CESA MUMBAI--------------PRESS NOTE

Central  Excise Superintendents’ Association, Mumbai Unit of AIACEGEO ( Recognized under F. No. B-12017/10/206-Ad-IV A dtd. 21-01-2008 ).    V. A Kolhatkar, President                 A.K. Sasmal- General Secretary

________________________________________________________________________________

Mumbai I,  II,  III, V,  Thane I, II, Belapur, Raigad, Customs Prev,, Service Tax – I & II Comm’te & L.T.U. Mumbai.

PRESS  NOTE

            The Financial year 2012-13 has ended. The Officers of the Central Excise and Service Tax are relieved from the pressure and stress, as the Central Excise and Service Tax collections in Mumbai have exceeded the targets allotted by the Board. The field Officers were under tremendous pressure to achieve the frequently revised targets, as they are in the fronts who take the wrath of Trade as well as their Senior Officers.  The Revenue contribution from Mumbai Zone is 29750 Crore from Central Excise and 46500 Crore from Service Tax, showing overall growth of about 33%, as compared to the last financial year`s Revenue collection.

            The entire credit for achieving the target goes to the diligent tax paying Trade and the vigilant field Officers, i.e. Inspectors and Superintendents, in the Central Excise and Service Tax Departments, who have toiled day and night to achieve the targets, in spite of working in the adverse conditions.

In spite of such huge Revenue collection and contribution, it pinches the field Officers that they are still striving for basic amenities like proper place to sit, chair, table, computers, etc. The funds granted by the Government under the scheme of 1% Incremental Revenue meant for the overall improvement of the facilities of the field offices are not passed on to the bottom. Now the time has come that the Administration should act and acquire new premises as per the work load and revenue for Service Tax and should stop adopting adhocism whether it is in the form of borrowing staff or infrastructure.  The entire Service Tax is functioning on ad-hoc basis since beginning.  Even though the Service Tax collections have grown phenomenally over the years, the infrastructural issues are severely neglected. Same is the condition of Large Tax Payers Unit (LTU), which contributes about 13200 Crores towards the Central Excise and Service Tax. In spite of such adverse conditions the field Officers have excelled in their performance. The sad part of the affair is that such excellent contribution of the field Officers needs proper recognition and motivation to field staff so that they will excel more.  Hope the Administration/Board and Ministry will take up corrective actions to provide at least the basic facilities to the ever ready field officers, by providing proper infrastructure and their career progression.

                                                                            

Mumbai, the 3^rd April, 2013                                                   (A.K. Sasmal)

   General Secretary

Address for correspondence

Shiv-Gaurav, Flat No. 10, Plot No. 16, Shiv Ganga Nagar, Ambernath (E) – 421 501.

e-mail : sasmal2011@gmail.com. Tel. : (0251) 2603806; Cell : 09820950885

CESA MUMBAI

Central  Excise Superintendents’ Association, Mumbai Unit of AIACEGEO ( Recognized under F. No. B-12017/10/206-Ad-IV A dtd. 21-01-2008 ).    V.A. Kolhatkar, President        A.K. Sasmal- General Secretary

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Mumbai I,  II,  III, V,  Thane I, II, Belapur, Raigad, Customs Prev,, Service Tax – I & II Comm’te & L.T.U. Mumbai.

 

Ref:CESA/27/2013

Dtd :31.03.2013.

Ms.  Shobha L. Chary,

Hon’ble Member ( P & V),

CBEC, North Block,

New Delhi.

Respected Madam,

            Sub: - Rotation of Group ‘A’ officers from Central Excise to Customs 

                        vis-à-vis In Mumbai Zone -reg.

            You are well aware having worked for a considerable period in Mumbai that the infrastructure and staff welfare activities are severely neglected.  The Association has constantly represented the issue of infrastructure as well as other issues of staff welfare to various authorities but the situation has only worsened. With the ever growing Revenue of the Central Excise and Service Tax, which has increased manifold, the work load too has increased substantially, but the working and office conditions are deplorable and going bad to worse.  Ad-hocism has prevailed, there is no proper and adequate space to accommodate the staff. The state of affairs vis-à-vis office space of Central Excise Thane – I and Thane – II Commissionerates, Service Tax – I and Service Tax – II Commissionerates, Commissioner (Appeals), Commissioner (Adjudication) and Commissioner (Enquiry) is far from good. Even the Chief Commissioner Zone –I’s office is functioning on ad hoc basis since its creation, by squeezing the space from the earlier functioning Commissionerates.

            The improvement in the infrastructure as well as acquiring new premises for offices is not progressing at all due to lack of strong determination on part of those who are at the helm of the affairs. The Officers of the level of Assistant Commissioner to the Additional Commissioner have a very peculiar attitude. They consider their posting to the Central Excise as posting in an abandoned sector or as transit camp of the CBEC and are just eager to complete their tenure in Central Excise. In this process, they are not at all keen in initiating the improvement of the working conditions and atmosphere.

            In the above backdrop, CESA request your goodself to kindly intervene and modify the rotation practice from Excise to Customs and vice-versa adopted in Mumbai.

