• Circular- 07/08
  
  Comrades,
  
  Right after publication of the Pay Commission’s Notifications on August 29th we launched a vigorous effort to streamline our response and to strengthen our unity to go all-out for the justifiable demands.
  The All India Association submitted its representation on:
  Revision of pay anomaly/restoration of pay for Inspectors
  Fixation of pre revised pay-scale of 6500-10500 from 01.01.1996
  The leadership of the Association rushed to Delhi on 7th of September 2008 to pursue various Pay Commission related issues in addition to the above points. The organization specifically pointed out to the Board officials on what ground should NFSG be applicable to Inspectors for whom A.C.P has already been awarded.
  On 8th of September we confirmed that Board and D.O.P.M have taken up the issue of Revision of pay anomaly/restoration of pay for Inspectors and were trying to solve it as quickly as possible. We went to Ad-IVA and enquired about the expected meeting with the Chairman and specifically asked them about the intention of Board for calling the cadre organizations at this point of time. It was given to understand that depending upon various communications for holding O.C.M under J.C.M scheme; Board is to conduct this type of meeting which was already communicated to our President.
  We enquired about our revised recruitment rules in AD-III B and the issue of effective Date for granting promotion/A.C.P in AD-IIIA, we are told that the issue has been sent to D.O.P&T for clarification.
  On 16th and 17th of September we went to Delhi again to pursue the above issues and to submit points for discussion with the Chairman on 25th of September, ’08 as the last Date for submission of points was 16th of September.
  
  C.E.C. MEETING AT TRICHY
  
  C.E.C meeting in Trichy held in 19th and 20th of September 2008 in Hotel Femina at Tiruchi, The meeting started with the welcome Address by the President of Tiruchi unit Comrade Balraj. After that President of the Association addressed the open session. From the organizational angle this meeting emerged as the most successful meeting in the recent years as a total of six more units have joined the organization in this meeting which are duly approved by the C.E.C. The units are:
  Bihar & Jharkhand Circle
  Rajasthan Circle
  Punjab, Hariana & Chandigarh Circle
  Goa Circle
  Lucknow Branch,
  Allahabad Branch
  The First two units were physically present in the meeting, third and fourth unit joined All India association with written communication, other two units have communicated to the S.G. regarding their eagerness to join the CEC of the All India Association but owing to some constraints they could not attend the meeting. We thank every office bearer who labored hard to create a single organization through out India. Special thanks to our Ex-Secretary General and President.
  The Secretary General –in-charge read out the Action Taken Report and placed the report for discussion which is now attached with this circular. A committee was constituted by the President to consolidate various points pertaining to the 6th Pay-Commission even though the next agenda was to accept/ elect Secretary General (as our Constitution stipulates that whenever a vacant post arises that should be filled up in the next C.E.C) yet this particular business was in-ordinately delayed.
  After detailed discussion the meeting decided to request Com. R. Manimohan to join and address the C.E.C on the next day. It was also decided to hold the Convention in the last week of November or first week of December at Vapi/Damman.
  On the final day the discussion on ATR started . The President invited the Circles/Branches to express their opinion..

A resolution was passed wherein Com. Kousik Roy was entrusted with the powers and functions of the Secretary General. The resolution was signed by both of the President and newly elected Secretary General. In the mean time Com. R. Manimohan addressed the C.E.C and C.E.C in return congratulated him for the priceless service he has rendered to the Association over the last one and half decade.
Discussion on ATR was completed. The President declared that the ATR is accepted with some changes.
After that discussion on various resolutions started.
Important of them were:
· Restoration of pay of Inspectors
· Inspectors replacement scale should be 7500
· Fixation of pre revised pay-scale of 6500-10500 from 01.01.1996
· Immediate solution on uniform allowances
· Clarification on N.F.S.G should be given by government of India So that it should be made available to A.C.P recipients
· Solution of the dispute of Gangavaram Port (Minor Port)
· Solution of grievous problem cropped up for some unwanted vigilance cases in Surat and in Daman
· Infrastructural problems of Vapi and Daman.
· Release of three days pay for the strike held in 1998 and the subsequent entry in the service book should be removed.
The meeting discussed about the strike ballot that is to be taken in the month of November as the Central Government employees had affirmed a stir against the Government for the anomalies in the 6th Pay Commission. It was decided a wide spread campaigning will be done and the web site of the Confederation of Central Government Employees will be consulted for the demand and other things.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Com. Shishir Kumar Agnihotri one of the senior leader of the C.E.C.
However, in-cosultation with the President Sri Sumon Chakraborty has been nominated as Treasurer of the Association for the interim period.

MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMAN
Meeting with the Chairman C.B.E.C was slated to be held at 12.00 ‘O’ clock on 25.09.2008. We were invited 15 minutes earlier to the scheduled time and our discussion concluded by 12.50 hours.
We have already submitted our points to the C.E.C members in the Tiruchi C.E.C meeting, in addition to that we have sent one addendum for revision of Pay of Inspectors. The discussion and various decisions of the board is placed underneath:
Point no.1 REVISION OF PAY FOR INSPECTORS : JOINT SECRETARY (Admn,) replied that the file went to expenditure.

Point No. 2 ANOMALY IN FIXATION OF PAY OF 1992 BATCH INSPECTORS:
Board expressed its seriousness of sending the issue once again to D.O.P&T for clarification.
Point No. 3 FIXATION OF PRE REVISED PAY SCALE FROM 01.01.1996:
It appeared to us that we were able to convince board about the gravity of the issue, Board expressed its concern over the issue and decided to send it to Expenditure once again.
Point No. 4 CLARIFICATION REQUIRED FOR NON-FUNCTIONAL SELECTION GRADE
At the out set board had rejected the issue on the ground that this is not meant for the A.C.P. recipient officers, we argued that the criteria for getting the benefit of grade pay Rs 5400/- are:

i) The incumbent should be a Group B officer
ii) He should have completed 4 years of regular service in the scale of 7500-12000 (attributed with a grade pay of Rs. 4800/-)

In terms of Board’s Order F.No. O-8013/100/2003-IHB dated 11.12.03 & 24.10.07 read with DOP&T’s Instructions/Notification SO.No. 332 dated 20.04.98, the post of Inspector, Central Excise under CBEC was reclassified as Group B (Non Gazetted) w.e.f 11.12.03. Therefore, since in Point No. 1(x)d of the Resolution of the Government of India dated 29.08.08 in respect of the recommendations of the sixth CPC only the term ‘Group B officer’ has been mentioned, an Inspector of Central Excise who is a Group B officer and has been granted the scale of 7500-12000 by virtue of ACP should be eligible for getting the higher grade pay of Rs. 5400/- if he completes 4 years of regular service in the scale of 7500-12000 (attributed with a grade pay of Rs. 4800/-) in the same manner as that of a Superintendent of Central Excise. So there should not be any bar in getting the revised benefit granted to that scale on a non-functional basis.
Thereupon Board decided to forward the file to D.O.P&T for a clarification.

· Point No. 5 Grant of proper equipment and maintenance allowance for three sets of uniforms for personnel in Customs.
At the out set we stated that the allowances are too low to maintain and to purchase uniforms. Board asked us about our demand. We submitted that we have already raised our demand through our letter dated 25.04.2008 that it should be on par with the other uniformed services.
It was argued (depending on the decision taken by our Association in the Bangalore C.E.C) that the uniform allowances are not needed for Central Excise and Service-Tax and it can be continued in Customs only if proper allowances are paid.
However, President commented that once the rectification of the allowances comes into effect then only our cadre should start wearing uniform regularly.
Board resolved to look into the issue.
· Point No. 6 Grant of Rummaging allowances for Officials posted in Customs area on par with the Officials of Customs.
Board decided to examine the issue.

· Point No. 7 Grant of Local Travel Expenses for Inspectors on par with the Inspectors of Income Tax.
We have argued that inspectors of Income Tax are getting thirty litter of petrol as L.T.E and this facility should be extended to Inspectors of Central Excise and Customs.
Board decided to check up the issue.
Point No. 8 Grant of Risk Allowance for Inspectors of Central Excise & Customs :

considering the risks attached to their duties and responsibilities Inspectors of Central Excise & Customs should be provided this allowance; Board decided to look at the issue.
· Point No. 9 Steps to Be Taken For Removal of Acute stagnation in Inspector Cadre.
Board informed us that a High Powered Committee has already been set up and all the associations will meet the Committee to express their views.

· Point No. 10 Abolition of Control Rooms And Uniform In C.Ex and Service Tax
It was argued that considering the shortage pf manpower at the level of Inspectors and the present day communication system deploying Inspectors in Control Rooms and pressurizing them for protocol Duties is a sheer wastage.. These two works can easily be performed by the Hawaldars and Head Hawaldars who has already upgraded to Group ‘C’.
If there is no Control Room & Protocol Duty then the necessity of wearing uniforms becomes redundant.
Point No. 11 Revision of promotion quota between Supdts of Central Excise and Supdts of Customs to posts ofAssistant Commissioners as per present Cadre Strengths.
It was discussed at length that Inspectors of Central Excise get a lesser chance in the event of promotion ion the grade of assistant Commissioner/ Deputy Commissioner whilst some of our counter parts in the Customs getting promotion to the grade of Joint Commissioner. The ratio of 6:1:2 should be changed immediately.
Board’s Reply : Board informed us that a High Powered Committee has already been set up and all the associations will meet the Committee to express their views.

