
Arun Kumar A, Working President briefed the situation in detailed and asked
for resolution over the issue. The Issue started with JCM/GRM conducted by the
Commissioner at Cochin where the office bearers were insisted to wear uniform.
The Commissioner refused to accept the explanations of the office bearers for
not wearing the uniform as well as not availing Special Casual Leave for
attending the said meeting and initiated action against them by directing the
AC (P&V) to take action against Shri Sreejith, Working President and the
Commissioner at Trivandrum to take action against the Shri Prabodh, President
of Kerala Circle. Further, all seasoned office bearers were posted out of
Headquarters of Cochin Commissionerate in an attempt to weaken the Association.
In the latest series, Shri Arun Kumar A was asked to provide proof for the post
held as well as the entire details of this meeting, when requested for Special
Casual Leave for a day for attending the Co-Ordination Meeting.
The
House unanimously condemned such types of action of the administration. The
House extended its full support and it was advised to keep the administration
busy by way of pointing out the wrong and dictatorial decisions of the
administration. The Secretary General assured that if the issue will not
resolved at the level of Circle, the matter will be taken with the higher
authorities by the National Body.
6.
ICT
& Fixation of Seniority on the Supreme Court Judgment on N R Parmar:-
The
issue of ICT (Inter Zonal Transfer) was also discussed during the Meeting. The
Cadre Controlling Authorities under various zones are following divergent
policies owing to which the deserving candidates, whose request was considered
as genuine, are unable to get the requisite benefit of transfer. Com. Arun
Kumar A, Working President also briefed where the administration of Kerala Zone
has delayed the relief of officers applied and granted ICT. Issue has been
taken to the Court by the Department which has cited the reason of staff
shortage for not granting relief. This is the situation when officers are given
on loan as well as deputation all the while. Further, many Cadre Controlling
Authorities have not yet finalized the Seniority List of Inspectors in light of
Hon’ble Supreme Court judgment in the case of N R Parmar v/s. Union of India
despite Board's clear-cut guidelines. A letter on both the issues were written
to the Board and the same were discussed in many meetings with them. Now, it
has come to our notice that they are going to direct the field formations for
dealing with the matter on priority basis. It was also decided to direct all
the Circles/Branches/Units of AICEIA to take up the matter of fixation of
seniority, based on N R Parmar Judgment, with their CCAs. However, some
information has been sought by the House about the matter related to ICT of
Kerala Zone from Com. Arun Kumar A and he assured to send it.
7.
Organizational
Issues:-
i. Office
bearers not discharging their duties:-
It was discussed, during the Co-Ordination Meeting,
that some of the Office Bearers including Com. B. S. Prasad and Com. Aditya
Sharma are neither attending any meeting nor communicating with the office bearers
of national body. They even failed to respond to the communications by the
Secretary General. No work has been done by them since their appointment. The
House took serious note on the matter and the following decisions were taken-
a.
A mail/letter should be written to them
asking the reasons for not working for the association despite holding the post
at National Body.
b.
All Circles/Branches/Units should be
asked to forward the data required by the National Body time to time on priority
basis and without any delay. Further, the National Body should ask any data
from Circles/Branches/Units through the Joint Secretary of the National Body
with a copy to local units.
The
Secretary General briefed the situation of Hyderabad Branch. The Interim body
at Hyderabad was formed to take care the day to day activities of the Association
at Hyderabad but, despite the lapse of many months the election could not be
held there. When contacted with the Office Bearers there, it has been found
that the main reason behind not conducting election is that the charge of
accounts has not been handed over by Shri B. S. Prasad (who is the Ex-Treasurer
of Hyderabad Branch) to the Interim Body. Moreover, many members intimated the
National Body that the Interim Body has not organized any General Body Meeting
till date and even they helped the administration in creating faulty and biased
Transfer & Posting Norms. The House taken serious note of the issue and
took following decisions-
a.
Sh. B. S. Prasad should be directed to
hand over the charge of Accounts to the Interim Body without any further delay.
b.
The Interim Body of Hyderabad Branch
should be directed to organize the General Body Meeting and election without
further delay.
c.
Com. Sandip Unnikrishnan, Vice President
(South Zone) to co-ordinate with all the Branches/Circles/Units of South Zone
and find replacement of Sh. B. S. Prasad, Joint Secretary (South Zone)
unanimously.
d. Com.
Sandip Unnikrishnan, Vice President (South Zone) has also been assigned the job
of co-ordinating with the members and office bearers of interim body of
Hyderabad Branch in order to conduct election and form a new body. In case if
they need financial (with pre-condition to refund once Association is formed
and issue is solved) or other assistance, we shall extend that.
iii. Ways and initiative to increase the membership of the Association:-
The
performance of every Branch/Circle were discussed and found that many Zones/Circles
need to work in a manner that fulfils the genuine rights of its members. Many Zones
need to enhance the memberships. For this, every Joint
Secretaries/Vice-Presidents of National Body will co-ordinate to the General
Secretaries and Presidents of their jurisdiction and help them in order to
reach even the Inspectors posted at remote areas. The election at
Vishakhapattnam, Kerala, Agra, Tiruvelveli, Goa, Patna, Bhubaneshwar and Delhi
were discussed. Further, the ongoing process of election at Meerut Circle was
also discussed and it was decided to recognize the Meerut Circle, if it
satisfies the constitution of AICEIA. The following decisions have been taken-
a. Joint
Secretary/Vice-Presidents of National Body will collect the data related to
each and every Zones, where election is inevitable either due to completion of
tenure or the promotion in the CR.
b. Sh.
