Friday, December 21, 2012

MINUTES OF THE CIRCLE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEET




MINUTES  OF THE CIRCLE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEET OF AICEIA, CHANDIGARH CIRCLE AT LUDHIANA  HELD ON
7TH DECEMBER, 2012.

The 3rd  meet of the Circle Executive Meet of All India Central Excise Inspectors’ Association, Chandigarh Circle was held at CFS ( GRFL), Sahnewal, Ludhiana, on 07.12.2012. The following  office bearers and members attended the meet : -
            S/Shri
1.                  Ramesh Chander Sharma, President,
2.                  Bhagwan Singh,  General Secretary,
3.                  Munish Arya, Office Secretary,
4.                  Rajesh Gupta, Vice President, Chandigarh-I,
5.                  S. S. Rawat, Vice President, Chandigarh-II Branch,
6.                  Prashant Joshi, Joint Secretary, Ludhiana branch
7.                  Shiban Koul, Joint Secretary, J & K Branch,
8.                  Vinod Kumar, Executive Member;
9.                  Mukesh Anand, Central Excise Division, Jammu  ( Special Invitee ),
10.             P.P. Singh, Jammu & Kashmir Commissionerate ( Special Invitee ),
11.             Sanjeev Shjarma, Ludhiana Commissionerate ( Special Invitee)
12.             Kulwinder Kumar, Ludhiana Commissionerate ( Special Invitee).
a.                  Rajinder Kumar Malhotra, Chandigarh-1 Commissionerate ( Special Invitee),
13.             J. K. Joshi, CFS, Ludhiana;
14.             Inder Bhushan, CFS, Ludhiana.

After the formal inauguration of the meeting and welcome address by Shri R.C. Sharma,  President, the proceedings of the house were taken over by the General Secretary. 

At the outset, the General Secretary briefly informed the house about the matters taken up with the administration in the Chandigarh Zone and about the communications sent to the administration and the results achieved in respect of those communications.  The General Secretary also informed the house that all the were put on the blog maintained by the Association (WWW. AICEIACHD.BLOGSPOT.COM). The house approved the action taken by the Association through the General Secretary and appreciated the results achieved.
The following agenda were put to discussion and the house resolved as under: -

1.         NOMINATION / CO-OPTION OF OFFICE BEARERS/EXECUTIVE MEMBERS : -
The following members were nominated unanimously by the house  : -
i)                    Shri Rajinder Kumar Malhotra,  as  Advisor to the Circle Executive Committee;
ii)                  Shri  Sanjeev Kumar Sharma,  as Member, Circle Executive Committee;
iii)                Shri P.P. Singh , as Member, Circle Executive Committee,
iv)                Shri Kulwinder Kumar , as Special & Guest Member, Circle Executive Committee;

The office bearers namely Shri Kuldeep Singh, Vice President, Ludhiana Branch, Shri Subhash Bhashin, Vice President Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Vinod Kumar, Liaison Secretary, Shri K.C. Thakur, Shri Tilak Raj, Working President, and Shri Sandeep Mahajan, Executive Member could not join the meeting and sought leave from attendance due to personal reasons and official work respectively. The house unanimously approved the leave from attendance to these office bearers.

2.         MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION  :     In the last meeting at Jammu, the house has resolved unanimously that all the Inspectors should be treated as members of the association automatically and they should be requested to complete the formalities relating to the deduction of subscription as per the CCS(RSA) Rules, 1993, and the house had authorized that Vice Presidents of the branches to receive the membership forms –cum- authorizations for subscription and send the same directly under their signatures to the DDOs for necessary action and send the copies of the forms along with forwarding letter to the General Secretary for updation of the members list. 
The General Secretary apprised the house that the subscription for the year 2012-13 has been deducted in respect of members of certain Divisions/stations in the Ludhiana and Amritsar Commissionerate, and as per the information supplied to him by the members/office bearers, the subscription for the rest of the members will be deducted from the pay of December, 2012. The members of the house were of the opinion that this exercise has been delayed and should be completed expeditiously. The General Secretary will take up the matter with the office bearers as well as the administration for early deduction of the subscription. The Vice Presidents and Joint Secretaries are to intimate the position of each branch to the General Secretary so that the matter may be taken up with the appropriate authority/DDO for deduction of the subscription.
3.         INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES :                 The members pointed out that the infrastructure facilities in the offices are not still up to the mark and needs considerable improvement and nothing perceptible improvement has taken place in the intervening period of August to December in this regard. The vehicles are not provided to the staff for field duties. The sitting space is not healthy and is inadequate. The condition of the Service Tax formations in respect of infrastructure and office space is deplorable.
The General Secretary had apprised the house  that the administration of Ludhiana Commissionerate is still searching some suitable building for shifting of the Central Excise Divisions and Ranges. The officers of all cadres are not in favour of continuance of the Savitri Complex Building, Dholewal Chowk, Ludhiana due to various health/safety related matters and the administration has been informed about the wishes of the staff in this regard. The administration has assured that the new building/ buildings will be shortly hired keeping in view the aspirations of the staff. However, the house resolved that the administration may be requested to take up the matter expeditiously.
The Vice Presidents of Branches were again requested to take up the matter with the respective Commissioners for taking necessary action for provision of proper office space and infrastructure in the offices. The members are requested to kindly put the necessary requisitions in writing and issue further reminders where-ever required in this regard and send the copies thereof to the Vice Presidents/Joint Secretaries for discussing the matter with the authorities. The house resolved that after discussions with the local authorities/Commissionerate level, the Vice President will send a consolidated report in respect of their respective branches to the General Secretary by 15th of January, 2013 and thereafter, the matter will be taken up with the the Hon’ble Chief Commissioner and the respective Commissioners  for necessary follow – up.

