MINUTES
OF THE CIRCLE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEET OF AICEIA, CHANDIGARH CIRCLE AT
CENTRAL REVENUE BUILDING, JALANDHAR DIVISION, HELD 22ND APRIL, 2013.
The 5TH meet
of the Circle Executive Meet of All India Central Excise Inspectors’
Association, Chandigarh Circle was held at Central Revenue Building ( Central
Excise Division) Jalandahr on 22.04.2013.
The following office bearers and members
attended the meet : -
S/Shri
1.
Ramesh Chander Sharma, President,
2.
Bhagwan Singh,
General Secretary,
3.
Tilak Raj, Working President,
4.
Vinod Kumar, Liason Secretary,
5.
Subhash Bhashin, Vice Presidnet, Jammu &
Kashmir Branch,
6.
Prashant Joshi, Joint Secretary, Ludhiana branch
7.
S. S. Rawat, Vice President, Chandigarh-II
Branch,
8.
Suresh Mishra, Vice President, Amritsar Branch
9.
Mukesh Anand, Circle Treasurer
10.
Rajinder Malhotra, Advisor to CEC,
11.
P.P. Singh, Executive Member;
12.
Sanjeev Sharma, Executive Member;
13.
Kulwinder Kumar, Executive Member;
14.
Sandeep Mahajan, Executive Member;
15.
S.P. Singh, Mermber AICEIA, Jalandhar Division
16.
Gurpeet Singh, Mermber AICEIA, Jalandhar Division
17.
Sarvjit, Mermber AICEIA, Jalandhar Division
18.
Satinder Goyal, Mermber AICEIA, Jalandhar
Division
19.
Kimti Lal, Mermber AICEIA, Jalandhar Division
20.
Ajit Pal Singh, Mermber AICEIA, Jalandhar
Division
21.
Bharat Jain, Mermber AICEIA, Jalandhar Division
22.
Smt . Mohinder Kaur, Mermber AICEIA, Jalandhar
Division
At
the first instance, Shri Kulwinder Kumar, Executive Member from Jalandhar Division,
welcomed the office bearers and members on behalf of the our members from
Jalandhar Division.
The
meeting started with the formal welcome address by Shri R.C. Sharma, President. The President apprised the members
about the issues pending with the CBEC/Govt. and the efforts being made by
AICEIA’s national leadership to pursue our genuine demands. He then handed over
the proceedings of the house to the General Secretary.
The
General Secretary informed the house that the meeting has been convened at
short notice especially to discuss the draft transfer policy, though other
matters of urgent importance were also to be discussed by the house.
The
house discussed and resolved as under : -
1.
DRAFT
TRANSFER POLICY OF GROUP B EXECUTIVE OFFICERS : -
The
General Secretary informed the house that the administration has issued draft
transfer policy for the Group B Executive Officers ( Superintendents and
Inspectors) and that the administration has already been requested to issue the
transfer orders of this year as per the existing transfer policy keeping in
view the sentiments of the cadre. He also apprised the house about the content
and spirit of the resolutions passed by our members at the
Commissionerate/Division level in the Zone. Keeping in view the resolutions
passed by the members at different stations, the house discussed the draft
transfer policy in detail. The house in general accepted the demand of the
members that the transfer policy in general should not be altered as it has
stood the test of time and worked well during its short period of existence and
the cadre has been satisfied to a larger extent from the existing policy.
However, as the change is always for the better and there is always scope for
improvement of the policy, the house discussed the policy para-wise and
resolved that : -
1)
In para 2, the point “ to curb the growth of
vested interests and restrict drawbacks of prolonged stays” should be deleted
from the policy. The house was of the view that no such negative clause is
required keeping in view the preceding and succeeding clauses in this
para. The delegates of the meeting (
delegates – hereinafter ) were of the view that the clause is not required. The
cadre of Inspectors is a micro- unit of the society at marco level and is governed
by the same standards of morality and ethics as is the society (of which we are
only a miniscule part) and that the honest, sincerity and ethics are not the
exclusive prerogative of any particular community / cadre and that the vices
afflicting the humanity in general prevail among all the communities cutting
across the lines of hierarchy. Hence, the house resolved that this clause
should be strongly objected to and may be deleted from the draft transfer
policy of Group B Executive Officers.
2)
In para 3(b) relating to the ICTs, the house
considered that a clause regarding the last date for issuance of the ICT orders
should be inserted. The members were of the view that the ICTs should be issued
by all means by the end of first fortnight of April, 2013 so that the entire
exercise of AGT is completed by April end.
3)
In para 3(a), the house of the view that
piece-meal transfer orders should be issued only in case of grave exigency only
and that too with the prior approval of the Zonal Chief Commissioner.
