Minutes of meeting of the Association held on 20.02.2009 at Jamnagar

A meeting of the members of All India Central Excise Inspectors Association, Rajkot Branch was held on 20.02.2009 at Jamnagar from 19:00 hrs onwards. On invitation, office bearers and members of Superintendent Association, Group ‘C’ Ministerial Officers’ Association and Group ‘D’ Officers’ Association also remained present in the meeting. At the inception, a warm welcome was given to all the office bearers and the members of the Associations.

The main agenda of the meeting was to nominate divisional representatives at local level so that the functioning of the Association becomes more effective and for effective interaction, correspondence and coordination between the Association and the administration. Decision for appointing Divisional Representative was unanimously taken by the members of the Association and following Divisional Representatives were nominated.

1. Customs Headquarter, Jamnagar - I. S. Rangwala
2. Customs Division, Jamnagar - D. V. Somaiya
3. Customs Division, Porbandar - Hitesh Joshi
4. Customs Division, Bhavnagar - Nishant Bhatt
5. Central Excise Division, Jamnagar - N. C. Gajariya
6. Central Excise Division, Gandhidham - N. S. Maheshwari

During the meeting the members of the Association discussed various issues effecting the cadre and took decision unanimously on following issues :

(i) Inspectors working in place of ministerial officers : It is observed that the working of the Inspectors cadre is adversely affecting as on one hand there are number of vacancies in Inspectors cadre and on another hand the Inspectors are utilized for ministerial work. It has been decided to write a letter to the Commissioner to take up the matter with higher authorities to fill up the vacancies on priority basis in both the cadres i.e. Inspectors as well as Ministerial cadre.

(ii) Collection of membership and authorization forms : Members were requested to submit their membership and authorization forms at the earliest so that same may submitted to the DDOs for further deduction of membership fees.

(iii) Shifting of Headquarters office of Jamnagar Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate to Rajkot : More than 75% of the staff working the HQ Office Jamnagar hails from place out of Jamnagar. Further, Jamnagar is geographically situated at the corner of the jurisdiction. Therefore, for shake of better administrative reach and geographical location, it has been decided to take up the matter with the administration for shifting of Headquarters office of Jamnagar Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate to Rajkot.

(iv) Transfer and posting policy : A number of transfer policies have been framed by the administration at Ahmedabad, but none have clarity regarding the issues specially touching the Rajkot Sector. Looking to the geographical concerns and jurisdiction of Rajkot Sector there is a need to formulate a separate transfer and posting policy for Rajkot Sector comprising of Central Excise, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Customs Commissionerate Jamnagar. A draft transfer and posting policy was prepared and put before the members present at the meeting. The draft policy was discussed in detail and same was finalized. It has been decided to submit the finalized transfer and posting policy to the administration with a request to frame a new policy for Rajkot Sector considering the suggestions given by the Association.

(v) Deputation to other formations : It was brought to the notice by some the member of the Association that the willingness for deputation posting called for from other agencies are not being circulated and forwarded by the administration. It has been decided that the administration should be requested to circulate and forward all the willingness for deputation postings without any pre-conditions.

(vi) Conducting of JCM : It was brought to the notice by the member of the Association that JCM is not being conducted in some of the formations. It has been decided to write a letter to all the formation with a request to conduct the JCM as per the instructions / guidelines in this regard.

(vii) Formation of joint co-ordination committee : It was observed that there is a lack of co-ordination between the Associations of various cadres. A proposal was put forward by the office bearers of all the other Associations present in the meeting for formulating a joint co-ordination committee comprising of office bearers of all the association working under the jurisdiction of Rajkot Sector. This would result in strengthening the Associations for taking up the matters effectively and strongly with the administration. The proposal has been accepted and decided to formulate the joint co-ordination committee in due course of time.

The meeting concluded with the vote of thanks by the President.


(Dilip J. Pandya)
General Secretary

Date : 25.02.2009

Deputation – Preventive Officer in KASEZ

Willingness for deputation of Preventive Officer for posting at Kandla Special Economic Zone, Gandhidham (Kutch) has been called for from the eligible officer by the A.O. (Estt), CCE-HQ, Rajkot vide F.No. II/13-03/2008-Estt dated 11.02.2009. Willing officers may send their applications on or before 19.02.2009 through Head of Office.

