DRAFT MINUTES OF THE JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING OF ALL ASSOCIATIONS OF CBEC HELD IN KOLKATA ON 28-06- 2015

The meeting commenced with the welcome address by Smt. Smita Guha, Assistant Commissioner, who invited Shri. Lokanath Mishra, Secretary General, of IRS [Indirect Tax] Officers’ Association and Shri. A.S.Roy, of Kolkata Unit to conduct the proceedings. Shri. Lokanath Mishra presiding over the meeting stressed the need to have a broad-based platform comprising of all Associations under CBEC to fight for common interests of all cadres. He gave an overview of the submissions made to 7th CPC and stated that it is now essential to urge the CBEC to form an implementations shell along with representatives of staff Associations for implementations of recommendations of 7th CPC in CBEC. He further stated that with introduction of GST imminent next year, multi-fold assessee base would lead to enormous workload in the Department. Therefore, he explained that the proposed Joint Forum needs to gear up its resources to fight for another cadre restructuring in the coming years. Following this he asked the participating representatives of each of the Associations whether to first decide on the need to convene a Joint Forum or identify the common and convergent and then convene a Joint Forum. To this poser the representatives of almost all the Associations agreed to form a Joint Forum. However, Shri. Chandramouli, President of AICEGEOA felt it necessary to first identify and discuss the common and convergent issues in order to avoid dissenting voices after formation of the Forum. However since all the Associations overwhelmingly agreed on the need to have the forum, it was decided to take up next issue of deciding the name of the forum. After considerable deliberations it was decided to have the name of the forum as “Joint Action Committee of all Associations of CBEC”. Having decided the name of the body of all the Associations, the floor was thrown open to decide the conveners of the committee. After some swift deliberations the names of the following persons were elected as conveners. A. CONVENER: Shri Lokanath Mishra, Secretary General of IRS (Indirect Taxes) Officers Association. B. JOINT CONVENERS: 1. Shri Ravi Malik, Secretary General, All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers (AIACEGEO). 2. Shri Asim Pramanick, President, All India Central Excise and Service Tax Ministerial Officers Association (AICESTMOA). 3. Shri Ashis Chakrabarty, Secretary General, All India Customs Gr-C Officers’ Federation. 4. Shri Venugopal Nair, President , All India Customs Preventive Service Federation. After the election of the conveners a detailed discussion on the issues took place. It was decided not to deliberate on cadre specific issues in order to avoid any dissensions. The participants after considerable deliberations identified the following common issues which are to be taken up with the Board immediately. 1. The CBEC should consult the member of associations/federations before submitting the views of the CBEC to the 7th CPC. A meeting of all the associations/federations must be convened by Board in this regard immediately. 2. Timely DPCs should be ensured and all the vacancies in all the cadres should be filled up immediately for smooth and seamless functioning of the department. 3. Vacancies available at higher levels for the want of eligible candidates may be downgraded under GFR 254 and filled up with officers from lower grades. 4. The units with a turnover of more than Rs 10 lakhs should not be given to the states and the CBEC should consult with the staff associations/federations before making any organisational changes with reference to implementation of GST. Proper training should be imparted to all officers concerned for implementation of GST. 5. All recruitment rules should be finalised in consultations with the associations/federations concerned on immediately. 6. Minimum Five functional promotions must be granted in the career of an employee entering the department. 7. MACP anomalies must be removed immediately without any further delay. 8. Time bound disposal of vigilance cases should be ensured. 9. Immediate provision of essential infrastructure and office space to all officers as per the prescribed norms. 10. Employee Grievance Redressal Mechanism is to be put in place at Central as well as zonal level for on the spot redressal of staff grievances. 11. The 1% incremental incentive amount should percolate down to the welfare of all cadres in the department in proportion to their strength. 12. Implementation of the comprehensive health insurance scheme at the earliest. Accordingly it was decided that the Convener shall submit a representation to Chairman, CBEC copy to Secretary ( Revenue) along with the charter of demands with a request to provide immediate audience to all office bearers of constituent Associations of JAC. All the participating members in unison thanked the efforts of IRS (Indirect Taxes) Officers Association, Shri.A.S.Roy , the Kolkata unit of IRS (Indirect Taxes) Officers Association and Shri Ravi Malik, SG/AIACEGEO , in making this Joint Action Committee a reality at such a short time. All the participants pledged their support and commitment to make the JAC a purposeful and effective Body to accomplish the desired results. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Smt. Smita Guha and then with solidarity sloganeering. THE OFFICE BEARERS OF FOLLOWING ASSOCIATIONS/ FEDERATIONS HAVE JOINED IN JAC OF CBEC ON 28.06.15. 1. IRS(INDIRECT TAXES) OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION. 2. ALL INDIA CUSTOMS APPRAISING OFFICERS' FEDERATION. 3. ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL EXCISE GAZETTED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. 4. ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF SUPERINTENDENT OF CUSTOMS PREVENTIVE. 5. ALL INDIA CUSTOMS PREVENTIVE SERVICE FEDERATION. 6. ALL INDIA CUSTOMS MINISTERIAL EMPLOYEES FEDERATION. 7. ALL INDIA CENTRAL EXCISE INSPECTORS ASSOCIATION. 8. ALL INDIA CENTRAL EXCISE AND SERVICE TAX MINISTERIAL OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION. 9. ALL INDIA CUSTOMS MINISTERIAL OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION. 10. ALL INDIA CUSTOMS GROUP-C OFFICERS FEDERATION. 11. ALL INDIA CUSTOMS AND CENTRAL EXCISE GROUP-C OFFICERS' FEDERATION.