4)
In para No. 4(a), the cut off date for reckoning
the period of stay should be as per existing policy (i.e. 31st July
of calendar year). However, the house was of the view that there should be no
problem for the cut off date of 30th
April provided the AGTs are issued strictly before 30th April of the
particular calendar year.
5)
In para No. 4(c), the delegates were of the
considered view that the names of the Inspectors who remained posted outside
J&K on longest interval after the last posting to J&K should be
included irrespective of their tenure in the J&K as per the policy
prevalent at the particular times. Among the Inspectors having the same length
of stay outside J&K, their inter-se seniority should be considered and that
a mix of senior and junior officers by transferring the officers from the top
and bottom of the roster so prepared should be maintained.
6)
In para No. 4 (d), the suitable
amendments/alterations may be made. The house was of the considered view that
the demand of the members conveyed through various resolutions regarding the
posting of lady officers to J & K is reasonable and justified. In the
modern age of gender equality, where the lady officers have proved their
capabilities beyond reasonable doubt to perform at par with their male counter-parts
at almost all the stations including the most sensitive stations of the Zone,
there appears to be no logic in keeping them out of roster. The lady officers
are equally endowed with the qualities of boldness, confidence, guts and are
equally adventurous. Both the lady
officers and the Department should not be kept devoid of their valuable
services in the J & K commissionerate also. However, the house further
observed that no doubt on account of the family circumstances and social
milieu, the lady officers also deserve a bit of compassion. Hence, there should
be an exception on rational grounds for the lady officers, who may prefer to
put stay with their families at the existing station of their stay. Hence, the
house resolved that the requests of such lady officers should be acceded to
with a proviso that they will not claim any sensitive posting for two
consecutive years in addition to their normal posting to
sensitive/non-sensitive posting. The requests of such lady officers should not
be normally rejected except in case of extreme administrative exigency.
7)
In para 4 (f) The house discussed and resolved that the cadre has
unanimously and strongly objected to proposed tenure of 3 years for J&K
Commissionerate. J&K is still declared as disturbed area under the
Disturbed Areas Act, and the law and order situation there is still volatile.
The law and order situation in J & K, especially in the valley area,
changes as frequently as weather. There is no proper security and
infrastructure for our officers in the region. The tales narrated by some of
our members have been harrowing and horrible and just like a night-mare. It may
be added that our cadre does not enjoy the privileges enjoyed by the senior
officers and by no stretch of imagination our cadre can be compared with the
Group A cadre of the Department. The reason of
administrative efficiency for longer tenure in J&K does not stand
the test of logical scrutiny in view of the fact that the tenure in the various
postings, which are equally or even more sensitive, in the Customs Preventive
Commissionerate, Amritsar, the far-away Ranges/Offices of Central Excise and
important sections of non-sensitive nature like Audit/Review/Adjudication, is
one year for the last so many years and the system has been working very well
and there has been no tangible drawbacks. Moreover, it is the policy of Govt.
of India that the officers posted to North East (J & K is at par with N/E
region) are to be given their choice station after two years tenure, but the
proposed changes will take away this choice available as per existing policy
from members of our cadre, who spend one year extra in J&K for the sake of
stability of their family. Hence, this choice of necessary evil being availed
by our members for the stability of their families should not be withdrawn.
8)
The
house further resolved that roster for J&K posting should be prepared strictly as per the
existing policy i.e. firstly those officers who have never gone to J & K
(period of nine months of below to be counted as NIL) and thereafter, the
officers who have longest stay outside J&K, irrespective of the tenure they
had in J & K as per the then prevalent policy, should be included in the
roster.
9)
In para 4(g) : The house resolved that the
posting at hard stations of the Commissionerate including Nyoma and Shipkila
will not be for a period of more than
three months. The category of hard stations will be determined by the
Commissioners of respective Commissionerates with the consent of the recognized
staff associations and there should be clear-cut policy guidelines for posting
of officers to such hard stations.
10)
The house further resolved that a suitable para
may be included in the policy to the effect that normally an officer shall not
be placed/posted at a hard station within a period of two to three years of his
previous posting to such hard stations and this clause will be applicable even
in case of officers joining on ICT. However, the officers willing to remain for
longer periods of their free will may be allowed to continue at such stations
for longer periods.
11)
Para 4 (H) : The house resolved that the
continuation of an officer at non-sensitive/sensitive station beyond normal
tenure should be resorted to only in case of extreme exigency after recording
of proper reasons thereof and also that it must be strictly ensured that the
officers having sensitive charges are not burdened with non-sensitive charges
and vice-versa.
