All India office bearers in Aurangabad, Nashik and Mumbai

It is learnt that the CR proposal of CBEC is still going around in North Block only . The file dealing  with AICEIA’s demand to upgrade Inspectors all across the country to address stagnation and remove regional disparities  has reportedly moved to the Board now, from the DGHRD.

Com.Sanjay Srinivasan, Vice President(West) AICEIA informs that the hearing in the Mumbai Bench of CAT in our case for Notional Fixation of pay wef 01.01.1996 has been adjourned to 19^th June, on account of the Bombay High Court not having decided yet the Govt  of India’s Writ  Petition challenging the CAT verdict on the same matter in which ITGOA had succeeded, besides the Court/CAT summer vacations having begun, and also because government counsel  requested for adjournment  when the case last  came up for hearing  in the first week of this month.

Meetings/Interaction  of Inspectors  with AICEIA national office bearers are planned at AURANGABAD (20^th  May -evening) and NASHIK  (21^st  May-evening).  

On 22^nd    and 23^rd   May similar programmes shall be arranged in MUMBAI, schedule of which is as follows: 

22.05.2013 : from 11.00 hrs to 12.30 hrs. at Raigad Commsionerate, from  13.00 hrs to 15.30 hrs at Belapur Commissionerate including a  general meeting of  members  at Belapur during lunch break. In the evening, visit to Wagle Estate Thane.

23.05.2013  from 11.00 hrs 12.30 hrs at Madhu Industrial Estae, Worli;  from 13.00 hrs to 15.30 hrs at Chuchgate Building, and a General meeting of members at Chuchgate during the lunch break. In the evening Dharavi office.

All Inspectors at the respective locations are requested to make it convenient to attend the meetings. For more details kindly contact  Com. Vijay Giram, General Secretary, Aurangabad Branch 9850960396 ,  Com. P T Gaidhani, General Secretary Nashik Branch 9422262674 . For details of programmes at Mumbai, Com Anil Kumar, President Mumbai Circle 9987048599  or Com Shishir Agnihotri, General Secretary, Mumbai Circle  9820924001 may be contacted.  

Ajit Kumar K G

Secretary General

Recent Developments - Update

Comrades,

Warm Fraternal Greetings on May Day.

Restructuring and Removal of Regional Disparities in Promotions

A meeting of National office bearers of the AICEIA was held at New Delhi on 29.04.2013. All issues concerning the cadre were  discussed in detail, especially the developments after the  Patna Convention. The stand that was to be taken by the AICEIA in the meetings with the DGHRD and other Board officials scheduled to be held later  the same  day and on 30.04.2013 was also deliberated upon and decided.

All AICEIA representatives present in Delhi for the meeting of office bearers also participated in the meeting with the DGHRD.  Additional  DG (HRM) and  Additional Director  were also present. Points that emerged during the meeting are  narrated below briefly :

1.      1.  The Cadre Restructuring  file has been sent to Secretary(Expenditure) by the Revenue Secretary, from whom it should go to the DoP&T.

2.      2.  The CBEC proposal is expected to follow the course taken by the CBDT proposal, which is reported to have been approved by the Group of Ministers on 29.04.13,  and now awaits  clearance from the Union Cabinet.

3.      3.  However, even by optimistic estimates, we are still  several months away from  seeing even the  first promotions arising out of the CR exercise. The proposed figures include raising the strength of Gr  B Gazetted Executive from the present 13948 to 19108 , and for Gr  B non- Gazetted Executives- from  20,163 to 25,203.

4.      4. On our repeated and insistent demand that regional disparities in prom otions among Inspectors of Central Excise of different Cadre Control Zones have to be addressed immediately, the CBEC has agreed in principle to take decisive action to do away with regional disparities.

5.      5.  On the methods to be adopted to achieve that end, our Association’s stand is that an exercise of upgradation on the lines of the one undertaken in  1996 be repeated, to promote all Inspectors who have completed 8 years of service,  or at least promote all Inspectors to the level of the junior -most Inspector promoted as Superintendent in any Zone, as on date. The organisational desideratum, however, remains base cadre parity.

6.       6. The DGHRD  had a discussion with the Member(P&V) on the issue on 30.4.13.  After this the  AICEIA office bearers met the DGHRD again.  It is informed that  the  subject file will be put up to the Member  by next week. `

7.       7.The Board now appreciates the fact that an All India Seniority List of Inspectors of Central Excise   is a fait accompli for the period following the Supreme Court judgment dated 09.12.1996 in  the case of Radhey Shyam Singh & Others vs. Union of India & Others.  

