Meeting with Member (P&V) on 15.05.2013 updates

OUR VISIT TO DELHI DURING 14, 15 & 16 MAY, 2013 –
A UPBRIEF OVERVIEW

           The highlight of the recent visit of the office bearers of this Association has been our meeting with Hon’ble Member (P&V) on 15/5/2013 at 11 a.m.  The following points were taken up for discussion in accordance with a pre determined agenda:-

(1) Promotions to CAO:-  In the face of vigorous persuasion of this Association, it was assured that one DPC for the years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 is most likely to be held in May itself.  The O.S.D. to Member (P&V) and other Board officials are in constant touch with the UPSC to finalize the dates and other aspects of the DPC.  On our request the Member (P&V) has directed the concerned officials in the meeting itself to initiate action for the DPC of the subsequent years.

(2) Recruitment Rule of A.O.:– It has been informed that Recruitment Rule of A.O. has been in the very final stage and presently lying for translation to Hindi, following which it will go for notification in the official Gazette.  So the regular promotions to A.O. will commence very soon.

(3) Pay Scales for A.O. & D.O.S.: – It was pointed out by the leadership that Department of Expenditure is making certain submissions in the court of law through which they have acceded to the recommendation concerning parity between Headquarters organization and field formations like us. Board may take up the issue afresh with Department of Expenditure on the basis of their submissions before judicial fora.  Member (P&V) has been very kind to accept our request and directed the concerned officer to do the needful to send the file to Department of Expenditure.

(4)  Recruitment Rule of Inspector and age relaxation: - The Association vehemently argued for incorporation of a suitable clause in the new RR to protect the qualifying service i.e. – 2 years of present STAs & 10 years of TAs and Stenographers as well in terms of the DoPT’s guidelines.  It was also requested to remove age bar together and extent their facilities even before notification of new RR.  The Hon’ble Member (P&V) has been very kind to appreciate the Board for incorporation of a suitable provision for retention of the present qualifying service in the new RR and issued necessary direction to the concerned officers.  On age relaxation also, the response was positive.  We have submitted a separate representation seeking age relaxation even before notification of new RR.

 

(5)  Cadre Restructuring:-  The leadership pointed out that nothing has been conveyed to this Association on Cadre Restructuring proposals which has been altered many a times in the recent past.  The Member (P&V) advised to contact ADG (HRM) on this front.  Subsequently, this Association was able to gather some information which indicates that substantial increase of strength in the grade of CAO and AO and to some extent in the grade of TA is expected. Moreover the strength of Superintendent and Inspector will also be up substantially which will benefit the Ministerial Cadre.  The Cadre-restructuring file is still pending with Department of Expenditure and once it is cleared it will be sent to DoP&T.

(6) Compassion Appointment:-  This Association also, for the larger interest, raised the issue of Compassion Appointment and the slow progress thereon because of non-availability of vacancy.  It was requested that all the vacancies falling in all the Group-‘C’ & ‘D’ posts as per the definition of the extent Recruitment Rule of various posts in CBEC, be considered for Compassion Appointment as per DoPT’s guidelines.  A separate submission was also made on this front.

The leadership of this Association also pursued with UPSC officials for an early date of the CAO DPC.  We have also met with the concerned officers in the DoPT to express our views on Recruitment Rule of Inspector which they all agreed.  Besides we move around all the concerned administrative sections and met the officials to pursue our issues, detailed above.  Over all it was a pretty successful tour which has engendered some kind of optimism.  

Comradely Yours

                    Sudharsan J                                           Ashim Pramanik

                Secretary General                                           President

 

Dear Comrades,

!!! Here is a Feather in our Cap !!!

I am happy to convey that the recognition of our Association has been renewed further for a period of five years with effect from 04.03.2012 (click to see copy of the renewal letter). The renewal of recognition is significant at this stage considering that the cadre restructuring is likely to take place in the department in few months. Any grievances of the members can be taken up with the Board only if we are recognized and renewed in time. A special mention should be made of Shri. Deepak Pal, our organizing secretary in getting the renewal. The unit secretaries are requested to apply to the undersigned for affiliation of their zonal units.