4.         PAYMENT OF RUMMAGING ALLOWANCE TO THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS.       
The issue was raised in the last meet at Jammu in August, 2012. Neither any communication has been received from the administration nor any perticible action appears to have been taken in this regard though about four months have elapsed since the issuance of the last minutes, a copy of which was aso sent to the Customs Commissionerate. The General Secretary assured that the matter will be taken up with right earnestness with the administration.SANCTION OF ADDITIONAL POSTS OF SUPERINTENDENTS AND INSPECTORS IN VIEW OF THE INCREASED WORKLOAD.  
            The issue regarding additional posts at ICP Attari and CFSs, Ludhiana was discussed with the Hon’ble Chief Commissioner by the office bearers of Circle body , which included the President and General Secretary. The Hon’ble Chief Commissioner has informed that the matter is pending with the Board and they are taking up necessary follow up in the matter. He directed the ADC (CCU) to put up the reminders in the matter urgently.
            The members from the Jammu & Kashmir Branch raised the issue that the additional posts of Superintendents and Inspectors may be demanded in view of the increased workload at TFK, Chaka-da—Bagh and Slamabad on the pattern of the demand raised for increased strength at ICP, Attari. The house resolved that in view of the fact that the cargo is to be cleared at these stations on the same day unlike the practice at ICP Attari, where it can be cleared within reasonable time ( even during next working day(s)), the bare minimum strength required at these check-points should be many times the present working strength there. These stations require increased strength of officers in view of the fact that the national security may be jeopardized in the absence of proper intelligence and examination of the cargo at these stations.
                        The house resolved that Branch body of Jammu & Kashmir Commissionerate will prepare a comprehensive report/letter with the help of Shri P.P. Singh, Executive Member and other members at Jammu and send the same within next two weeks to the General Secretary, who will in turn take up the matter with the administration.
5.         DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROCEDURES IN RESPECT OF CIGARETTE FACTORY.       The house in  its Jammu meet had resolved that the matter will be examined by a team comprising of Shri Kulwinder Kumar and Shri Vinod Kumar, and they shall intimate the General Secretary.  In the meanwhile, the matter was also raised in the All India meet of the Association held at Bhubneshwar ( Odisha ), where the Chandigarh Circle body was entrusted the responsibility to study the matter for taking up the same by all India body with the Board.
The committee constituted by the Circle body has given its report, wherein it has been suggested that the compounded levy scheme based upon the installed capacity should be introduced regarding cigarette factories on the pattern of that for Gutka manufacturing units. As informed by the General Secretary, a suggestion in this regard has already been forwarded from the Central Excise Division II, Ludhiana in the report regarding budget suggestions. The matter will be taken up by the President/General Secretary in the next meet of the All India body scheduled for 16th and 17th December, at Patna ( Bihar).