12)
In para 4 (i) ¨The house resolved that posting at
such far away stations as mentioned in this para of DTP should not normally one
year, except where the officer gives his consent for continuation during the
second year. It will be better if the consent of the officer transferred to
such stations is obtained during the first year itself so that the stability of
the tenure/family of such officer is ensured and the Govt. expenditure on
account of TTA is also saved on account of such annual transfers.
13)
Para 4 (K) the house observed that the clause
that an officer shall not be brought back again and again to the same
Section/Branch is a fine clause, but there have been number of violations of
this clause. Hence, the house resolved that the administration should
strengthen this clause by making it rigorous to ensure that it is scrupulously
implemented.
14)
Para No. 4
(n) : The house resolved that since the period of nine months and above for calculation of stay at
sensitive/non-sensitive posting is to be counted as full year, the period of
absence/leave upto three months in non-sensitive charge will be automatically
considered for counting the period of stay at non-sensitive posting also.
Hence, this clause appears to be unnecessary, or if at all it is to be
required, the period of two months may be substituted with three months.
15)
The house further resolved that the Customs
Anti-smuggling branch should be kept as non-sensitive charge as this
destabilize the balance between the
sensitive and non sensitive charges on the one hand, and also make the other
anti-smuggling posts as “sensitive” on the other hand. Thus, the whole of
Customs Preventive Commissionerate will turn out be a sensitive charge, which
will be impracticable and unmanageable situation.
16)
The house further resolved that when an officer
is given the sensitive charge in the Division office, he should not be given
the non-sensitive charge. In many cases, the officers due for non-sensitive
charge are given charges of public dealing/sensitive charge while the officers
due for sensitive charge are burdened with the nonsensitive charge. This should
be avoided except when warranted by extreme emergency.
2. NON FILLING OF THE VACANCIES OF ST
QUOTA ON ACCOUNT OF NON-AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE CANDIDATES.
The members of the House were of the view that the process of filling
up of the posts lying vacant on account of the availability of the qualified
candidates from the ST category may be expedited. The General Secretary assured
the house that a meeting with the administration will be sought in the next
week or so to request them to pursue the matter with the higher
authorities/CBEC.
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. 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. There is no proper staff or vehicles for
service of the numerous notices and summons upon the assessees, especially in
the service tax formations, which is posing a great challenge and causing
unbearable anxiety/tension/harassment to our cadre. The members were of the
view that the attitude of the administration in this regard has been that of
laxity and they are not giving proper attention towards such issues.
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 General Secretary apprised the house that the administration is
trying to find out suitable building at Amritsar also.
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. The General Secretary pointed out that
the response of the Branch on this front has for far been not upto the mark and
issue needs greater and prompt attention. He assured that the matter will be taken up with the the
Hon’ble Chief Commissioner and the respective Commissioners for necessary follow – up.
The house also resolved that
in view of the temperatures and humidity shooting up to higher levels breaking
the past records, all the offices should be air-conditioned. The Air
conditioners already installed may be got serviced immediately.
The AMCs for water
purifiers/coolers may be renewed immediately, where-ever required so that there
is no problem in supply of adequate drinking water to the staff.
The house resolved that the
1% incremental revenue grants received by the Commissionerates/Zone may be
spent for the welfare of the staff, which have not so far been given adequate
attention.
4. HOLDING OF ALL INDIA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MEET OF AICEIA, AT SHIMLA.
In
the last meeting of CEC, House approved
the decision taken by the President and General Secretary at Patna convention
to host the next All India Executive Meet and decided that the meet will be
conducted at Shimla in the month of July, 2013. Accordingly, a Managing-cum-Receiption
Committee for the purpose, comprising
Shri Sanjeev Sharma, Shri Munish Arya, Shri Vinod Kumar was formed. The
house also decided to take help of our Ex- Office bearer/Superintendents in
holding this meet.
5. POINTS FOR ALL INDIA MEET
FROM CHANDIGARH CIRCLE.
1) Ensuring
all India parity of different zones by fixation of all India seniority.
However, the house observed that the correct seniority in all the zones on the
uniform pattern may be ensured before the finalization of the all India
seniority of the Inspectors.
There has been a meeting with
the DG (HRD) and a proposal for all India seniority has been submitted to the
Board.
2) Empanelment
of Hospitals for cashless medical treatment;
3) Utilization
of 1% incremental fund for the welfare of cadre by provision of various office
equipments and mobiles/laptops etc.
4) Withdrawal
of physical control from the cigarette factories.
5) Dispensing
with the Control Room duty as it has lost its utility inthese days of modern
communication.
6) Grant
of 5400/- GP to Inspectors of non-functional Superintendent grade under
ACP/MACP SCHEME.
7) Post
based ratio in the Group A posts instead of vacancy based ratio to ensure
proper representation of the promote officers in the group A service of
Department.
