DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING CADRE RESTRUCTURING

ALL INDIA CENTRAL EXCISE & SERVICE TAX MINISTERIAL OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION

Pune, the 23rd December, 2010

Dear Comrades,

Recently, the undersigned as well as the President had visited New Delhi in connection with the progress relating to Cadre Restructuring as well as related issues. On the 15th of Dec’10 the President had visited HRD office to get a sense of the developments on the combined submission made through the Joint Action Committee. It is to inform that the Hon’ble Chairman, CBEC, New Delhi had taken stock of the issues on 15.12.10 itself from the HRD, details of which could not be ascertained.

2. However, because of the combined efforts put in by the Joint Action Committee, the Hon’ble Chairman had decided to have a joint meeting with All the Associations. Apart from the Joint Action Committee representatives other Associations were also present for the said meeting held in the afternoon of 16th December, 2010. The All India Ministerial Officers Association was represented by the undersigned alongwith the President, whereas some zonal members from the Ministerial Cadre also participated for the said meeting. The Hon’ble Chairman wanted to know the major issues involved and the ones of concern, specifically pertaining to each and every cadre. While the respective Associations put forth their grievances, our demands which have already been submitted to the Board were reiterated, details of which are attached hereunder.

3. During the course of discussion, the Hon’ble Chairman stated that one time relaxation for filling up of all vacancies by way of promotion in all grades would surely be extended in the ensuing Cadre Restructuring whereas on other related issues an assurance was given that a fresh round of meeting would surely follow, once a study is conducted by the HRD on the issues concerned.

4. The Hon’ble Chairman also agreed for issuance of minutes of the meeting which is expected shortly. On receipt of the same, the blog would be updated accordingly. In the meantime, the draft minutes of the meeting of the Associations with the Hon’ble Chairman, CBEC held in his Chamber on 16.12.2010, prepared by the Association is placed hereunder for information.

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD WITH THE HONOURABLE CHAIRMAN CBEC ON 16.12.2010 AT THE NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI.

Subject: - Issues pertaining to Ministerial Cadre.

The following issues were taken up and brought to the notice of the Hon’ble Chairman.

a. The cadre restructuring proposal, framed by HRD, focused on the growth of the Executive wing of the Department vis-à-vis potential revenue profile. The need for strengthening of the Administrative wing to cater to the minimum Administrative requirements of the department had been totally overlooked. The 6th CPC has specifically highlighted this aspect and recommended that Ministerial Cadre in the CBEC and other Central Government subordinate offices, be brought on par with their counterparts in Central Secretariat Offices, being equi-placed in terms of importance and gravity of the functions, discharged by them vide Para 3.1.3, 3.1.4 & 3.1.14 of 6th CPC.

In this context, it was requested to consider and grant the hierarchical structure, as suggested by this Association vide Para 14 of the proposal submitted by it through the Joint Action Committee on 24.11.2010.

b. The Staffing Norms for allocation of Ministerial Strength is completely insulated from the ground necessity in the field formations. The Board has never suggested for such a reduction in real terms for the Ministerial Cadre. The following Statistics will justify the fact.

c. From the above it is evident that Ministerial strength is on the decline in real terms (as pointed out vide Para 3, 6,7 & 8) of Association’s proposal dated 24.11.10) compared to quantum Jump in other grades, thereby resulting in work getting hampered in the Administrative set-up in the various offices across the country. It was further proposed that the least expectation from the Board is to adopt the staffing norms suggested by the Study Group-2 as regards Ministerial Cadre is concerned.

d. The staffing norms of Customs Commissionerate as mooted by HRD, has not taken care of the need for Customs Preventive Commissionerates, which is much larger in terms of work load, geographical jurisdiction and span of functional areas. Full fledged Sanctioned Strength in Ministerial Grades is required, as pointed out in Point No. 12 of the Association’s Proposals, dated 24.11.2010

e. All the existing vacant posts and those arising out of cadre restructuring be filled up by promotion only, by relaxing the provisions of the relevant Recruitment Rules wherever necessary.

f. The Hon’ble Chairman took note of the above issues and assured to look into the matter and give a further audience before finalization of the Cadre Restructuring Proposal.

g. Finally, on behalf of Kolkatta Central Excise & Customs zone, a piece of information, compiled in a tabular form was handed over to the Hon’ble Chairman, CBEC, New Delhi with a request to ensure that no curtailment of posts takes place during the ensuing Cadre Restructuring and that the requirements of certain zones may vary as per geographical conditions and related parameters. This study of our Kolkatta counterparts would be helpful in arriving at the number of Commissionerates required, be that of Central Excise, Service Tax, Customs Preventive Commissionerate or an Audit Commissionerate. Learned counterparts from other Cadres serving in other zones/parts of the country are requested to study the intricacies involved, and accordingly come ahead with proposals in consonance with the one submitted, so as to facilitate the All India Association with substantial inputs to put forth the requirements of all regions in a very transparent and balanced manner.

h. Wishing all viewers and their families, compliments of the festive Season and hoping that the New Year 2011 brings in good health, happiness, success and prosperity to the members in the various Cadres i.e. Group ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ under Central Board of Excise and Customs.

