ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL EXCISE

GAZETTED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

President:                                                           Address for communication:                         Secretary General:

Lokanath Mishra                                          240, Razapur, Ghaziabad-201001 (U.P.)                               Ravi Malik

Mob. 09437314941                                       mail Id: ravimalik_sweet@yahoo.com                   Mob. 09868816290

Vice Presidents: Sampat Rai & Vatan Kamble (Central); Anurag Chaudhary & Ravi Joshi (North); A. Ravinder Singh & Rajan G. George (South); A. S. Roy & Shubhrangshu Deb (East); P. D. Nimhan & S. K. Jha (West)

Joint Secretaries: Anand Kishore & Laxmi Lal Singhvi (Central); N. N. Lal & R. K. Solanki (North); G. Srinath & S. Chandrasekar (South); Ashwini Majhi & V. N. Jha (East); G. K. Jhala & M. K. Misra (West)

Office Secretary: C.S.Sharma (Mob. 09313885411)             Treasurer: N.R.Manda (Mob. 09871483585)

(Recognised by G.O.I., Min. of Fin. vide letter F.No. B. 12017/10/2006-Ad.IV A Dt.21.01.08)

Ref. No. 27/H/13                                                                                                   Dt. 04.03.13

To,                                                                                                 

Sh. P. Chidambaram,

The Hon’ble Minister of Finance,

North Block, New Delhi.

Sub: Working on holidays.

Sir,

            It is submitted with due regards that the staffside is being forced to attend the offices on holidays in Service Tax & Central Excise Commissionerates. Not only it but they are also being threatened of punitive actions in case of not being able to attend the office on holidays due to their compelling circumstances which is mere example of mass harassment to the staff. Very recently, Central Excise Commissioner has ordered the staff to attend the offices on Saturdays & Sundays and also on other holidays in Visakhapatnam.

            2. It is further submitted that there exist no statutory provisions to force the staff to work on holidays. More disappointingly, they are also being threatened of punitive actions despite of the fact that they have always worked in the most obedient manner for CBEC. Our authorities have forgotten that we are living in the greatest democracy of the world. They are happy to issue undemocratic orders to suppress the staffside which reminds only of the English time. 

            3. As your goodself knows that the five days week in the Central Govt. was started by a Cabinet decision which can never be overruled by any administrative instruction. The officers are already demoralized, job-dissatisfied & de-motivated due to the lack of promotional avenues, working conditions, basic amenities, required facilities etc. and also non-grant of requisite pay deals. They are further humiliated by forcing to work on holidays instead of undoing the injustice being faced by them for decades on above counts. Further crushing them will serve no purpose but collapse the system. The five days working in the Central Govt. offices replacing six days was started enabling the officers to get proper rest and start the work with fresh energy & zeal after 2 days relaxation to increase the efficiency. This also enabled them to give sufficient time to their families and dispose of their personal/family related obligations in more efficient and relaxed manner.

            4. It is also worth to mention that the officers are being paid for the fixed hours/days per month. Forcing them to work for extra more days in the month without paying extra wages/incentive/compensation is no-way justified and is totally unlawful causing unwarranted litigations. Any emergent situation in the rare circumstances for a day in the year can be understood in the public interest but such type of orders can never be issued in routine in undemocratic manner to suppress the staffside. The staffside have always been cooperating the administration willingly in the most obedient manner but to force something on them in illegal manner and further threaten them of punitive action is noway justified. Moreover, the forced extra office work shall never increase the revenue.

5. In view of the above, it is requested that the CBEC may kindly be directed to withdraw the said orders of forcing the staff to attend the offices on holidays to protect them from further humiliation. The CBEC rather should undo the injustice already being faced by the Inspectors & Superintendents in r/o promotions, pay matters, working conditions etc. grating them the opportunity to live with dignity and make progress. 

            Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

(RAVI MALIK),

Secretary General.

          Copy with the request for necessary action to protect the staffside w.r.t.  Ref. No. 20/ST/13 Dt. 19.02.13 of the association to:

1) The Chairperson, CBEC, North Block, New Delhi.

2) The Secretary, Department of Revenue, North Block, New Delhi.

(RAVI MALIK)