8) Base
Cadre senority for promotion to Group A service;
9) Expediting
the approval and implementation of the Cadre restructuring;
10) Appointment/deployment of Notice Servers in the service tax
formations;
11) Shortage
of staff to be made good by appointments and promotions/calling applications
from other Central Govt. ministries;
12) Posting
of the TA/STAs in the Ranges and other formations.
13) Grant
of pay at par with CBI from 1996 with all consequential benefits.
14) Sanction
of additional posts of Superintendents on account of increased workload at ICP
Attari and ICDs, proposal for which has already been sent to the CBEC by the
Zonal administration.
NB :
The dates for next All India meet have been fixed as 27th and 28th
July and arrangements for booking of the accommodation at Shimla are under-way.
6. TIMELY
ISSUANCE OF ICT AND AGT ORDERS.
The house observed that the ICTs/AGT
orders are yet awaited though the third week of April has passed. It was
resolved that the President and General Secretary should request the
administration to expedite the process of issuance of the transfer orders.
NB :
The ICT orders for Inspectors have already been issued on 01.05.2013.
7. POSTINGS
IN THE SERVICE TAX FORMATIONS.
The house in its last meeting had
discussed this issue and resolved that that
the Service Tax Ranges may be merged with the Central Excise where they have
not been merged so far, before the issue of AGT orders. If that is not
possible, roster should be maintained for service tax postings.
The
House desired that the matter may be taken up with the administration
immediately.
8. MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTION :
The President and
General Secretary pointed out that the Membership subscription for the year
2012-13 has not been deducted by the AOs/DDOs. The position of Chandigarh I and
Chandigarh II Commissionerates is not encouraging and immediate steps may be
taken to get the subscription deducted in the month of March, 2013 so that
maximum members of the association are subscribed members. The Vice Presidents
and Joint Secretaries of the respective Commissionerates were required to check
up the position and take immediate steps so that the subscripltion is deducted and transmitted to the
Association. The Working President Shri
Tilak Raj and Advisor to Circle Executive Shri Rajinder Malhotra will kindly
help the other office bearers to get the necessary subscription from the
members and take necessary steps in that direction.
The General Secretary
apprised that a letter requesting the Chief Commissioner to direct the
Commissionerates/DDOs to deduct the subscription has been written with copies
thereof to all the Commissionerates. He assured that the issue will be taken up
shortly with the CCU for issuance of the necessary directions to the
administration in the matter.
9. REVIEW OF THE WORKING OF THE ASSOCIATION AND ITS OFFICE BEARERS.
As per the
mandate/directions of the House in the last meet at Ludhiana, whereby the working of the Association and the
efforts put in by its office bearers to the aims and objectives pursued by the
Association was reviewed, letters were issued to the Circle Assistant General
Secretary, Vice President Amritsar Branch, Joint Secretary, Amritsar Branch and
Joint Secretary, Chandigarh-I to explain the circumstances for keeping them
away to perform upto the expected standards. The Assistant General Secretary,
Shri H.L. Koul and Shri Balbir Singh, Joint Secretary, Chandigarh-I have
resigned on the ground that they could not perform upto their best due to their
personal reasons. The house unanimously accepted their resignations and thanked
both of them for their cooperation and generous attitude.
Since Shri Ashwani Arora, Joint Secretary, Amritsar Branch could not
give his reply to the letters/reminders issued by the General Secretary and
also did not attend any of the meetings of the Circle Executive held till date
nor could he contribute anything meaningful for the uplift/welfare of our
cadre, the house unanimously resolved that his services as Joint Secretary of
Amritsar Branch are dispensed with immediate effect.
Keeping in view the reasons and circumstances explained by Shri Suresh
Mishra, Vice President, Amritsar and also his promise to deliver better in
future, the house resolved that his services may be useful to the cadre and he
was allowed to continue as Vice President of Amritsar Branch with an
expectation that he will perform better in the future and with a warning not to
be careless in future.
10. OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES DISCUSSED
BY HOUSE :
The
house also discussed the other matters relating to Control Room duty of
Inspectors, allotment of residential accommodation in Colony at Chandigarh,
shortage of the staff in various field formations, pendency of medical/tta/ta
claims, empanelment of the hospitals for cashless facility etc. The President
and General Secretary assured the house to take up these issues with the
administration for further follow-up.
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 President and
other Zonal Office bearers, Chandigarh Circle;
3. The Chief Commissioner, Central Excise, Chandigarh
Zone, Chandigarh, for kind information and favourable action please.
4. The Commissioner, Central Excise Commissionerate,
Chandigarh-I/Chandigarh-II/Ludhiana/J&K and Customs Preventive
Commissionerate, Amritsar, for information please& favourable action pl.
5. The Notice Boards at all Commissionerates and
Divisional Headquarters, for information of all concerned.
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