Comradely Yours,

Sd/-

Thomas Mony

Secretary General

09881139080

Copy of proposals submitted by Kolkatta zone

 

 

 
 

CADRE RESTRUCTURING- AN UPDATE

Date:- 09.12.2010

Dear Members,

This is to inform that no information is forthcoming from the Board regarding the promise of convening a meeting with the recognised Associations to discuss and finalise the Cadre restructuring proposals. In this background it was felt that some action should be initiated so that our voice is heard in the Ministry. Therefore the Joint Action Committee has sought an appointment with the Secretary (Revenue), in order to apprise him of the concerns of the constituent Associations and the Members in general on the cadre restructuring process. A copy of the letter submitted is placed below for information of the Members. Any development in this regard will be made known as and when it takes place.

 Comradely yours,

THOMAS MONY

Secretary General.

DEPARTMENTAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE - MINUTES

MINUTES OF THE DEPARTMENTAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE

(MINISTRY OF FINANCE) HELD AT NEW DELHI ON 23.11.2010

The Meeting was chaired by Shri. K. Jose Cyriac, Additional Secretary (Revenue) and members of the Official side and Staff side of the Anomaly committee attended. The staff side was lead by Shri. K.K.N. Kutty, Leader of the staff side and the representatives of the other recognized associations, whom were invited to attend the meeting also participated.

The chairman welcomed all the members to the meeting. While thanking the chairman for convening the meeting, the Leader of the Staff side requested the chairman to convene the Departmental council which had not met for quite some time. The chairman stated that he would look into it and assured that the council would be revived immediately and convened at the earliest. Then he stated that he would take up all the items on the Agenda and first state his understanding of an issue after which the staff side could add, explain or correct the position if what was stated is incorrect. He also stated that common points or the items which are inter-related could be clubbed and taken up together. The points that were taken up for discussion and the decision thereon, in brief are placed for information of the members.

The remaining points would be taken up on the next meeting, the date for which would be communicated in due course. It was also informed that the associations whose agenda items/points are pending alone would be invited for the next meeting and that the minutes of the meeting will be circulated to one and all. The meeting concluded with thanks to the Chairman.

* * * *

For the information of the members, the details of the discussion including arguments put forth by the Associations and the response of the Official side relating to the Ministerial Officers’ Association is as under:-

Point No. 15 & 16:-

When these points were taken up for discussion, the Chairman while explaining his assessment/understanding of the issue, stated that this issue was initially clubbed alongwith the upgradation of Grade pay of the Inspectors and sent to the Department of Expenditure, which was returned/ unaccepted. Subsequently, after a meeting between the Revenue Secretary and the Expenditure Secretary owing the strike call given by the Inspectors of CBEC, the issue of upgradation of Grade Pay of the Inspectors of CBEC and CBDT were separated and the proposal was again sent to the Department of Expenditure which came to be approved and necessary orders were issued on 13.11.2009. However, this issue (AO & DOS Grade Pay) could not be taken up in a similar manner for the reason that the nomenclature of posts on the Ministerial side of CBEC and CBDT varies and a common proposal was not possible unlike in the case of Inspectors. However the matter of AO & DOS of CBEC was again resubmitted to the Department of Expenditure, which was not accepted on the ground that these are common category of posts. The said decision has already been communicated to the field formations vide letter dated 09.09.2010. He also stated that the essence of pay commission itself is to delayer the number of cadres/grades in the Government and suggest a replacement scale. While doing so merger of certain cadres are recommended and this is one such case. In view of this position, he said that this issue cannot be considered as an anomaly. He then asked the Association representatives to state their viewpoints.

The staff side had explained the position from the historical perspective and the parity which existed between the Executive and the Ministerial cadre. It was pointed out that the pay commission itself has specifically recorded and given a categorical finding that the payscale of inspector being higher than that of DOS is an anomaly, in view of the fact that the feeder grade for both the posts are same and the supervised officer draws more pay than that of the supervisory officer on his promotion. The fact that there is no monetary benefit on promotion from STA to DOS while there is a change in pay on promotion to the grade of Inspector in a way has degraded the cadre of DOS was also brought to the notice of the Chairman.

Further, the Chairman was informed that the pay commission had recommended parity with the Ministerial Officers of Headquarters organization (CSS) and such parity would be absolute upto the grade of Assistant who has now been granted Grade Pay of Rs.4600. Hence on that basis the DOS is on par with that of Assistants and therefore it was demanded that the DOS be granted GP of Rs.4600. It was explained that this post is not a common category of posts and that the recommendation to the Ministerial cadre of CBEC and CBDT were specific and therefore the grade pay of DOS and AO should be upgraded to resolve this anomaly.

At this juncture the Chairman stated that he would support us emotionally on this issue and try to find a solution outside the anomaly committee, he still persisted with the argument that it is not an anomaly. This was not accepted by the Associations and further arguments continued.

The Leader of the Staff side intervened and said that if the definition of the ‘Anomaly’ as accepted in the National council is taken into account, then this issue would fall within the category of anomaly. At this point, the chairman agreed to reconsider the issue once again and asked to submit additional points, if any in support of our arguments and then moved on to take the agenda points of other Associations. Accordingly the issue is still pending and the Association has got one more opportunity to take up this matter with the Anomaly Committee.

Further, it has been decided that as desired by the Chairman, additional points would be submitted to the Anomaly Committee before the next meeting through the leader of the staff side, in consultation with the Customs Ministerial Officers’ Association. Apart from this it is also proposed to submit a fresh request/representation to the Board/ Ministry against the letter dated 09.09.2010, communicating the reply/non-acceptance of our demand by the Department of Expenditure on the matter.

AICESTMOA