            As per the existing policy for transfer and postings of Group ‘A’ officers, in Mumbai Zone the officers of Group ‘A’ cadre are being rotated between the two formations viz., Customs and Central Excise & Service Tax after every two years during their tenure in the zone.  However, this practice is prevailing nowhere else except the places where the Custom Houses are situated.

            This arrangement causes a lot of disturbance in running the Administration of Excise and Service Tax formations (which is functioning on record base). The officers are not easily adaptive to the working environment of Central Excise and Service Tax formations and are more attracted to the comfort and privilege of Customs (which functions on automation and dealing consignment / unit wise clearances). It takes  half of the tenure for the Group A officers to  understand  and  acclimatize with the Central Excise and Service Tax system. It is witnessed that the officers are not inclined to take pain and interest in discharging the work because they are well aware that their tenure is limited and their eyes are set on their next tenure of posting in the Customs formations.  Countdown starts from December. The loss of comfort and privileges also reflects in their behaviour towards the lower staff and do not justify the post they hold. The quality of the administration ultimately suffers.  This also cuts a sorry figure and the Trade tries to take advantage of the situation and impose themselves upon the staff.

Due to such casual approach and keeping the legacy of pending work or the neglected items of work needing immediate attention in the matters related to staff welfare, which are non-sensitive, are left behind year after year.  Due to the short tenure there is lack of responsibility and accountability also.  This atmosphere is creating a stressful life for the field staff as they do not get any guidance, support or motivation as is normally expected from a Senior officer and lack sense of belongingness prevalent in the good old days, leading to a stereo-typed mechanised stressful life.  There is no improvement in the office conditions / facilities / time bound discharge of various staff welfare schemes including pending vigilance matters, which ultimately lead to the untimely death of officers / deteriorating health condition and leads to lack of enthusiasm and motivation to discharge even day to day functions of the department. 

In light of the above and with the view to improve the office working conditions as well as to resolve the staff welfare issues kindly modify the prevailing practice of rotation of Group A officers from Customs to Excise and vice versa.  CESA suggests that ;

1.            The tenure of the zone be divided in two halves and officers be posted for 4 years in Central Excise and 4 years in Customs in continuity with internal rotation within the Central Excise and Customs formations.  This will bring continuity and accountability also; or

2.         Three years in Customs and three years in Excise & Service Tax and two years in any of the Directorates, CESTAT, NACEN etc.

            We are quite sure that the Administration under your kind control will appreciate the necessity of such things and the suggestions will be viewed in its right perspective, so that the prevailing atmosphere and the neglected areas, especially the infrastructure related issues in the Excise and Service Tax formations in Mumbai can be improved.

            Thanking you,

.                                                                            Yours sincerely,

A.K. SASMAL

General Secretary

Copy to:

1.    Ms. Shiela Sangwan, Hon’ble Member (Budget) and Incharge Mumbai Zone - For kind information and necessary action.

2.    Hon’ble Chief Commissioner Customs, Zone – I, Mumbai New Customs House Mumbai, Ballard Estate, Mumbai with a request to forward a positive report in this regard.

3.    Hon’ble Chief Commissioner Central Excise, Mumbai Zone – I with a request to forward a positive report in this regard.

4.    Hon’ble Commissioner Customs General, Mumbai, for kind information and necessary action with a request to forward a positive report in this regard.

ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL EXCISE GAZETTED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.-- GATHERING AT NEW DELHI ON 12.04.2013 IN UNIFORM & MASS RESIGNATION

ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL EXCISE GAZETTED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.-- GATHERING AT NEW DELHI ON 12.04.2013 IN UNIFORM & MASS RESIGNATION

Subject: Further steps of agitation

From: Ravi Malik <ravimalik_sweet@yahoo.com> Mon, 1 Apr '13 9:30a

To: You .

Dear friends,

good morning.

We all know that the programme of 29-31.03.13 has only been deferred and the programmes of 12.04.13 AND 30.04.13 ARE AS "IT IS" WITHOUT ANY CHANGE. We have not to be even a little complacent. A few may say why the programme was deferred on last day as we were all prepared. Thanks to all for the extraordinary preparations despite of acute time constraint but we have also to be ready for such type of things without affecting our preparations even a little. No doubt that the notice of any programme is never served only for the sake of service but it is served with the determined intention of following the programme to achieve our goals in the interest of the cadre. Our goal is never "merely to observe the programme or bring a stage to stop the dialogues" with concerned authorities but our goal particularly in r/o any agitational programme is always to mount the required pressure on the authorities to make them serious about us. No doubt also that last hour deferment always place us in very inconvenient position but we have to bear it and be ready as per the demand of the circumstances. A few may not like it but others may appreciate it as a mature and wanted step. But we have never to feel ill, demoralised, disheartened or disappointed. We have instead to be well prepared for the next programme with even more zeal & enthusiasm to show the utmost unity & solidarity in the interest of the cadre.

Accordingly, it is requested that maximum number of officers may kindly gather at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 12.04.13 in the UNIFORM to proceed to FM's residence at 19, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi-110011. If anybody is not having uniform, he/she may arrange it from somewhere or come even without uniform. All of the participants have to apply for leave on some personal grounds because administration may not grant the leave for this purpose.  