6.         FILLING UP OF EXISTING VACANCIES OF ST CATEGORY QUOTA LYING VACANT DUE TO NON-AVAILABILITY OF THE SUITABLE/QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
            The matter was raised and discussed in the last meet at Jammu. Thereafter, the Circle office bearers met the Chief Commissioner and requested him that these posts may be filled up immediately from the candidates belonging to General / SC category as suitable candidates from the ST candidates will not be available till 2017 due to qualifying service of 8 years as Inspector to become a Superintendent.
The Chief Commissioner had assured that the matter will be examined expeditiously and seriously, but so far no positive action has been achieveved in this regard.
The house discussed the matter and resolved that the matter may be again taken up personally by the Circle President and General Secretary with the  Chief Commissioner and Commissioner ( Cadre Controlling ), as there appears to be no logic in keeping these posts vacant in view of the Supreme Court judgment that there will be no reservation in the matters of promotion and the relevant OMs of the DOPT have been struck down as illegal by the Supreme Court and Punjab and Haryana High Court. The house resolved that the administration may be asked to honour the Supreme Court/High Court judgement on the point and fill these vacancies immediately not only to comply with the law of the land, but also keeping in view the crushing stagnation in the cadre of Inspectors, where the candidates belonging to General and SC category of 1993 are still awaiting their first promotion. The house resolved that the existing vacancies on this account may be filled from the candidates of general and SC category in view of the non-availability of suitable ST camdodates by getting the necessary NOC  from the appropriate authority. The President and General Secretary assured the house that the matter will be taken up promptly with the administration.


7.         PROVISION OF GUEST HOUSES
The members pointed out that there is lack of Guest Houses in the Zone. Whatever Guest Houses are available at certain stations, due to inadequacy/other reasons, they are not available to the officers of our cadre. Hence, the house resolved that adequate Guest Houses facilities at all major stations may be provided by acquiring/hiring suitable accommodation.

8.         PROVISION OF RECREATION FACILITIES :            The members from Chandigarh Hqrs. pointed out that the recreation facilities/room is not available in the Hqrs. Building and the administration may be requested to provide the same. The house resolved that the matter will be taken up with the administration for making necessary provisions in this regard.