Meeting of Association on 20.02.2009 at Jamnagar

F.No. : AICEIA/RJT/1/2008 Date : 11.02.2009

CIRCULAR

A meeting of the Association, Jamnagar Unit, is to be held on 20.02.2009 (Friday) at 18.30 hrs. at Sanidhiya Party Plot, Rajkot Highway, Jamnagar.

The main agenda is to get to know each other among other things. Points to come up for discussions are i) Induction of members and collection of membership forms; ii) Nature of work allotted to Inspectors; iii) General Transfer Policy and specific policy of Customs, iv) appointment of Divisional Representatives.

Any other points that members would put forth and committee would like to consider.

All the members of the association are requested to kindly attend the meeting.

(Dilip J. Pandya)

General Secretary

Federation Circular 2/09 dated 27.1.2009

CIRCULAR 2/09 dated 27.1.2009.

Dear Comrades,

ON DEFERMENT OF STRIKE

The meeting of the National Executive of the Confederation was held at New Delhi on 15th of January, 2009 to review the preparation for an indefinite strike action scheduled to commence from 20th January, 2009. The meeting heard the Secretaries of the affiliated Associations/Federations and Unions as also the secretaries of the Co-ordination Committees. The Comrades who were deputed to attend the State level Conventions also made their observations at the meeting. Most of the Speakers expressed the need for further time to reach out the membership in far-flung areas. The meeting concluded that intensive mobilization and campaign programmes needed to carry out the strike action successfully with full participation of the membership. It was therefore decided not to commence the strike action from 20th January, 2009 but defer the same to a future date and carry out an intensified campaign amongst the mass of the employees. All affiliates will advise their State leadership to visit all branches and hold meetings to explain the Charter of Demands, educate and mobilize their employees for the eventual strike action. Campaign material circulated by the Confederation (CHQ) (available at its website: confederationhq.blogspot.com) will be translated into vernacular and circulate amongst the members. The said campaign should be concluded by 15.02.2009. The National Executive will meet again in February to take further decision in the matter.

The representatives of the Confederation were to meet the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 15th of January 2009 in a delegation with Com.Basudeb Acharya, MP to seek his intervention in bringing about a settlement of the Charter of Demands. This meeting could not take place due to the preoccupation of the Hon'ble Prime Minister. The meeting was scheduled to take place on 22 January 2009. Unfortunately Prime Minister got admitted in hospital and he had undergone a successful by pass surgery which is well known to you and now Confederation is waiting for good moment when a right person can be approached.

MEETING WITH HON’BLE MINISTER OF STATE (EXPENDITURE), SRI PAWAN KUMAR BANSAL & OTHERS

We went to Chandigarh on 16th of January, 2009 to meet Hon’ble Minister of State (Expenditure), Sri Pawan Kumar Bansal on 17.01.09 we had submitted representations mainly on the following issues:

1. The anomaly in the pay scale consequent to the merger of 3 pay scales by the CCS (RP) Rules, 2008 thereby placing the feeder cadre of Senior Tax Assistant and the promotional cadre of Inspector in the same grade pay.

2. The denial of notional fixation with effect from 01.01.1996 in the pre-revised scale of Rs. 6500-10500/-. The scale was granted on 21.04.04 in order to restore historical parity of pay scales with Inspectors of CBI & IB.
in addition to these two issues we have narrated certain other issues like A.C.P etc which requires clearance from the Ministry of Expenditure.

We requested Hon’ble Minister to consider our representations favorably and to issue necessary directions as deemed fit.

As desired by Hon’ble Minister of State (Expenditure), we met him again in Delhi and submitted all the papers in support of our representation; fortunately Hon’ble Minister appreciated our presentation on the spot and assured us of examination on the issues. After our presentation, Hon’ble Minister expressed his willingness to hear us once again if required. In the whole process we appreciate the role played by General Secretary, office Bearers and the members of All India Central Excise Inspectors’ Association, Chandigar Circle. The leaders and members of Chandigarh Circle and that of the All India Association are keeping constant watch on the day-to-day developments.

