" IRS OFFICERS PROMOTED FROM THE GRADE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF CENTRAL EXCISE ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF AIACEGEO. THIS IS THE ONLY ASSOCIATION FOR SUPERINTENDENTS OF CENTRAL EXCISE AND IRS OFFICERS PROMOTED FROM THE GRADE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF CENTRAL EXCISE THROUGH OUT THE COUNTRY . President Mr.T.Dass and SG Mr. Harpal Singh.

Sunday 15 May 2016

Material sent by Sh. Dharambir Singh, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, to the Hon'ble FM

Central Excise Superintendents have totally been ignored by 7th Pay Commission in the matter of pay scale as well as career prospects despite of being conferred new responsibilities of higher nature in judicial and technical fields of adjudication and ACES since 2010. Their claim for higher pay and better career prospects becomes even stronger on account of recording statements like a Magistrate having validity even before Supreme Court. Despite of the admission by Expenditure Department, they have not been granted the pay scale at par with DSP of CBI etc. The pay scale of both categories were same till 07.02.96 but Govt. enhanced the pay scale of DSP of CBI without recommendations of Pay Commission vide order Dt. 08.02.96 with retrospective effect since 01.01.96 without any increase in their responsibilities. The feeder post of Inspectors of Central Excise and CBI are already in the same pay scale, it is gross injustice not to bring the promotional posts (Central Excise Superintendent and DSP of CBI) at par. DSP of CBI etc. are also being paid 25% per month extra salary and 13 months salary in the year. The plea by Central Excise Superintendents for grant of Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB3 has been turned down stating that it is group ‘A’ entry scale for their promotional post. That being the case, the feeder post of Assistant and promotional post of Section Officer were placed in the same pay scale in CSS once upon a time just before the implementation of VIth CPC report. Likewise, feeder and promotional posts were being placed in the same pay scale in Audit and Accounts services. Group ‘B’ officers in Sates and Group ‘A’ All India Service Officers are also recruited in the same Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB3. Accordingly, there should not be any problem to place Central Excise Superintendent in the Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB3. This problem may also be solved by promoting the Superintendent directly to STS post like many other counterparts or even making the group ‘A’ entry at Grade Pay of Rs. 6600/-. Central Excise Superintendent should, therefore, be placed at least in a pay scale equivalent to Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB3 with time scale in Grade Pay of Rs. 6600/- after 4 years of service and also special allowance @ 25% of salary with 13 months salary in the year.
                Central Excise Superintendents are retiring with single promotion on a PB2 post in a career of 35-40 years whereas their common entry counterparts of Customs, CBDT, CBI, CSS etc. are easily entering into PB4 levels with 5-6 promotions. Central Excise Superintendents are also forced to work under their extreme juniors of Customs (Examiners) belonging to one & same cadre of Inspector and recruited through one & same process under one & same organization of Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) in one & same department of Revenue of one & same Ministry of Finance with one & same administrative hierarchy. Examiner of 1984 has already become Addl. Commissioner (GP-Rs. 8700/- in PB4) after getting 5 promotions whereas the Central Excise Inspector of 1984 is yet to get IInd promotion to JTS post of Asstt. Commissioner (GP-Rs. 5400/- in PB3). The counterparts of CSS including Rajya Sabha Secretariat and CBDT are already reaching the level of Joint Secretary and Commissioner respectively in the GP of Rs. 10000/- in PB4. Particularly keeping in view the extraordinarily acute stagnation of Central Excise Superintendents and Inspectors, they should be granted non-functional financial up-gradation (NFU) to grant them at least financial parity with the counterparts of CSS etc.
The Cabinet/CRC/Cabinet Secretary recommended to take extra measures to remove stagnation of group ‘B’ Central Excise executive officers independent of cadre restructuring. But very unfortunately, no measures have been taken till date. A scheme, therefore, should be formulated enabling Central Excise Superintendents and Inspectors entered into PB4 levels like the common entry counterparts of CBDT, CSS, Customs etc. by introduction of flexible/dynamic promotion/complementing scheme as was done for the Scientists in the Department of Science & Technology to remove their stagnation and also for Drivers.
The promotional hierarchy is varying department to department in the Central Govt. like GP of 4600à6600à8700 (CPWD etc.), 4600à4800à6600à7600à8700 (CSS, Railway Board, CSSS, AFHQ, CVC, UPSC, MEA, MPA, NCB, Rajya Sabha Secretariat etc.), 4600à5400à6600à7600à8700 (CBI, IB, Hindi departments etc.), 4600à4800à5400à6600à7600à8700 (CBEC, CBDT, Department of Posts etc.) etc. So, promotional hierarchy after entry into group ‘B’ should be made uniform like CPWD keeping in view that posts under grade pays of Rs. 5400/- & 6600/- and also Rs. 7600/- & 8700/- are functionally same.
The most of group ‘B’ gazetted officers in Central as well as State governments are being promoted directly to a Senior Time Scale (STS) post with GP of Rs. 6600/- in PB-3 including CSS, CPWD, Railway Board, CSSS, AFHQ, CVC, UPSC, MEA, MPA, NCB, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Enforcement Directorate in Revenue Department itself, Forest services, Police services, Foreign Services, Engineering services, State services etc. but Central Excise Superintendents are being promoted (if any) merely to a Junior Time Scale (JTS) post with Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB-3. Thus, Central Excise Superintendents should also be promoted directly to STS.
Pay Commissions always worked to merge the pay scales. The creation of Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB2 and PB3 by 6th CPC was illogical, unjustified and a gross mistake. This led to discrimination, resentment and consequential litigations. It was expected that 7th CPC would remove this disparity by merger of this bifurcation of single grade pay but the CPC has retained the same as Level 9 and Level 10. The same, therefore, should be merged to Level 10.
Residency periods have been prescribed by the DOPT for promotion from one grade to another vide OM No. AB.14017/61/2008-Estt. (RR) Dt. 24.03.09. No need to say that the same have been prescribed by DOPT with due diligence and application of mind. The officers should, therefore, be granted functional or non-functional upgradations on completion of residency periods as prescribed by DOPT.

The CBEC has also recommended for the grant of a Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB3, next promotion to STS, NFU, flexible/dynamic promotion/complementing scheme etc. for Central Excise Superintendents and merger of Level 9 & 10 & uniform promotional hierarchy across the Ministries/Departments of Central Govt. The representation of All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers representing Central Excise Superintendents and promotee Group ‘A’ officers of Central Excise is also enclosed alongwith recommendations of CBEC and other enclosures for favourable consideration mentioning some more additional points like at least 40% increase in pay & allowances, weightage of Group B service, higher salary for revenue officials etc. No need to say that they are always collecting the govt. revenue above the set targets. The grant of job-satisfaction to them shall increase the govt. revenue and efficiency of tax administration in multifold way.