We should also have started the collection of the "resignation letters" from the members to give the clear message to the administration upto top level. This message of collection of the "resignation letters" will certainly have an extra positive impact on administration to make them "really serious" for us.

SO, FRIENDS, KINDLY BE WELL PREPARED FOR THE PROGRAMMES OF 12.04.13 & 30.04.13.

Love,

Ravi.

CESA MUMBAI REPLY TO GS OF MEERUT UNIT OF AIACEGEO

Negative belated SOS dated 21.03.2013
Dear Chauhan,
Wish you and Your team a Happy & Colourful Holi
I am pained on going through your mail dated 21.03.2013.  Your SOS/petition addressed to the Finance Minister and copy to all Units with a request to submit the same to FM and others.  Your attempt to submit a petition is ill timed and gives scope to other stakeholder to delay further the long waited CR.  When the cadre is already completed the third phase of agitation and after AEC meeting dated 16.03.2013 proposed not to attend office  on 29th,30th & 31st March, 2013 and agitation at Jantar Mantar on 12.04.2013, the said petition at this juncture  is suicidal and self harming and betrayal to your own cadre.
I am sure your Meerut Unit has not passed any resolution or any in-house deliberations approved under your Secretary ship before sending the above draft. 
Further, in the meeting at Jaipur you had chosen to remain silent and not brought before the house of your all competency as mentioned in your SOS. 
Now, the CR is well conceived and about to deliver within a day a week.  You are well aware that now no sex/shape can be changed except miscarriage which no unit will subscribe of your untimely petition. 
Further, why you have not brought to the notice of your Zonal Joint Secretary or Vice President or to the Secretary General or President’s notice or to the other All India office bearers before AEC meeting i.e., 16.03.2013. 
You or your Unit may have some reservation about any issue but writing directly to the FM and others the All India Issue is highly objectionable and condemnable and demeaning and sorry figure to your own body before the Authority.
Being a local office bearer you have full right and authorithy to represent your local issue but to represent the all India issue is beyond your jurisdiction and capacity and amounts to anti cadre.    
Being close to Delhi you are well aware that the each movement of CR file and the observation of FM as well as reply of the Board.  Hence, I sincerely appeal kindly desist from such type of an attempt which is not at all beneficial rather harmful at this junctjure.  The said petition is dis colorful because if something is said at the time of Holi it is not offended but in normal time it has taken as an insult likewise you have offended all.
I  Am concluding my observation as it is unwarranted at this juncture. 
Rest is OK 
Yours
SASMAL

THE ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF CENTRAL EXCISE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

An eight member co-ordination committee of the two Associations representing Superintendents and Inspectors of Central Excise has been formed at a meeting of both Associations at New Delhi on 16.03.2013, as a precursor to the formation of  Federation of  the All India Central Excise Inspectors’ Association and the All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers’ Association.

The Co-ordination Committee shall consist of eight members , four nominated from each Association. The following members have been nominated :

AICEIA

A. Satish, President

Ajit Kumar K G, Secretary General

E.Samy, Assistant Secretary General

A I Abbasi, Joint Secretary (North)

AIACEGEO

Lok Nath Mishra, President

Ravi Malik, Secretary General

C S  Sharma, Office Secretary

Sushil Pareek, Ex-President  

The Secreatries General of  the two Associations shall be the Joint

Convenors  of the Co-ordination Committee.

The following points were  further decided upon:

All decisions  shall be arrived at by the Co-ordination Committee by consensus only.

All communications of the Coordination Committee shall be made jointly under signature of both the Joint Convenors.

A Joint Communiqué shall be issued shortly by the Joint Convenors announcing formation of the Co-ordination Committee, and calling for immediate formation of such Committees immediately at the Zonal and /or Commissionerate levels too.   

The Demands from the Superintendents’ side is already laid down, and the same from the Inspectors’ side shall be specified very shortly. Following this both can be amalgamated and formed into a single common Charter.

The Superintendents’ Association requested the Inspectors’ Association to join in their agitation as per following programme :

1. Not attending office on the 29^th, 30^th and 31^st of March 2013, defying CBEC’s orders.
2. Formation of a human chain at Jantar Mantar or any other appropriate venue in New Delhi of more than  a thousand officers in uniform on 12^th  April’13 demanding immediate fulfillment of our Demands. Participating officers will take a day’s C L on that day.
3. Submission of mass resignation by all members on 30^th April’13.

The Secretary General of AICEIA replied that he will have to consult other office bearers of his Association and that he  will revert on the matter  at the earliest.

A Drafting Committee has to be constituted latest by March 25^th , 2013 to prepare bye-laws for the proposed Federation.  

On 25^th and 26^th of May’13 an AEC meeting of the AIACEGEO is proposed a Patna. The formation of the Federation can be finalized then, with approval of the bye-laws, and all other necessary formalities.

For the proposed Federation, the Superintendents’ Association has  proposed the name All India Federation of Central Excise Executive Officers.