I had to rush to New Delhi last week regarding our seniority case pending in the apex court. As there was only one day for hearing before the vacation, the Bench has posted the matter immediately after vacation i.e., in July for final hearing. I am sure the case will be heard and finalized at that time.

During my visit to the capital, I went to the Board offices to check and follow up the issues relating to the ministerial cadre. Regarding DPC for promotion to the grade of CAO, the UPSC had earlier raised few queries which have been rectified by the Board and the DPC is expected to be conducted shortly. Further, as regards the notification of Recruitment Rules for the post of Chief Accounts Officer and Administrative Officer, it is informed by the board officials that the queries raised by the Law Ministry have been addressed and the file was again re-submitted to the Law Ministry for its approval.  The RRs are likely to be finalized and notified at the earliest.

There is a lot of expectation amongst the members on the proposed cadre restructuring (CR) in CBEC. The CR in CBDT is in advanced stages and in CBEC, it is learnt that the file is presently with Department of Expenditure. The Revenue Secretary has asked the DoE to expedite the file and the process is going on at good pace. It is expected that the CR in CBEC will bring lots of cheers to all irrespective of their rank and cadre. This Association has put in maximum efforts to ensure that the new RRs notified consequent to the VI PC and CR does not have any adverse impact on the members.

It is a known fact that some of the posts like DOS, AO, etc., in our ministerial cadre are stagnated and aggrieved due to some biased policy decisions of the Board during the last couple of decades. This Association has given utmost importance to address their grievances. I sincerely hope that in the ensuing CR, their genuine grievances which were brought to the attention of the Board time and again, are addressed and resolved.

The office-bearers of this association have sought an appointment with Member (P&V) and the same has been fixed on 15.05.2013 at 11 am to discuss the pending issues before the Board on the following issues.

• DPC to the Grade of CAO

• Notification of Recruitment Rules to the post of CAO & AO

• Proposed Amendment in the Recruitment Rules to the post of Inspector

• AO/DOS Grade Pay issue

• Other important issues pertaining to the Ministerial Cadre

Hopefully all our grievances will be addressed positively to bring lots of cheers and happiness to our members.

Comradely yours,

-sd-

Sudharsan J

Secretary General

LATEST UPDATES

Dear Comrades,

The Board office has confirmed that the Recruitment Rules for the post of Administrative Officer was cleared by UPSC and will be notified after getting concurrence from Law Ministry.  The file will be sent to Law Ministry next week.  

Regarding CAO DPC the file is still pending with UPSC.

Comradely yours

Sudharsan J

Secretary General

Latest News

Dear Comrades,

Due to the consistent efforts put by this association the Recruitment Rules for the post of Chief Accounts Officer and Administrative Officer have been sent by the board to UPSC for its approval with requisite documents as per their checklist on 15.03.2013.  

Today (18.03.2010) the file pertaining to DPC to the grade of Chief Accounts Officer was submitted to UPSC again for its approval and to obtain an early date to conduct DPC upto 2009-2010.

The Recruitment Rules for the post of Inspector was again submitted back to DoP&T.  Though this association is having its own reservations on the proposed amendment of Recruitment Rules to the post of Inspector and several submissions were made by this association on the above issue, the department has forwarded the file again back to DoP&T owing to the pressure mounted by some section of people which is unwarranted and will bring huge disappointment among a larger section of its employees.

This association will keep impressing upon the board to ensure that the existing Ministerial Officers are not affected by the proposed amendment in the Inspector RR. 

Our President Shri. Ashim Pramanik has met Member (Service Tax) at Kolkotta today and apprised her our concern over the above issues.  Madam Majumdar has assured that these issues will be taken up with Member (P&V) for early redressal.  