8.       8. Action has now been initiated by DGHRD to draw such an All India Seniority List of Inspectors. This is already badly delayed since way back in 1996 itself the Board had taken a  decision to introduce All India Seniority for Inspectors, but  never showed enough resolve to implement it.

9.     9.  The AICEIA shall be keenly pursuing these matters and we should resolve not to rest till we achieve these objectives.

AICEIA CEC – July 27th  and 28th, 2013  

Chandigarh Circle of the AICEIA has informed that arrangements  are underway to host the upcoming meeting of the AICEIA Central Executive Committee at  Shimla on 27^th and 28^th July’13 . All delegates are advised to forthwith make travel arrangements accordingly  to avoid inconvenience later and also to curtail expenses. Notice in this  regard shall be issued shortly.

Organisational  News

A meeting  of office bearers of AICEIA Chennai Circle and Chennai Unit of the Superintendents’ Association was held on 20.04.13. A meeting of  members of Tirupati Branch of the AICEIA  was held on 21.04.13. I was privileged to attend both, and it was indeed an enriching experience. The efforts  being made to strengthen the organization by Com. R. Parthiban and Com. Suresh of Chennai, and Com. Devendra Kumar  and Com. Shyam Sundar Reddy of Tirupati are noteworthy.  The general lack of medical facilities at Tirupati with neither CGHS being extended there  nor empanelment of  AMAs having been undertaken, acute shortage of government quarters coupled with steep rents for private accommodations etc.  are real areas of concern for Inspectors of Tirupati  Commissionerate, which, in the first place, was set up without much justification  either on considerations of revenue or of workload, overlooking other  stations so worthy of Commissionerates  given the workload/ revenue/stagnation in career prospects of subordinate officers that obtained there. The very large  number of Inspectors in Vizag and Tirupati who continue to be meted out unjust treatment in the Transfer and Posting policy of the CCA Hyderabad Zones is also something that needs to be addressed urgently.

Visit of All India office bearers to the western part of the country is long overdue, and shall be undertaken shortly.  

Those units who have not yet submitted DDO Certificates  and  their subscription dues to the AICEIA  national body are advised to do so immediately. Particularly disappointing response in this direction has been from Hyderabad, Vizag, Gujarat (except Surat), and Rajasthan.

Membership drives should be undertaken  on a sustained basis  by all Branches and Circles with active participation  of the All India office- bearers   to bring into the fold of the AICEIA all Inspectors of Central Excise in the country.

Confederation’s  All India Conference

The AICEIA extends its warm greetings  to the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers  and wishes all success to the  24th Triennial All India Conference of the Confederation to be held on the 3^rd ,  4^th and  5^th of  May 2013 at Kolkata. Our President Com. A Satish shall be representing our Association in the  Conference.

Ajit Kumar K G

Secretary General

Confederation Call for Lunch Hour Demonstration on 23.04.2013

The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, of  which our Association is an affiliate, has given a call for holding demonstrations during the Lunch Break on 23.04.2013 in protest against orders still having not been issued to enhance the rate of DA effective 01.01.13. 

Accordingly all Circle/Branch/Unit Secretaries are advised to arrange for massive demonstrations before all offices during the Lunch Break on 23.04.13, particularly before all offices of Chief Commissioners and Commissioners, and positively send telegrams (from all venues where demonstrations are held) in the following format to the Prime Minister. 

PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

SOUTH BLOCK

NEW DELHI  110 001

EMPLOYEES AGITATED OVER DELAY IN GRANT OF DA, URGE TO EXPEDITE ISSUANCE OF ORDERS.

All India Central Excise Inspectors’ Association, ……………(name of unit/branch/circle)

The Confederation’s Communication in this regard and the letter written by the Secretary General of the Confederation to the PM are reproduced below:  

CONFEDERATION OF

CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS

A-2/95, Manishinath Bhawan, Rajouri Garden,New Delhi-110 027

Website:www.confederationhq.blogspot.com.

Email:Confederation06@Yahoo.co.in

 Tel: 011-2510 5324:  Mobile: 98110 48303

No. Conf/27 /2013 - Dated 17^th April 2013

Comrades,

DELAY IN GRANT OF DA - HOLD PROTEST DEMONSTRATION ON 23^RD APRIL 2013

            Since the implementation of the recommendations of the 4^th central pay commission in 1986, the Dearness Allowance (DA) is paid in two six-monthly installments – in March and September of every year. The practice followed since then is that the order granting DA to government employees is issued in March and September itself.

            This time the practice in force since 1986 is violated. Our enquiries with concerned Ministries informed us that the file is already moved for Cabinet approval. But it is nearly a month now. The cabinet has found no time to take a decision on this.