Rajesh Kumar, Organizing Secretary has been assigned to collect the election
details from the Units/Circles since February, 2015, to identify units where
election is due, to make sure the DDO certificates are in order and dues are
cleared.
c. The House appreciated the role of Shri Rajesh
Kumar for formation of body at Goa. Further, the House also appreciated the
work of Sh. Dina Nath Kar, G. S. West Bengal Circle and Sh. Rajesh Kumar,
Organizing Secretary for organizing Blood Donation Camp at Kolkata and Dhanbad
respectively.
iv. Participation
in Strike Called by the COC:-
The
Staff side National JCM/COC has given call for General Strike on 02.09.2015 and
indefinite National Strike Call from 23.11.2015 to pursue 12 points charter of
demands. Being member of the COC, we have to show solidarity with the COC.
During the Meeting, it has been decided to wear black badge on 02.09.2015 and
for this an uniform design of badge will be prepared and sent to all Circles/Branches/Units,
so that they can print it and wear it on 02.09.2015. Further, it has been
unanimously decided to go for indefinite strike on 23.11.2015 with COC.
The
next Central Executive Committee Meeting has been fixed at Ahmedabad but, the
date of the Meeting has not been informed by the host Unit till date. The
members discussed it and opined that it is going to be late as the CEC is due
in the month of August, 2015. The SG informed that Sh. Manoj Kumar Singh,
President, Ahmedabad Branch assured that they will announce the date of the Meeting
within a week.
Further, Sh. Rananjay Pratap Singh,
Vice President representing West Zone, has been assigned the work to monitor
and help the host Unit in order to organize fruitful CEC.
vi. Review of the Work of the Committee set up in CEC Meeting Kolkata:-
Two
committees were set up during CEC Meeting Kolkata i.e. Committee on Vigilance
Matter and Committee on Legal Matters. But, the Committees have not done any
significant progress during these months and no report has been submitted till
date.
Com.
Arun Kumar, Working President was assigned the work to pursue the matter and
devise/adopt the methodology that suits the majority.
vii. Filling the vacant post of the Joint
Secretary (North Zone):-
After
promotion of Com. Ajay Kumar Saini, the post of the Joint Secretary (North
Zone) is lying vacant. Com. Devendra Kumar, Liaison Secretary has been assigned
the work to co-ordinate with all the Branches/Circles/Units of North Zone and
find proper person for the post of the Joint Secretary (North Zone).
viii. Meeting with Sh. Jayant Sinha, Minister of State (Finance), Govt. Of India:-
The
meeting with Sh. Jayant Sinha, Minister of State (Finance), Govt. Of India is
scheduled to be held at his residence on 27.07.2015. The issues to be discussed
with the Minister were discussed during the Meeting and memorandum was
prepared. Due to some urgent domestic work, the SG told that he is unable to
attend the meeting and Com. Rananjay Pratap Singh, Vice-President representing
West zone was nominated to participate in the Meeting along with Com. Anupam
Neeraj, President.
ix. Grooming
of the Next-in-Line:-
This
is something we have to make a regular practice so that there shall be ample
bench strength to lead the Association at all level. It was suggested that
those who are able may be brought in.
Special
mention was made on the activities of Com. Karunakar Reddy, G. S. Chennai
Branch, Com. Prabodh, President, Kerala Circle and Com. Manoj Kumar Singh,
President, Ahmedabad Branch for their outstanding work in very little time.
x. Other Issues,
which were discussed upon:-
a.
Delay
in Vigilance Proceedings;
b. Compassionate
Appointment;
c.Benefit from 1% incremental scheme;
d. Health Insurance
Scheme to be launched by CBEC;
e. Aadhaar Enabled
Biometric Attendance System;
f.
Allowances
in the form of Mobile phones and charges;
g. Scope of going
to media when it comes to strike; and,
h.
Access
for association to video conferencing systems installed by the department.
The Co-Ordination Meeting was concluded
with the Vote of Thanks by Com. Anupam Neeraj, President.
A
meeting with Hon'ble Minister of State (Finance), Govt. Of India was held on
27.07.2015 at his residence in New Delhi. The Association apprised him about
the negligence of CBEC towards this largest working cadre of Indirect Tax
Administration. We presented our well prepared memorandum and discussed the
issues like acute stagnation, regional disparity in promotion, post-CR
problems, non-submission of the report of Study Group on Stagnation and
non-implementation of reports of previous Committees, irrelevancy of Uniform,
Control Room, poor infrastructure facilities (even when we have implemented
Sevottam), our apprehension in GST regime etc.
Hon'ble
Minister gave us ample time to discuss all the issues and was convinced on many
issues. He assured us that the Cadre will get its due rights & benefits.
Yours fraternally,
-Sd/-
(Abhishek Kamal)
Secreatry General
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