Another set of office bearers under the leadership of our All India President is likely to meet Hon’ble M.P. Dr. E.M.Sudarshana Nachiappan, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personal, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, on 31st of January , 2009 at Thiruvadanai, some 90 kms away from Madurai to discuss over the above stated issues. The above stated appointment was arranged by Trichy Branch and this unit is putting its every effort to make this appointment a success. Hon’ble M.P. Dr. E.M.Sudarshana Nachiappan in his inaugural address at our XVth Conventionat Daman assured us to extend all possible help on the issues, which are directly affecting Inspectors of Central Excise; hence, our leadership rightly decided to approach the Hon’ble M.P. to resolve the issues pending for consideration in relation to revised pay rules. In this connection, we would like to mention that ITEF and ITGOA are supporting our every move and expressed their willingness to attend the meeting with Hon’ble M.P. Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan on 31st of January , 2009 at Thiruvadanai. Our leaders in Trichy and Madurai are arranging the meeting. We have started our discussion with Preventive Service Federation and with the Superintendent of Central Excise and other related organization under the Department of Revenue.

RESTRUCTURING AND RE-ORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT

We have mentioned in our Circular 01/09 dated 10.01.2009 regarding the proposal of the high power committee and its feasibility. It is understood that they have proposed for the creation of 1400 posts of Sr. Superintendent Jr. time scale who would be placed in senior time scale after completion of 4 years. The Sr. Superintendents would be heading the audit groups and would act as Departmental Representatives before the adjudicating authorities and Commissioner (Appeals).

We are now given to understand that the Committee has given its report to the Board. We have not been given a copy of the report. To our information, the Committee has not suggested any merger of cadres and that it has suggested for creation of 1400 posts of a new cadre Senior Superintendents (JTS & STS) with grade pay of Rs. 5400/ 6600 and that this cadre would not integrate with IRS (C & CE). The promotion to the cadre of Assistant Commissioner (IRS) would continue in the existing manner.We have raised the following points and submitted to Joint Sect. (Admn.) that:

1. The creation of the cadre of Senior Superintendent without any provision for integration with IRS (C& CE) at a level higher that that of Deputy Commissioner would not bring in a solution for the stagnation of executive cadres in Central Excise.

2. The report does not provide for a proper criterion for promotion to the proposed cadre of Senior Superintendent.

3. The proposal that a person promoted to the grade of Senior Superintendent (JTS) and then to Senior Superintendent (STS) would stand in line for promotion as Assistant Commissioner (IRS) carrying a pay scale equivalent to that of the SS (JTS) makes the promotion to SS a mere mockery.

4. In any case the proposed number of 1400 posts is too insufficient to remove the stagnation.

5. The report doesn’t propose for bringing in a unified cadre in CBEC even though the technical decision to merge the cadres was taken by the Board as early as in 1996.On restructuring, we have submitted our proposal to two separate study groups, which we shall publish in our official blog shortly.

Comradely Yours

(KOUSIK ROY)

To

All Office Bearers of AICEIA

(for wide circulation of inputs to the Members ofall Circles/Branches)

Deputation - I.O. in DGCEI - AZU

Willingness for appointment as Intelligence Officer in DGCEI, Ahmedabad Zonal Unit has been called for from the eligible officer by the A.O. (Estt), CCE-HQ, Rajkot vide F.No. II/13-04/2008-Estt dated 22.01.2009. Willing officers may send their applications on or before 27.01.2009 through Head of Office.

Few words from the President

Let me take opportunity to convey my whole-hearted gratitude to all the members who put confidence on us and unanimously elected as office bearers of the Rajkot Branch of the Association.

We, the Rajkot Branch, jointly representing the Central Excise Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Customs (Preventive) Jamnagar Commissionerates, are the branch of All India Central Excise Inspectors’ Association.

You all may be aware of the fact that after persistent efforts, the Association got its recognition by the Central Board of Excise and Customs vide its letter F.No. B.12017/1/2004-Ad.IV A dated 31.12.2007. As a part and parcel of the Association, it is our moral duty to organise the cadre and maintain its unity and strength against all odds.

Needless to say that the association provides us a platform to stand united, to share and discuss our common problems and possible solutions. It also provides us a platform to convey the feelings and/or problems of the members to the concerned authorities more effectively and in a right manner. I would also like to emphasis that this platform be used in the larger interest of the cadre and not the individuals.

I hope and expect from all the members to extend us all co-operation, valuable guidance and positive response in every activity and that too with overall encouragement.

I always welcome members’ comments, feedback, suggestions, replies and queries.

Uttam Bhalsod
President, AICEIA- Rajkot Branch