            This naturally is quiet disturbing, especially in the time of galloping price line. The employees have, in the past, fought bitterly for grant of DA and the 3^rd CPC gave a definite formula for DA in the aftermath of the one day strike on 19^th September 1968. We cannot allow the hard won DA to be tampered with.

            Confederation has written to Prime Minister conveying the disquiet amongst the amongst the employees over the inordinate delay in the grant of additional installment of DA due from 1^st January 2013 and urging the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to assuage the feelings of the employees. Copy of the letter is given along with this Circular.

            The Secretariat of Confederation therefore calls upon every affiliate as well as State Committee of Confederation to organise lunch hour demonstration in the work place on 23^rd April 2013, Tuesday and send the following telegram to the Prime Minister of India.

            Text of Telegram: EMPLOYEES AGITATED OVER DELAY IN GRANT OF DA, URGE TO EXPEDITE ISSUANCE OF ORDERS.

            Each affiliate and State Committee of Confederation may send a detailed report on implementation of the programme in their organisation/state to the Confederation CHQ.

            With greetings

Yours fraternally

Sd/-

(KKN Kutty)

Secretary General

CONFEDERATION OF

CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS

A-2/95, Manishinath Bhawan, Rajouri Garden,New Delhi-110 027

Website:www.confederationhq.blogspot.com.

Email:Confederation06@Yahoo.co.in

 Tel: 011-2510 5324:  Mobile: 98110 48303

17^th April 2013

Dr Manmohan Singh,

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India

South Block,

New Delhi – 110001

Sir,

            Subject: Grant of Dearness Allowance to Central Govt Employees and Officers – Reg.

            I am to invite your kind attention to the delay in the grant of additional installment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and officers and the consternation it is causing amongst the employees.

            It would be apt to point out here that since the implementation of the 4^th CPC recommendations with effect from 1^st January 1986, the Dearness Allowance is paid to Central Government employees in two six monthly installments – along with the salary for March and September every year. The 5^th and 6^th CPCs also recommended the same principle for payment of additional installments of DA and since then the order granting additional installment of Dearness Allowance is being issued well in advance honouring the recommendations.

            The Central Government Employees were expecting the announcement of grant of additional installment of Dearness Allowance (8 % with effect from 1^st January 2013) and Office Memorandum on that in the month of March 2013 itself. The delay of more than a month has led to disquiet amongst the employees.

            I shall be thankful if the fears of the central government of employees are allayed by immediately releasing the additional instalment of Dearness Allowance with effect from 1^st January 2013 without any further delay.

            Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours faithfully

Sd/-

(KKN Kutty)

Secretary General

News regarding CBEC Cadre Restructuring is that the file has reportedly been  approved by the Finance Minister last week, and now it shall take the route through the DoP&T and the Committee of Secretaries,  besides the Group ofMinisters before it is placed before the Union Cabinet for final approval.  Last week’s development is a significant step in the right direction, but is no reason for us to be complacent. We have to continue to raise our collective voice till our just demands  for removal of intra-cadre and inter-cadre disparities is not removed , and fair opportunities for career advancements are not made available to us. The scene unfolding in the next few weeks will undoubtedly have far reaching ramifictions on careers of every s ingle employee under the CBEC. 

A report on the holding of demonstration on  23.04.13 may please be e- mailed to me at ajitkgbhilai@gmail.com  by concerned Circle/ Branch/ Unit Secretaries. Needless to say, All India office bearers of the AICEIA should co-ordinate organizing of the demonstrations in their respective stations and states/regions.

Yours fraternally,

Ajit Kumar K G

Secretary General 

Meeting with DG HRD

DG HRD, CBEC held a meeting at New Delhi with  AICEIA office bearers on the issue of disparities in inter -cadre and intra-cadre disparities in promotion of Inspectors of  Central Excise and other feeder cadres to the next higher Gr B Gazetted cadre. ADG (HRM), DGHRD, CBEC was also present during the meeting. AICEIA was represented  in the meeting by the President, Secretary General, Liaison Secretary, Organising Secretary and Vice President(East). President of AICEIA Chandigarh Circle and Secretary of AICEIA West Bengal Circle  were also present.

Detailed submissions, written and oral, were made by the AICEIA   seeking time bound upgradation of Inspectors to resolve the inequities of stagnation and disparities plaguing the cadre. The suggestions put forward by the Association were received very positively by the DG HRD, who also appreciated our concerns on addressing the issue urgently to prevent more distortions creeping into the Seniority positions in the Gr B Gazetted cadre,and disparities further widening.

Another meeting of  DG HRD with AICEIA office bearers in continuation to today's meeting has  been scheduled for 29.04.2013.

