Reorganization of the Commissionerates/Zones in Mumbai in the proposed restructuring of department – reg

Ref: CESA/78/2013

      Dated: 11.12.2013

To,

Hon’ble Chief Commissioner ,

Central Excise, Zone-I & II,

Mumbai

Respected Sir/Madam,

                   

Sub: - Reorganization of the Commissionerates/Zones in           

                                Mumbai in the proposed restructuring of department – reg

         

                    Ref :- F.No.  8/B/106/HRDM/2013 dt. 28.11.2013.DG HRD New Delhi.

                    

It is a good news that the proposal of the Cadre Restructuring of CBEC, has been approved by the Cabinet on 5.12.2013 and Board is gearing up  to implement the same . Accordingly, for reorganization of the Department and forming of various Zones/Commissionerates / Directorates etc and for smooth implementation of cadre restructuring various committees have been formed. In this regard CESA Mumbai suggests that :.

2.       The last Restructuring took place in 2002, however, till today, no new premises have been taken and the new Commissionerates created are only functioning on as is where is basis . In 2005, Service Tax-I and in 2009, Service Tax-II, came into existence but the fate is one and the same. There is no inconvenience to the Senior Officers but the conditions of the junior officers are going from bad to worse.  Many Senior Officers like Chairman / Members / DG /CC / Commissioners have come and gone and even those who are continuing gave assurances, expressed their displeasure about the working conditions in dilapidated rental buildings, however, nothing has changed in Mumbai. There is space crunch in LTU Mumbai where many large units have joined, however, no new office premises have been acquired yet.

 3.      Commissionerates have been formed /merged in the recent past. Now again there will be a Commissionerate formation.  Likewise, the staff sanctioned and diverted to other formations, as a stop gap arrangement reflects the improper planning and there is no long term vision  so far as Mumbai is concerned in respect of infrastructure and allocation of the staff. 

4.       As on date the Service Tax is under the Administrative Control of Zone–I,Mumbai.  The staff is diverted from four Central Excise Commissionerates to the tune of  40%,  by   jeopardising  the functioning of  these Central  Excise  Commissionerates.                                  

But the Administration is unable to take a decision to reduce & divert the staff from Zone – II as well as M & P to provide more staff to Service Tax.  Similarly other Zones i.e. Pune, Nagpur etc. has so far not diverted their staff to LTU.

5.       Currently, in various Commissionerates of Mumbai zone –II viz. Mumbai – II & III, there is no scope for expansion as the units are closing or shifting from Mumbai, similarly in Raigad many units have joined LTU, but no revision in strength has been undertaken to divert the staff  to other formations where work load is more to make optimum use of human resources.   Apart from the above, a Service Tax Division is created in Raigad. Maritime Commissionerate is also created in Mumbai-III & Raigad Commissionerate, but no additional staff has been sanctioned and the creation is still surviving on adhoc arrangements.

6.       In the last Restructuring, reorganisation of the Commissionerate and allocation of staff was carried out haphazardly which has caused the inconvenience to the junior staff who spent 4-5 hrs daily in the crowded trains exhausting all their energy in commuting to reach their respective work places.  As well as while forming the Zones, no convenience of the staff as well as the Trade was taken into consideration so far as the transportation facilities are concerned.  Senior Officers are provided with vehicle having minimum utility but the junior officers who has been posted in the range / division / audit / preventive are forced to spend almost 20 % of their salary amount to undertake official duties, which are never reimbursed. If we consider the difficulties of Trade, as well as staff, the craving of Central Excise,Service Tax Commissionerate and Divisions are totally improper. Keeping all Service Tax work in one zone also shows improper management &  ill planning in the department, apart from the unequal distribution of work load on Administrative Heads of Department as well as the supporting staff.

7.       As far as the facilities are concerned, always the junior officers are neglected.  While establishing offices of Head quarters the convenience of the quarters where Senior Officers reside is primarily taken into consideration so that their time of commutation is minimum and less strenuous.  But no sympathetic thought is given as to how junior officers who have already crossed 50 will attend duty and return back to their home safely.  

8.       In the present reorganisation in the Mumbai Zone it is proposed to have 8 Central Excise Commissionerates, 7 Service Tax Commissionerates, 5 Audit Commissionerates, one Preventive Commissionerate + LTU and M&P.  As far as the Accommodation is concerned the Mumbai – III Commissionerate’s Divisions situated at Wagle Estate are in dilapidated condition and structural defects are pointed out needs either demolition or major repairs to bring the building back to living conditions.  Similarly, the condition of 5 divisions of Mumbai–II Commissionerate (rental), which is just like a cellular jail, needs either change of premises or major renovations.  In Zone – I the condition is much worse.  The Navprabhat Chambers where Thane – I and Thane – II Head quarters are functioning is in cramped condition and in Dharavi Divisions of Mumbai – I / HQ audit / Preventive are working  is in merciful conditions, somehow so far escaping from the casualties.  Similarly, other offices of all the divisions and HQ of Service Tax Commissionerates are working under the mercy of the Central Excise, are unable to get premises for themselves or sufficient number of divisions or staff to cater the heavy work.  Except Revenue, rest everything like staff/infrastructure is immaterial as far as the Service Tax Mumbai is concerned.   Even no sensitivity as far as the stress is concerned, in spite of the casualty of the officers.

9.       While creating new Service Tax Commissionerates, apart from revenue & number of assessee criteria, continuity of the jurisdiction may be taken into account. Similarly while keeping intact or reshaping of 8 Central Excise Commissionerates their revenue jurisdiction i.e. Thane / Raigad may not be mixed / clubbed which will be inconvenient to the staff staying in Central Line and Harbour Line which are opposite to each other.  As like the popular saying goes it should not be like Delhi to Daulatabad or vice-versa.  

          Keeping all the above in mind and the way it was done arbitrarily by the Administration during the last restructuring, is still afresh in our mind.  But this time Board has already formed various committees for smooth implementation of the CR hence the shortcomings which occurred in the past may not be repeated again.  We therefore request that the exercise of reorganization be done in consultation with recognized Staff Associations as ultimately it is staff who are in the forefront and  face the hardship and the casualty is efficiency.

With regards,

Yours sincerely

A.K. Sasmal

   General Secretary

Copy to:

1.   Ms. Shobha Chari Hon’ble Member (P&V), New Delhi, in-charge of Mumbai Zones, for kind information and necessary action.

2.   Ms. Neerja Shah, DG, HRD, New Delhi, for kind information and necessary action.

3.   Chief Commissioner LTU, Customs Mumbai Zone – III.

4.   Commissioners of Central Excise & Service Tax, LTU, M. & P. in Mumbai, with request to abolish the trend of adhocism and project proper staff requirement with norms to handle the work load.

5.   Commissioner (Appeals), with request to abolish the trend of adhocism and project proper staff requirement with norms to handle the work load.

6.   SDR, CESTAT with request to abolish the trend of adhocism and project proper staff requirement with norms to handle the work load.