9.         WORKS RELATED TO PUBLC WELFARE :                The General Secretary apprised the house that keeping in view the wishes of the House as per Jammu resolution, two Blood Donation Camps, at Ludhiana on 7th September, 2012 and at Chandigarh on 27.11.2012, have been held. The house appreciated the efforts. It was resolved that more such camps will be held in the near future at Amritsar and Jammu or at some other stations found convenient/suitable for the purpose.
10.       REGARDING REVIEW OF THE TRANSFER POLICY :
            The General Secretary apprised the house about the intimation received from the administration to review the transfer policy guidelines and also intimated about the proposals sent to the Commissioner, Central Excise Commissionerate, Chandigarh-1 in this regard.
            The house resolved that the existing transfer policy guidelines are good and have stood the test of time and no far reaching changes are required in the policy.
            However, the house noted that except Chandigarh-1, no other Commissionerate has so far devised any written and clear-cut policy regarding the intra-commissionerate transfer/postings, and resolved that the intra-commissionerate transfer policy for each of the remaining commissionerate should be framed as per the mandate/requirement of the Zonal transfer Policy laid down by the CCU.
            The house further resolved that the proposal for permanent allocation of the Commissionerates to the Inspectors/Superintendents may be revised and implemented in order to provide better efficiency/stability of tenure and to save the govt. expenditure.
11.       NOMINATION OF THE HOSPITALS FOR CASHLESS FACILITY :
                                    The house resolved that the administration may be requested to nominate private hospitals at all major stations for cashless treatment of officers and their dependents in view of the high and unbearable cost of the health-care facilities and lack of such facilities in the govt. hospitals.
12.      OUTSTANDING PAYMENT TO OFFICERS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS :
Shri Munsih Arya, Office Secretary intimated that the payment of arrears on account of re-fixation of pay due to additional increment to those whose increment falls between Feb. to June as per Govt.’s Orders of March, 2012 are still pending in Commissionerate Chandigarh-II despite issuance of request letter to the administration in this behalf. The house condemned the attitude of the authorities in this regard, where an officer has been denied his arrears for almost nine months without any plausible and justifiable reason. The house resolved that the Commissioner, Chandigarh-2 may be requested to kindly intervene in the matter and get the needful done at the earliest.
Shri Rajinder Malhota pointed out that the scholarships of the meritorious children of the officers are also pending sanction/payment. The administration is requested to kindly direct the concerned officers to kindly take up expeditious steps so as to ensure that the requisite scholarships are sanctioned/paid to the concerned claimants as early as possible.
The house resolved that the members should bring the issues relating to non-payment of their legitimate bills/arrears etc. to the notice of the office bearers and also issue the necessary request-reminders to the administration. The office bearers will personally look into such matters and take up necessary follow up with the administration.
13        `COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENTS :
The house resolved that the administration  may be requested to consider the cases of compassionate appointments sympathetically in view of the lifting of ban  of three years by the Govt. and all suitable cases be acceded to as early as possible.
14.      STRIKE ON 12.121.2012 AS PER THE CALL GIVEN BY CONFEDERATION OF C.G. EMPLOYEES
The house resolved that keeping in view the general nature of the demands of Confederation and lack of consensus among office bearers present in the meeting, it should be left to the  members of Association to  proceed on one day strike on 12.12.2012 in view of the strike call of the Confederation for pressing the demands as per charter of demands. The General Secretary apprised the house that suitable intimation in this regard has already been given to the Board by the All India body and to the Zonal administration by the Circle body.
15.      ISSUES TO BE RAISED IN THE PATNA MEET OF ALL INDIA BODY
The General Secretary apprised the house about the Patna meet on 16/17.12.2012. The house authorized the President and General Secretary to attend the meet and act as per their own wisdom for the betterment of the cadre and our Zone. However, the house resolved that the following issues will be taken up by the Circle Body : -
1)                 There should be All India Seniority as per Bhardwaj Committee Report;
2)                 Mobile sets and connections on the pattern of CBDT should be provided to officers;
3)                 The powers/duties/responsibilities of the Vice Presidents of AIB should be defined;
4)                 The concerns raised in the Representation given to the authorities regarding injustice to the cadre in the ensuing cadre review and other related matters may be brought to the notice of the All India body for appropriate action.
16.      NOMINATION OF CIRCLE TREASURER
The General Secretary brought to the notice of the house the difficulty in opening of the new Bank Account and the pre-occupation of Shri Raj Kumar, Treasurer due to work-load of the charges allotted to him. In order to avoid any difficulty and to operate the current saving account of the association in Canara Bank, Chandigarh, the house unanimously re-nominated Shri Mukesh Anand as Circle Treasurer and relieved Shri Raj Kumar of his responsibilities as Treasurer. The house thanked  Shri Raj Kumar for his services and wanted that he should remain associated with the work of Association and remain ready to be entrusted with new responsibility in the near future.
THE HOUSE ALSO REVIEWED AND INTROSPECTED THE WORKING OF THE OFFICE BEARERS OF THE CIRCLE BODY DURING THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. THE HOUSE NOTED THAT THE PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN OFFICE BEARERS IS NOT RIGHT UPTO THE MARK AND NEEDS CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT. THE HOUSE ADVISED THAT EACH AND EVERY OFFICE BEARERS SHOULD WORK LIKE A TRUE SERVANT OF THE CADRE AND NOT AS A MERE FIGURE-HEAD. EVERY OFFICE BEARER SHOULD DISCHARGE HIS DUTIES SINCERELY AND UPHOLD THE TRUST REPOSED IN THEM AND ALSO TRY TO COME UPTO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CADRE. IT WAS RESOLVED THAT THE WORKING OF EACH AND EVERY OFFICE BEARER WILL BE REVIWED FOR TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION IN THE NEXT CIRCLE MEET.
THE HOUSE REQUESTED THE MEMBERS TO KINDLY VISIT OUR BLOGSPOT AICEIACHD.BLOGSPOT.COM FOR UPDATES ON THE ASSOCIATION ACITIVITIES.

 THE HOUSE ALSO RESOLVED THAT THE COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING BE SENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE HOUSE AND TO ENABLE THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE NECESSARY ACTION IN THE MATTERS RELATING TO THE CADRE WELFARE. THE HOUSE ALSO ADVISED THE PRESIDENT AND THE GENERAL SECRETARY TO SEEK APPOINTMENT FROM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO KNOW ABOUT THE STEPS TAKEN IN VIEW OF THE LAST MEET’S RESOLUTIONS AND REQUEST THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE UP FURTHER FOLLOW UP ACTION ON THE POINTS/DEMANDS RAISED BY THE ASSOCIATION.

In the end, the General Secretary thanked all the members present and the cadre in general for extending a helping hand in taking up the matters relating to the welfare of the cadre. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair.

These minutes have been issued as per the proceedings of the house and after due approval of the President.

FOR AICEIA, CHANDIGARH CIRCLE


(BHAGWAN SINGH)
GENERAL SECRETARY

Copy to : -
1.         The President/Secretary General, AICEIA, KOLKATTA,
2.         The Chief Commissioner, Central Excise, Chandigarh Zone, Chandigarh, for kind information and favourable action please.
3.         The Commissioner, Central Excise Commissionerate, Chandigarh-I/Chandigarh-II/Ludhiana/J&K and Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Amritsar, for information please& favourable action pl.  
4.         The Notice Boards at all Commissionerates and Divisional Headquarters, for information of all concerned.