" 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.

Saturday, 25 February 2017

Meeting with MOS, Expenditure

Dear friends,
namaste.
Met yesterday on 24.2.17 with the MOS, Expenditure at his residence. Submissions made to him regarding pay scale & other issues as follows. He promised to do needful.
Love,
Ravi Malik.
ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL EXCISE
GAZETTED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
President:                                     Address for communication:                                         Secretary General:
R. Chandramouli                   240, Razapur, Ghaziabad-201001 (U.P.)                                                Ravi Malik
Mob. 08939955463   mail Id:ravimalik_sweet@yahoo.com, Site: cengoindia.blogspot.in  Mob. 09868816290
Vice Presidents: P. Parwani, L. L. Singhvi (Central); AnuragChaudhary, Ravi Joshi (North); N. Raman, G. Srinath (South); B. K. Sinha, AshwiniMajhi (East); Rajesh Chaher, J. D. Patil (West) Joint Secretaries: Anand Kishore, J. S. Aiyer (Central); R. K. Solanki, AshishVajpeyi (North); M. Nagaraju, Ajithkumar P. C. (South); P. K. Sen, S. Bhattachariya (East); JasramMeena, M. K. Mishra (West) Office Secretary: C. S. Sharma Treasurer: N. R. MandaLiaison Secretary: A. S. KunduCoordinator on Telangana: P. Shravan Kumar
(Recognised by G.O.I., Min. of Fin. vide letter F.No. B. 12017/10/2006-Ad.IV A Dt.21.01.08)
Ref. No. 26/P/17                                                                          Dt. 24.02.17
To,                              
Sh. Arjun Meghwal,
Hon’ble MOS, Ministry of Finance,
North Block, New Delhi.
Sub: Implementation of para 7.15.24 of 6th CPC report in light of UO No. 6/37/98-IC Dt. 24.11.14 of Expenditure.
Sir,
   Kindly refer to the earlier communication of the Association on above matter including the submissions made by the Association in earlier meeting.
               2. It is further submitted with due regards that the Chief Enforcement Officers, analogous counterparts of Central Excise Superintendent, under our own Department of Revenue were placed in the pay scale of Rs. 8000-13500/- without the recommendations by CPC vide Order F. No. 1612612004-Ad.I.C dt. 04.10.05. The 6th  CPC under para 7.14.25 recommended to maintain parity between the post of Chief Enforcement Officer and Central Excise Superintendent etc. which has not been implemented till date. Subsequently, the post of Chief Enforcement Officer was re-designated as Assistant Director. The duties and responsibilities of Assistant Director (re-designated) of Enforcement Directorate are at par with the duties and responsibilities of the post of Central Excise Superintendent. The Central Excise Superintendents join in Enforcement Directorate as Assistant Director on deputation basis also.
               3. The competent authority in the Govt. of India (Department of Expenditure) has, however, approved an initial grade pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB2 for Central Excise Superintendents on 21.11.14 considering para 7.15.24 of the report of 6th CPC but it was communicated finally to CBECV vide UO No. 6/37/98-IC Dt. 24.11.14 to send the case to 7th CPC against the approval by the competent authority.
               4. It is really unfortunate and totally unjustified that the matter duly recommended by the 6th CPC and duly accepted by the competent authority has again been asked to be sent to 7th CPC. It merely shows the willful hostile discrimination against Central Excise Superintendents.
               5. In view of the above, it is requested to kindly undo the discrimination by implementing the para 7.15.24 of 6th CPC report in accordance of the approval by the competent authority of the Expenditure on 21.11.14 (the copy of the approval by the competent authority is enclosed).
               Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Encl: As above.


(RAVI MALIK),
Secretary General.



