AEC MEETING AT NEW DELHI

The first meeting of AEC of AIACEGEO, was held at I.P. Estate, New Delhi on 11.04.2015, after the new body took over the charge at Daman in last November 2014.. 

The said meeting was attended by President Shri Chandramouli, Secretary General Shri Ravi Malik, Office Secretary  Shri C.S. Sharma, Treasurer Shri N.R.Manda Joint Secretary  Shri M.K. Mishra (West), Shri Anand Kishore (Central), Shri R.K. Solanki, Shri Ashish Bajpayee (North) Shri M. Nagaraju (South) Shri S. Bhattacharya (East), amongst Vice Presidents  Shri J.D. Patil (West), Shri  L.L. Sanghvi (Central) Shri Anurag Chaudhary  and Shri Ravi Joshi from (North), and out of 20 joint Secretaries and Vice Presidents only 4 and 6 participated in the said meeting.  In the beginning of the meeting itself displeasure was shown about the poor attendance and the participation by the office bearers. Shri Chandramouli welcomed the delegates and thereafter, meeting was proceeded as per agenda.

Agenda 1.  Holding of immediate DPC against the existing vacancies.

   Vacancies for the year 2013 is not yet filled and similarly 2014 and 2015 is pending in one or other pretext.  It was informed that Board has assured to hold DPC in April, 2015 but the Secretary General were not so confident and expressed that it may be held latest by June, 2015 only.  The office bearer of CESA, Mumbai insisted that let the Board be represented and asked to hold DPC on or before AGT of Group A officers as after transfer the scenario of the Cadre Controlling Authority/Commissioner (of all the Zones) may be affected and may cause further delay. It was also emphasized to have panel year-wise so that filling up the vacancies will be easier and practice as per DOPT Guidelines be adopted instead of going and begging every time for DPC.

2.      Scheme to improve career prospects:

  It was briefed that the B.B. Agrawal Committee report is submitted to Member P & V as well as Shri Parthasaradhi Som Committee also submitted the report to DOPT.  Cases filed at Cuttack CAT as well as Jabalpur High Court is pending and cases filed at Delhi Principal CAT rejoinder has been filed and expected final hearing . Further, kindly recall the case of parity with the CBI won by CBDT, Mumbai and appeal is pending at Bombay High Court due to non-attendance of Attorney General.

3.      Pay matters including MACP:

  It was informed that on the MACP, the DOPT may likely to issue a positive reply so that the eligible officers will get the MACP as intended by the Scheme. It was informed that the stand taken by the Board and DOPT be contested if only the benefit will be extended to the applicant only and with a plea the anomaly may be redressed by the 7^th Pay Commission.  CESA Mumbai expressed that the stand of referring to 7^th Pay Commission is nothing but shirking the responsibility to decide the confusion created by them, because the superintendent cadre do not have any platform being gazetted for pay anomaly.  Further, the term and reference of any Pay Commission are not for redresal of the folly of earlier Pay commission or especially those which are created by the Department/DOPT etc. only to create a new pay structure as per the functional need and changes with passage of time. MACP scheme made by DOPT not by Pay commission (Pay Commission only suggested how to compensate such stagnated cadre financially and suggested 3 upgradation after 10,20 & 30 years) all its Rules framed by them then why it cannot be sorted out by DOPT.. Further, it is informed we all should be vigilant as reply is expected on or before 15^th April, 2015 as regards to Chennai CAT case and thereafter to take suitable step in this regard.

4.      GST Vs our Career Prospects:

  As the GST is still an unborn child and about the structure of systems is not yet clear but definitely it will change the tested, trusted and rallied system of age-old Central Excise Structure.  The write-up give by the Kolkata Unit was already placed on record and Bombay Unit has volunteered to give a detailed scenario to AIACEGEO within ten days.  Nothing was further discussed in this regard. As it is premature and without analysis of the data and blue print as to what is likely be the picture and our role in that, cannot be proceeded further.

5.      INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

 As per the Re-organisation of the Commissionerates the infrastructure and working conditions have not been improved and lacking everywhere.  It was emphasized in the infrastructure Committee that the staff associations be included and more funds for infrastructure be given to improve working conditions.  It was also emphasized that the local units should take initiative for finding new offices and submitting the requisite papers as per the checklists to avoid query from the Board Office. CESA, Mumbai appealed to demand specific amount like in 1997 i.e., Rs. One lakh per range office and more funds under IT head to have computer for each officer of service tax as without computer they are handicapped they cannot work at all after introduction of aces mere posting of staff will not be enough these basic needs to be catered and this needs office space also.  As assigned CESA Mumbai and Patna will present a detailed report to AIACEGO for further representation. 

6.      FUNDS & DDO CERTIFICATE:

   It was appealed to clear the amounts due to all India Body and Legal funds and DDO Certificate. Some of the Unit brought the cheques to clear the dues made it CESA has also cleared dues to some extent and balance will be cleared shortly.

7.      AGITATIONAL MEASURES:

  It was mentioned if the DPC is not held or MACP related or Career progressions, then agitation before the residence of the senior officers on holiday be launched.  It is to be examined while launching any sort of protest or agitation before the residence of seniors should not attract any law and order  problems. 

   It was sponsored by Chennai to participate in the ensuing All India Strike of Central Government Employees on 28^th April, 2015 after deliberations it was agreed upon to extend the support but the modality will be finalized and communicated by the AIACEGO.

8.      OTHER POINTS:

   Kolkata unit has raised the resolution of their unit about proposal for re-organization of the department to cope-up with introduction of GST in April, 2016.

  Stepping of Pay of Seniors (non-ACP recipient) officers at par with their junior officers.

Arbitrary Withdrawal of MACP by Board vide their letter dated 20.10.2014.

Indore unit suggested intervening in the matter to shift the newly created Gwalior commissionerate from Gwalior to Ujjain as it will convenient to staff as well as trade also.

Shri Singhvi also raised the issue of deputation to SEZ and said that Superintendents with grade pay of 5400 are not being deputed to SEZ in their Commissionerate citing the DOPT guidelines that for lower Grade Pay officers drawing higher grade pay cannot be deputed as Supdts grade pay is 4800/-. And due to stagnation majority of the Superintedents already drawing Grade pay of 5400/- and SEZ post is considered as deputation post there so it is to be represented.

Shri J.D. Patil of Pune raised a point that the confusion in CENGO India about RR etc., be avoided.

Upto lunch this is the development and after lunch with some chit-chatting , it was sponsored by Chennai unit, about the delay in disposal of Vigilance cases.  The Bombay unit also supported the above point and further stated that the delay in giving First and Second stage advice, discrimination of segregating Group A from Group B and clearing the Group A officers alleged in the case should be avoided and all the officers, irrespective of the Group should be treated at par and all the cases should be disposed off as prescribed by the authorities.

As all the points in the agenda had been discussed and over, hence Bombay, Kolkatta and Indore units left the venue. 

In the meeting, it was said, as the issue of parity within Excise was not settled and regional imbalances are constantly neglected, hence a joint petition was filed on disparity in Mumbai bench of CAT.  The implementation of NR Parmar case, was repeatedly represented by the CESA Mumbai, before the All India body.  Because of their cold approach, CESA Mumbai was constrained to file two petitions one is in respect of officers recruited before 1986 and another in respect of officers recruited after 1986. 

Meeting was cordial and would have been fruitful and meaningful had all the office bearers attended the meeting.  The Association can be vibrant and active if the participation is 100%.  The office bearers should realise that the times are too grave and the challenges are many, within and outside and have to overcome many obstacles.  Unless we are fully geared up for meeting the upcoming challenges, we will be doomed from all corners.