· Point No. 12 Merger Of Excise And Customs.
The Association demanded merger of excise and customs with base cadre seniority from 1996.
Board’s Reply : Board Decided to examine the issue along with the High powered committee.
· POINT NO. 13 INTER-COMMISSIONERATE TRANSFERS
It’s a long pending demand. We have argued that all the cadres have the facility to be posted in and around their home town; even the newly recruited inspectors are being given option of their choice of posting except 2004, ’05, ’06 batch of directly recruited Inspectors.
Board’s Argument: Depending upon previous experience, once the employee gets the transfer, he goes to Court demanding original seniority. Board will try to examine the issue further.
President Commented that Board can instruct the field formation to give priority to the applicants deputation postings at least.
Board agreed to the proposal given by the president.
· POINT NO. 14 JCM at Commissionerate and at the Departmental level.
Board’s Reply : Board had already issued one standing instruction to all the formations, it will issue another instruction within a short while.
· POINT NO. 15 TRANSPARENT TRANSFER POLICY.
Board’s Reply : Board had collected all most all transfer posting policies now running through out India; it is not possible to form an uniform transfer posting policy as the ground reality is different in different places, still if there is any deviation from the agreed transfer posting policy board will take care of that.
· POINT NO. 16 "COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENTS:
Board’s Reply : Board has nothing to do, as far as the percentage and the year bar is concerned have been fixed by the government of India.
Our Comment : Board can convey to the next higher forum about the issue and the demand. President suggested that for those dependants to whom the appointment cannot be extended, board can at least arrange for Xerox Machine, Tea vending machine, Coffee Vending machines inside the different Custom Houses which may fetch some lively hood to the bereaved families.
Board’s Comment: It’s a nice proposal; already this type of experiment has been started by Govt. of India. The proposal may be submitted in writing
· POINT NO. 17 ISSUE OF UNIQUE GPF ACCOUNT NUMBERS.
Board’s Reply : Board is working hard with C G A to solve the problem and appreciated the letter already submitted by the Association.

· POINT NO. 18 SEPARATE ORGANISATIONAL SET UP FOR ATTENDING TO QUESTIONS UNDER THE RTI ACT.
Board’s Reply : The work is going on .
· POINT NO. 19 RISK INTELLIGENCE NETWORK MECHANISM AT COMMISSIONERATE LEVEL TO INTER-CHANGE DATA RELATED TO DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXES TO INVESTIGATE IN PROFESSIONAL METHOD.
Board’s Reply : The work is going on .
· POINT NO. 20 INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FORMATIONS.
Board’s Reply : Board has instructed every field formation for proper infrastructure to be set up without any negligence, Still if the cadre organization feels that there is some problem in some area they can inform the Board.
· POINT NO. 21 PERIODICAL TRAINING ON ALL FIELDS OF ACTIVITIES.
Board’s Reply : The Director NACEN has already instructed to hold periodical training. Further instructions would be issued on the basis of the responsible demand made by the Association.

· POINT NO. 22 DUTY LIST FOR ALL OFFICIALS SERVING IN CBEC.

Board’s Reply : Duty list of Every category of officers are being prepared. It will come within a short while.

In addition to the above two more points were taken up:
Vigilance cases in different field formations unduely delayed to be sorted out at the earliest:
Board’s Reply : The instruction had already been issued. Any shortcomings may be informed to the Board
Three (3) days pay cut and comments on service book for the 1998 strike:
The Association clearly pointed out that due to Three (3) days strike in 1998 a no. of officers had lost their Three (3) days salary and in addition to that some over enthusiasistic ofiicers have registered their comment on service book of the individual officers.
Board’s Comment: It’s a issue which can not be discussed, the dispute is well discussed with the organization earlier. However, Association can seek a fresh look by submitting one letter.

Meeting with the high powered Committee

Depending upon our representation seeking an appointment near the High Powered Committee, Chairman of that Committee Mrs. Chitra Gourilal gave us an appointment at 17.00 hours on 25th of September.
At the out set we requested for
· a separate service and then a separate service rule, where separate cadre can be maintained for Inspector and Superintendent and the Assistant Commissioner & Deputy Commissioner,
Committee suggested for change of ratio of promotion to 16:1:1
· It was submitted by our President that the change of ratio can be made effective from 1996 to 2008 and after that a separate service may be introduced.
Committee suggested that merger of cadre is eventual at the time of preparing common seniority least:
· It was submitted that merger is acceptable by the Association only if the base cadre seniority from 1996 has been taken into consideration.
· If merger is not at all possible then a separate service can be created within Central Excise.
The discussion went for one hour and 10 minutes, we have submitted various documents to the committee, Committee asked for a detail suggestion from the Association and President of our Association agreed to give that suggestion.


For the revised pay scale of Inspectors we have spoken to the expenditure, hope this issue will be solved within a short while; we are constantly monitoring the progress of the issue.

The Convention of the Association is fixed at Vapi (DAMAN) on 10th 11th and 12th of December 2008.
Detail notification on this issue will be issued shortly.