ALL INDIA ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL EXCISE
GAZETTED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
President:                                     Address for communication:                                         Secretary General:
R. Chandramouli                   240, Razapur, Ghaziabad-201001 (U.P.)                                                Ravi Malik
Mob. 08939955463   mail Id:ravimalik_sweet@yahoo.com, Site: cengoindia.blogspot.in  Mob. 09868816290
Vice Presidents: P. Parwani, L. L. Singhvi (Central); AnuragChaudhary, Ravi Joshi (North); N. Raman, G. Srinath (South); B. K. Sinha, AshwiniMajhi (East); Rajesh Chaher, J. D. Patil (West) Joint Secretaries: Anand Kishore, J. S. Aiyer (Central); R. K. Solanki, AshishVajpeyi (North); M. Nagaraju, Ajithkumar P. C. (South); P. K. Sen, S. Bhattachariya (East); JasramMeena, M. K. Mishra (West) Office Secretary: C. S. Sharma Treasurer: N. R. MandaLiaison Secretary: A. S. KunduCoordinator on Telangana: P. Shravan Kumar
(Recognised by G.O.I., Min. of Fin. vide letter F.No. B. 12017/10/2006-Ad.IV A Dt.21.01.08)
Ref. No. 27/G/17                                                                          Dt. 24.02.17
To,                              
Sh. Arjun Meghwal,
Hon’ble MOS, Ministry of Finance,
North Block, New Delhi. To,
Sub: Request for redressal of grievances under employee grievance redressal mechanism.
Sir,
It is submitted with due regards that this Association represents the cadre of Central Excise Superintendents and promotee Central Excise Group ‘A’ officers under Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC). This cadre has being neglected and deprived for years on various issues despite of being instrumental to collect the govt. revenue regularly above the targets. Some of the issues are submitted as follows for kind consideration and due redressal at the kind part of your goodself-
              
A. Batch to batch Non Functional Financial Upgradation to our officers to grant financial parity with the best placed counterparts of CSS etc. on the lines of other Group ‘A’ cadres vs. IAS: Central Excise Superintendents are retiring with single promotion on a PB2 post in a career of 35-40 years after joining the job as Inspector whereas their common entry counterparts of Customs, CBDT, CSS etc. are easily being promoted to 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 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 (Level-13) years ago after getting 5 promotions whereas the Central Excise Inspector of 1984 is yet to get IInd promotion to JTS post of Asstt. Commissioner (Level-10). 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/- (Level-14). Central Excise Superintendents are getting salary even less than the pension of their counterparts.
All organised group ‘A’ officers recruited with IAS,  the best placed group ‘A’ service, in the same pay scale through common entry have been granted financial parity with  counterparts of IAS in the form of non-functional financial up-gradation (NFU) vide DOPT OM No. AB.14017/64/2008-Estt.(RR) Dt. 24.04.09 to compensate lack of promotions as compared to IAS. This scheme was introduced for group ‘A’ officers to compensate financial loss in comparison to counterparts of IAS. Particularly keeping in view the extraordinarily acute stagnation of Central Excise Superintendents & Inspectors, a proposal for grant of non-functional financial up-gradation to give them financial parity with the counterparts of CSS was approved and recommended to DOPT by the CBEC. But DOPT without going into the merits returned the same simply saying that NFU was recommended only for Group ‘A’ organized service by the VIth CPC.
This NFU was also recommended for our officers to the VIIth Pay Commission by the CBEC vide F. No. 8/B/70/HRD (HRM)/2014 Dt. 16.01.14 but, unfortunately, the CPC kept mum on the issue.
It has again been recommended by CBEC to the Revenue Hqrs for Central Excise Superintendents and Inspectors vide OM F. No.A-26017/154//2015-Ad.IIA Dt. 22.02.16 after the issuance of the 7th CPC report.
             In view of the above, it is requested that the Central Excise Superintendents may also kindly be granted non-functional financial up-gradation to give them at least financial parity with their best placed common entry counterparts of CSS etc. (recruited in the same pay scale through common entry examination) after the entry into Group ‘B’ or equivalent grade.
              
