Deficit of trust,Year Ends!!!!

The Year 2016 started with bang, with lots of inspirations & aspirations. With the passage of time with lot of ups and downs, the year is almost over - with some desires getting washed away & the remaining ones carried over to the new year with fresh hope. The first setback was the Seventh Pay Commission followed by Arrears (amounting to less than a months' salary) and the much awaited promotions - vacancies remains as it is, as was in January 2016 till December 2016.

As far as Mumbai is concerned, it was shocking when the BMC demolition squad demolished a part of the structure of Lotus Building occupied by the Service Tax Office. Fire broke out on 20^th December in the famous Air India Building on the 22^nd Floor and functioning of Service Tax on the13^th, 14^th & 15^th floors comes to a stand-still for two days. Notice has been received from the NMMC for unauthorized construction in Satara Plaza where ST-VII Commissionerate is placed. Fire broke out in Wagale office, which made the office un-operational for days together. We also lost several of our officers due to their untimely passing away. The issue of auctioning of Aircraft of Kingfisher remains in the headline; the wrath of the judiciary towards Department officers dampens their spirit. 

New formations of Service Tax started, but so far the office of ST-V & ST-VI is still under the mercy of ST-IV, who is running the Commissionerate like Humayun, the Sultanate in exile. The passing year also gave a pinch with the introduction of Bio-metric attendance followed with the threat of booking and sending officers under 56(J), which is a hanging sword...

The timing of GST and holding of DPC from Group-B to Group-A remain in the headlines but the year has slipped away. Many elligible Officers retired. Like nature, in a plant, leaves come followed by flowers & fruit, the flowers of GST and holding of DPC has bloomed, the fruits are expected shortly...

In Mumbai CAT, several issues are pending. A Group of officers with their motivated interests, stalled the entire promotions from Inspector to Superintendent when around 450 posts of Superintendent are lying vacant. Adjournments have taken place around 15 times.

Dharna and Agitations phase-wise have taken place, but the present Administration is unable to make any breakthrough in any of the issues like MACP or proper placement in the grade at par with IB & CBI.

Overall assessment of the the year 2016 is about the deficit of trust between the employee and employer and the gap has considerably widened.

Most of the local issues, with concerted efforts by CESA-Mumbai, were resolved amicably. The present administration i.e. Central Excise, Service Tax, Customs is always cordial and helpful of all the issues taken up by us.

Let us hope that the new year 2017 brings all positiveness, happiness and prosperity and that our desires materialise...

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