Comradely Yours

Sudharsan J 

Latest updates

Dear Comrades,

Though this association is putting all its best possible efforts before the CBEC to conduct long pending DPC to the grade of Chief Accounts Officer it appears that there is a lack of co-ordination among various sections / departments and want of sincere and consistent efforts which are coming in the way of achieving the same.  The promotion to the grade of Administrative Officer, even on an Ad-hoc basis, is also held up for quite some time owing to similar display of indifference by the Authorities, concerned, towards the well being of Ministerial Officers.

We would like to mention here that the members of this association are losing their patience and every month number of officers are retiring without getting their legitimate promotion.  This Association right from 2009 is pursuing the issue of CAO DPC through written submissions and several oral requests during discussions with several Board Officers. 

Every time it took several months for the department to compile the deficiencies/data pointed out by the UPSC and after the deficiencies were rectified and sent a back to the UPSC, the UPSC immediately comes out with another list of names where by deficiencies in ACRs gradings or the integrity certificate / Certificate imposing penalty if any are pointed out.

This Association is bemused about the oblivion response of the department, as the department is not able to set right the deficiencies in one go.  So far the UPSC has returned the CAO DPC file back to the department more than 6 times during the past 3 years pointing the same reasons with fresh list of names, having deficiencies.

Certain questions needs to be answered by the department as to whether:-

1. Why the department has not raised the issue before the UPSC as whenever the CAO file goes to UPSC it comes with fresh list of names pointing deficiencies and why the UPSC has not pointed all the deficiencies at once?

2.  Why the department is not showing the same interest when they conduct DPC to the grade of Assistant Commissioner from Supdt./ Appraiser of CBEC?

3. Why the draft Seniority list to the grade of Administrative Officer published during last year is not being considered for DPC to the grade of CAO?

It seems the department is also mulling over the same fate for the DPC to the grade of Administrative Officer as in the case of Chief Administrative Officer. 

Coming June it will be 1 full year over as the department has directed to stop promotion to the grade of Administrative Officer citing some objections raised by the DoPT.  Due to this the promotion to the grade of AO is also not taking place throughout the country. 

Recently the DoP&T has cleared the Draft Recruitment Rules to the post of AO and has sent the file to UPSC for further necessary action.  The higher authorities of CBEC has assured this association that once the draft RR is approved by the DoP&T necessary instructions will be given to the field formations to continue the Ad-hoc promotions till the Regular RRs to the post of AO are notified.

The CBEC is neither giving promotion to the worst affected DOS/AO after putting 15 to 20 years of Service in their respective cadres nor upgrading their Payscales as demanded by this Association right throughout the last decade.   There is a gross slump on the activity of the department towards the Administrative Cadre.  It will not be out of place to mention that one fine day the department will realize that there will be no DOS / AO to scrutinize even the Pension papers of the Officers who are getting retired and the Officers/Staff of CBEC will be left in lurch.

It is high time that the department needs to realize and stop giving promises before the Association that the issues will be sorted out at the earliest whenever they raises before the higher Authorities. 

This Association is left with no other option and its members are losing their patience and will be forced to go on a series of agitation programme.  We are not threatening the department, but it is the apathy of the department which the Association needs to point out how it lacks to conduct the DPC for a single cadre right from the year 2007.

A latest letter addressed to the Chairperson and copy endorsed to Member (P&V) on the above issue is posted here. (Click to view)

Regarding Cadre-restructure there was a sustained effort from the authorities of CBDT to get their re-structuring file cleared by the Committee of Secretaries during the last week of February.  We also anticipate same efforts are being put down by our department too since our restructuring file is pending before the DoP&T quite a long time.

The Seniority case pending before the Supreme Court is being listed in the weekly list every week and it is not being listed in the daily list as these cases are yet to be heard by the Bench.  So far all these weeks some part heard cases, some media related cases are coming up for hearing and the status of our case remains same.  I take this opportunity to request our members to remain calm, vigilant and strive for the success of our case.  I cannot write more than this in the blog about our case.  Certain things cannot be spelt out.  I hope, the case will come up soon and definitely there will be good news for our cadre.

Comradely yours

Sudharsan J