B. Non-functional time scale in Level-10 to Central Excise Superintendents like other counterparts instead of Level-9 after 4 years of service: Time scale has been granted in PB3 (Level-10) to other counterparts of Central Excise Superintendents including CSS, CSSS, Railways, MPA, MEA, DANICS, DANIPS, Railway Board etc. since 1996 while it is merely in PB2 for them, that is too since 2006.
Central Excise Superintendents were placed in pay scale of Rs.7500-12000 w.e.f. 21.04.04 while officers of CSS & CSSS etc. were placed in equivalent scale w.e.f. 01.01.06 justifying stronger claim for Superintendents for time scale in PB3 with higher grade pay than the officers of CSS and CSSS w.e.f. the date of grant of the same to the officers of CSS & CSSS.
The claim of Central Excise Superintendents becomes even stronger on account of judicial responsibilities conferred upon them to adjudicate relevant cases and recording statements like a Magistrate
under Central Excise Act & also Customs Act having validity even before Supreme Court. Not only it, Adjudication Orders are also being prepared by them for Commissioner level officers. No such responsibilities have been conferred upon any other counterpart of them. They are also conferred with technical & scientific responsibilities under ACES.
It is also worth to submit that the pay scale of the Assistants & Section Officers etc. of CSS was enhanced to grant them parity with Inspectors & Superintendents of Central Excise {F.No. 61(128)/E.III(B)/2012 Dt. 08.08.13}. Now, it is discriminating not to grant the time scale in PB3 to the Central Excise Superintendents at least at par with the Section Officers of CSS, CSSS etc. w.e.f. 01.01.96.
            It is, therefore, requested to undo the said discrimination by granting a time scale in Level-10 (or Level-11) to the Superintendents w.e.f. date of grant of same to officers of CSS & CSSS.

               C. Scheme to improve the career prospects of Central Excise Superintendents as our officers are retiring with single promotion in the service career of 35-40 years: Our officers are retiring with single promotion on a PB2 post whereas our counterparts are easily attaining PB4 levels. The Group ‘B’ Gazetted officers of ours join the job as Inspector (Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted) in Level-7 and retire as Superintendent in Level-8 after getting only one promotion during the entire service career of 35-40 years barring 1% whereas other common entry counterparts including CSS and CBDT under the same Department of Revenue of same Ministry of Finance are getting 5 to 6 promotions upto the level of Joint Secretary/Commissioner (Level-14) after being recruited through one and the same process in the same grade. The matter was raised before the Cabinet Secretary and he was pleased to recommend to the Cabinet to bring the measures to remove the stagnation of our officers independent of cadre restructuring which was duly approved by the Cabinet but no step has been taken till date even after expiry of more than 3 years. There is no change in the scenario regarding our career prospects despite of the repeated requests and representations made to the administration. Gross injustice is being done to our officers despite of being instrumental with full dedication & commitment to collect the biggest portion of Govt. revenues always above the set targets. It is requested to kindly bring the scheme accordingly to enable our officers also attain PB4 levels. Temporary posts of Asstt. Commissioner created in the cadre restructuring are also unable to do the desired good for our officers, that’s why the Cabinet approved to bring measures independent of cadre restructuring on the issue of stagnation for us. These temporary posts will only enable to get around 4% of our officers get JTS post without any right for further promotions.
It is reiterated that the Cabinet recommended to take extra measures to remove the stagnation of group ‘B’ Central Excise executive officers independent of cadre restructuring. A scheme is, therefore, required to be formulated enabling Central Excise Superintendents and Inspectors also entered into PB4 levels (Level-13 and 14) like the common entry counterparts of CBDT, CSS, Customs etc. as Central Excise Superintendents are getting salary even less than the pension of their counterparts. This can be done by introduction of flexible/dynamic promotion/complementing scheme granting in situ promotions on completion of residency periods as prescribed by DOPT to move from one grade to another. This scheme was introduced for the Scientists in the Department of Science & Technology to remove their stagnation. Benefit of this scheme has also been given to Drivers.
It is reiterated that the Central Excise Superintendents are retiring with single promotion on Level-8 post in a career of 35-40 years whereas their common entry counterparts of Customs, CBDT, CSS etc. are easily entering into Level-13 and 14 with 5-6 promotions.
In view of the above particularly considering their extraordinarily acute stagnation, it is requested that the Central Excise Superintendents may kindly be granted-
(a) At least 5 in-situ promotions in uniform promotional hierarchy across all Ministries/departments of Govt. of India (as submitted under the forthcoming point of uniform promotional hierarchy) of functional promotions under flexible/dynamic promotion/complementing scheme or
(b) In-situ promotions/non-functional upgradation on completion of residency periods as prescribed by DOPT under OM No. AB.14017/61/2008-Estt. (RR) Dt. 24.03.09 after joining as Inspector.
               The CBEC has also recommended this scheme to Revenue Hqrs for removal of alarming stagnation of Central Excise Superintendents and Inspectors vide OM F. No.A-26017/154//2015-Ad.IIA Dt. 22.02.16.

