AGITATION - CHARTER OF DEMANDS

Date:- 21^st February, 2012

Dear friends in service,

By now most of you are aware that as a last resort, this Association had no other choice, but to embark upon a agitational programme in order to draw the attention of the Board in addressing the unfulfilled demands of the cadre in General and that of the Cadre Restructuring in particular.  Ample calls are being received from various quarters regarding the charter of demands for the agitational programme.  It was decided in the meeting of the Joint Action Committee which was constituted under CBEC that primarily the submission made by the JAC on 25.01.2011 with regard to Cadre Restructuring needs immediate attention of the Board as well as DG, HRD. 

Members may recall that the Joint Action Committee had on 25.01.2011, submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Board bringing forth the various demands of all the constituent associations, for incorporation in the Cadre review proposal, which forms the major part of the charter of demands. The demands of our Association in the said proposal are as under :-

1.      Implementation of a Hierarchical structure as recommended by the 6^th CPC, by upgrading/re-designating existing posts.

(grant GP of 7600 to Sr. CAO, 6600 to CAO, 4800 to AO & 5400 after 4 yrs., and 4600  to DOS)

2.      No abolition of posts in the Ministerial cadre.

(Creation of addl. Posts in entry level post of  TA & also in the grade of STA)

3.      One time Relaxation for filling up of all posts created in Cadre Restructuring by promotion only.

Apart from the above demands, there are certain other long-pending demands affecting the entire cadre throughout the country, which are yet to be settled by the Board. Most of these demands were taken up for discussion on 12^th July, 2011, by the then Hon’ble Chairman and the minutes/ outcome of the discussion is already placed on the blog in the previous posts. Though a few of them have been considered favourably and settled, majority of them are still pending. The major demands which remain unsettled are as under.

1.      Holding of DPC meeting for promotion to the grade of CAO

2.      Revision/amendment of Recruitment Rules to the grades of CAO and AO

3.      Upgradation of Payscales of DOS and AO

4.      Circulation of All India Seniority list of Administrative Officers by incorporating ad-hoc promotees too in the list.

5.      Granting regular promotion in the grade of Administrative Officers & immediate withdrawal of the ad-hoc promotion executive instruction.

6.      Determination of nature of duties and responsibilities for all posts of Ministerial cadre

7.      Extension of benefit of pay fixation on promotion from OS to AO during the period from 01.01.1996 till 05.06.2002 (or whichever date prior to the date when existing OS were re-designated as Administrative Officers) etc., etc.

8.      Early finalization of the seniority dispute pending decision in the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

9.      Grant of Rs. 2800/- grade pay to the Tax Assistants as the Fifth Pay Commission had recommended a pay scale of Rs. 4500-7000/- to UDCs in Railways, Accounts Department and Central Excise.  Though the same has been extended in Railways and Accounts Department, the UDCs of Central Excise have been denied similar benefit on the ground that they are common category posts. (Matter being followed up through RTI to Department of Expenditure)

Many of you might be aware that the cadre review proposal of CBDT has been approved by the Dept. of Expenditure and the DOPT and is expected to be sent for cabinet approval shortly. Their proposal includes a modified hierarchical structure for the Ministerial cadre, as recommended by the 6^th CPC. Not only that, the Indian Meterological Department, the Department of Atomic Energy and the Geological survey of India have all restructured their Ministerial cadres in terms of the recommendations of the 6^th CPC. 

1. Order issued by Indian meterological Department
2. Order issued by Department of Atomic Energy (Part - I)
3. Order issued by Department of Atomic Energy (Part - II)
4. Cadre Restructuring Proposal of CBDT
5. Cadre Restructuring Proposal of GSI
 However, despite our repeated efforts, the    DG, HRD of CBEC is not ready to agree with this demand for a change in the hierarchical structure, which is most unfortunate.   Ours will be the only department where such a change has not been considered/proposed which shall have a long lasting bearing on the career prospects of officers working in the grades of Administrative Officers and Deputy Office Superintendents.  What more to predict, this setback shall have its bearing in the future Pay Commissions as the post of AO and DOS shall never be treated as common category posts for the sake of claiming parity in replacement scales etc.

Secondly, the proposal for holding DPC to fill up the vacant posts in the grade of CAO has not been approved by the UPSC during the last 5 years, owing to which 110 vacancies have remained unfilled out of the 155 sanctioned posts & many of our esteemed members who were serving in the grade of Administrative Officer have retired by drawing the last grade pay of Rs. 4,600/-.  Despite our numerous visits, correspondences & efforts put in, the same is not being held for the reason that the UPSC is pointing out deficiencies every single time the file is sent to them.  It defies logic as to why the Board is bent upon submitting an incomplete proposal to the UPSC in the first place so many times.   It is also pertinent to mention here that incase of compiling information required with regard to other Group ‘A’ DPCs, the Board insists for the reports through special messenger whereas in the instant case, no such efforts have been taken to boost the career advancement of the cadre.

         

   It is felt that until and unless, we express our resentment through an agitational programme like the one now proposed, these demands will never be heard nor fulfilled. It is my assessment that all the members of this cadre, right from the grade of LDC to that of AO have been severely affected directly or indirectly and the ensuing cadre restructuring will only further the agony. Therefore, it is requested that before its too late, all the members should wholeheartedly participate in the proposed course of agitational programme in order to achieve a better future for our cadre.  UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.   Its high time, each and every member of the cadre honours the Association’s CALL.

           

 Many of us may be aspiring to jump into the Executive cadre, and hoping to dump the existing cadre in whatever condition it may be.  However, may I remind each one of you that till you are in service and post retirement too, the services of the Ministerial Cadre shall be required, and hence in the overall welfare of the Department & the Cadre may I request each one of you to voluntarily and wholeheartedly pledge support and solidarity to the cause until all our demands are met.   

          

  Before concluding, I wish to make a special mention that the function of 24^th February, 2012 is surely a family function as stated by many of the officers who have called the local Associations for discussions on the issue, but in the family why is it that only the Group ‘B’, ‘C’ and erstwhile ‘D’ cadres are being made the sacrificial lambs.  DOP&T has clearly stated that creating a hierarchical structure in the Ministerial cadre is the onus of the Board and they do not have any objection to the same.  Astonishing is the fact that the Head of the Family is not sensitive to our issues & we are compelled to continue with the agitation thrust upon each one of us.

         

   Its now or never, and once Cadre Restructuring is approved in the existing format, the Heads of the family may retire graciously leaving behind a dying cadre and hence the onus of leading the entire cadre is being put upon all the responsible Ministerial officers in the cadre of Administrative Officer and Deputy Office Superintendent.         

Trustfully yours,

Thomas Mony

Secretary General