NEW RECRUITMENT RULES ... NEED OF THE HOUR TO ACT.. NOT TO WAIT FURTHER

     Long awaited the proposal of cadre restructuring was implemented in Oct-2014 and promotion orders from Grp-B to Grp-A (Temporary posts) was issued on the 30-Oct-2014. At the given time, those who were promoted were extremely happy and those who missed the bus and retired, cursed their luck and the administration. 

After promotions, when posting orders were issued, the true colour of the Board was clearly visible with respect to the discriminations shown to the promotee officers vis-à-vis direct recruit officers. The matter does not end here. Again Board vide their Office Order dated 17-June-2015 instructed to shift the promotee officers on the basis of Para 4.2 of the Grp-A Transfer/Posting Policy, so that newly posted direct recruit officers can be accommodated in the field formations. These instructions were followed selectively in Central Excise & completely ignored in the Directorates, Customs Commissionerates & Service Tax Commissionerates. 

Again, on 04-Sep-2015, officers were shuffled around and discriminations was shown to the promotee officers, as they were transferred out of their zone/station. A separate write-up will be given showing these details.

With the new & full-fledged Board, the All India Office bearers had a meeting on 23-July-2015 and minutes of the same were issued. In a nutshell, they heard the points raised and assured that they will look into the matter within the framework of the rules. Tactically, those who have represented are extremely happy, but the bottom line is that not a single issue has been resolved till to date. In the said minutes, the matter of RR was discussed. 

Various committees as well as Board has come to realize that the stagnation in the Grp-B cadre is acute but are (deliberately ??) not showing any willingness to resolve this matter, especially in respect of change of ratio or removal of the disparity within the feeder cadre from Grp-B to Grp-A. When new posts came into existence, RR is to be changed, but viewing our strength on the basis of number of officers and their career progression, no positive recommendations are being made by the Board to DoPT for approval. If this simple change can be incorporated and pursued vigourously then all the grief that has been caused can be undone, both for now and for the future.

In the draft the Board has forwarded to DOPT, if these, ‘2’ important suggestions for GrP-A RRs are incorporated, i.e. :–

(i)            To insert a provision, for promotion to the post of JTS, total length of service in Gr-B Executive to be considered.

(ii)          To insert concept of “weightage” on entry in Gr-A, the length of service in Gr-B feeder cadre to be considered.

The FIRST suggestion is derived from the Affidavit submitted by CBEC in Principal CAT O.A. No.2793/2009. 

The SECOND suggestion is derived from the IAS Seniority Rules 1987 & the IPS Seniority Rules 1988.

It is pertinent and important to mention that the IAS Seniority Rules with concept of ‘weightage’ were brought due to reasons of different wait periods [from 9 to 21 years in different State Services] for entry into IAS Grade.

Therefore, within CBEC it should not be a problem at all, to propose concept of “weightage”. This shall give real-term relief to the super-stagnated Grp-B officers from Central Excise / Cus(P) streams.

The ill-effects of WRONG RRs can be seen in the Civil List(1.1.2015). In the Grade of Joint & Additional Commissioner, the total number of promotee-Group A officers is ‘160’. Out of these, from Central Excise stream are ‘11’, from Customs Preventive is ‘1’ and from Customs Appraiser are ‘148’. Thus, the 3-5% feeder cadre of Appraisers are occupying ‘92%’ posts at these grades. THIS IS DUE TO MANY GIMMICKS played in the past.

Hence, it is the duty of the All India office bearers to impress upon the Board and amend the RRs and not to be taken in by the verbal assurances of the Board, especially the wait-and-watch tactic should not be adopted. If we succeed in our representations this will certainly bring in just, fair & equitable level of promotions (to Grp-A) within the three feeder categories to a great extent.

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