               D. Undoing of MACP irregularities (para 8.1, upgradation in promotional hierarchy and offsetting of MACP upgradation with time scale) as our officers were able to get the grade pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB3 (Level-10) after 24 years of service under ACPS while now getting the same after 30 years of service under MACPS: It is requested to kindly undo the para 8.1 and offsetting of MACP upgradation with time scale and also grant the MACP benefit in the hierarchy of functional promotions particularly based on the various court verdicts. It is worth to submit that our officers are the worst hit category under MACPS as they were able to get the grade pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB3 (Level-10) after 24 years of service under ACPS while now getting the same after 30 years of service under MACPS.

E. Uniform promotional hierarchy for all Group ‘B’ officers: The promotional hierarchy is varying department to department in the Govt. as under-
a) Somewhere Group ‘B’ Gazetted Officers are promoted to Level-10 (CBEC, CBDT, Department of Posts etc.), whereas they are being promoted to Level-11 at other places (CSS, Railway Board, CSSS, CPWD, AFHQ, CVC, UPSC, MEA, MPA, NCB, Rajya Sabha Secretariat etc.).
b) Somewhere Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted Officers are promoted to Level-10 (CBI, IB, Hindi departments etc.), whereas they are being promoted to Level-8 or Level-7 at other places (CBEC, CBDT, Department of Posts, CPWD etc.).
c) Somewhere promotional hierarchy is Level-7àLevel-11àLevel-13 (CPWD etc.).
d) Somewhere promotional hierarchy is Level-7àLevel-8àLevel-11àLevel-12àLevel-13 (CSS, Railway Board, CSSS, AFHQ, CVC, UPSC, MEA, MPA, NCB, Rajya Sabha Secretariat etc.).
e) Somewhere promotional hierarchy is Level-7àLevel-10àLevel-11àLevel-12àLevel-13 (Hindi departments etc.).
f) Somewhere promotional hierarchy is Level-7àLevel-8àLevel10àLevel-11àLevel-12àLevel-13 (CBEC, CBDT etc.).
g) Somewhere promotional hierarchy is Level-8àLevel-10àLevel-11àLevel-12àLevel-13 (CBI, IB etc.).
h) Somewhere promotional hierarchy is Level-7àLevel-9àLevel10àLevel-11àLevel-12àLevel-13 (Department of Posts etc.).
So, promotional hierarchy after entry into group ‘B’ may kindly be made uniform for the sake of justice to all. Posts under Level-10 & Level-11 and also Level-12 & Level-13 being functionally same, ideal promotional hierarchy for all after entry into Group ‘B’ should only be “Level-7àLevel-11àLevel-13àLevel-14” on the pattern of CPWD. Officer may kindly be promoted, functionally or non-functionally, after the completion of residency period as prescribed by DOPT vide OM No. AB. 14017/61/2008-Estt. (RR) Dt. 24.03.09. It is 7 years for Level-7 to Level-11and 10 years for Level-11- to Level-13 and further 3 years for Level-13 to Level-14 and so on.
               The CBEC has also recommended to Revenue Hqrs for the uniform promotional hierarchy across all the Departments/Ministries vide OM F. No.A-26017/154//2015-Ad.IIA Dt. 22.02.16.

F. Merger of Level 9 and 10: 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, very unfortunately, the 7th CPC has retained the same as Level 9 and Level 10.
            The same is, therefore, requested to be merged at Level 10. Merger of Level 9 and 10 has also been recommended by the CBEC to the Revenue Hqrs vide OM F. No.A-26017/154//2015-Ad.IIA Dt. 22.02.16.
                              Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
                                                                                                                                                           


 (RAVI MALIK),

Secretary General.