It has also been informed that the Finance Minister has called for clarifications on a few minor issues on the Cadre Restructuring proposals of the CBEC on 31st March'13, and the Board has already replied to the same, and it is expected that the CR proposal will receive the FM's approval very soon, after which it has to take the route through DoP&T, Committee of Secretaries, Group of Ministers, before  being placed before the Union Cabinet for final approval. 

Ajit Kumar K G
Secretary General

       

Withdrawal of Call Not to Attend Office on 29th, 30th and 31st Marc'h13

Following meetings of Associations representing Inspectors and Superintendents held with the CBEC  Chairperson, Member(P&V), DGHRD and ADG(HRM) today, and letter issued by the Member(P&V) to this Association requesting for calling off the Agitation, the AICEIA, in consultation with the AIACEGEO, has decided to  withdraw the call to its members not to attend office on  29th, 30th and 31st March'13. It has been assured by the CBEC at the highest level that all issues being repeatedly agitated before them are receiving serious attention  and all efforts being made to address our grievances. To begin with, a meeting of the AICEIA office bearers has been  scheduled with the DGHRD, CBEC  on 04.04.13 to devise modalities to do away with regional disparities in promotions of Inspectors to Superintendents of Central Excise. It has also been informed by the CBEC that the Cadre Restructuring proposals have been cleared by the Revenue Secretary and the same  is presently awaiting approval of the Finance Minister, which is expected to come shortly. 

The AICEIA was represented in today's meetings by the President, Secretary General and Organising Secretary.  

All Circle and Branch Secretaries are requested to inform Chief Commissioners / Commissioners accordingly, and inform all memers of the latest developments.

AICEIA congratulates the Inspectors across the country and all office bearers who tirelessly mobilised support for this movement which alone has resulted in the issues concerning our cadre being addressed with the current urgency shown by  the  Board. Please do keep up the morale and this spirit to agitate with even more intensity if our just demands are not met very soon, and assurances given to us  not fulfilled.

Ajit Kumar K G

Secretary General

Text of letter addressed  to Chairperson, CBEC withdrawing the  current agitation 

F. No. AICEIA/ CBEC/ Agitation/2013                    New Delhi, dated   28.03.2013

To,

The Chairperson

Central Board of Excise and Customs

North Block,

New Delhi  110 001

Sub.:Not attending office on Holidays – Reg

Madam,

              Please  refer to this Association’s letter of even no. dated 20.03.13 and the letter issued by the Member (P&V), CBEC, New Delhi under F. No. OSD/MPV/Inspector Asso. dated 22.03.13 on the captioned subject, and letter issued today by the ADG (HRM), DGHRD, CBEC conveying scheduling of meeting of the DGHRD, CBEC with office bearers of this Association on 04.04.13 to address the issue of regional disparities in promotions of Inspectors  to Superintendents of Central Excise  across various Cadre Control Zones.

           Following the referred letter issued by the CBEC requesting this Association to call off the Agitation,  and the assurances given to the Associations in the course of today’s meeting with your goodself, the Member (P&V),  and the DGHRD, the call given to the members of this Association not to attend office on 29^th, 30^th and 31^st March’13 is withdrawn.

     However, this Association reiterates that cadre of Inspector of Central Excise continues to be  highly agitated and demoralized on account of the abject stagnation being faced by it, the absolute lack of promotional avenues, and the disparities within and among the three streams of Inspector of Central Excise/ Preventive Officer of Customs/ Examiner of Customs, and it is hoped that the move initiated today by the Board to address the same, in  response  to this Association’s demand,  would be taken forward in right earnest and  a lasting solution to the same would be found very soon as assured by your goodself today.   

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                        Yours faithfully,

                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                        (Ajit Kumar K G)                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                       Secretary General

Copy submitted to the Member (P&V), CBEC, New Delhi with reference to the above  referred letter dated 22.03.13 issued by her.

                                                                                                

                                                                                               

Agitation Update

Please do not give credence to rumours being spread that AICEIA has withdrawn the call to Inspectors of Central Excise for not attending office on 29th, 30th and 31st of March 2013. All office bearers are requested to mobilise members for making this action programme a massive success.
The CBEC is in  regular communication with the AICEIA. Any developments in this regard will be posted promptly on this blog. Kindly keep updated by following  the blog.
Com. Sanjay Srinivasan, Vice President(West) informs that hearing in the Notional Pay Fixation case has been adjourned yet again in High Court of Bombay. ASG sought more time and the next date of hearing has been fixed for 15.04.2013. ITGOA is party in that case, which has a direct bearing  and our case in CAT Mumbai.

Ajit Kumar K G
Secretary General

AICEIA Call to Inspectors not to attend office on 29th, 30th &31st March'13

Notice  has been served today on the Chairperson CBEC that members of the AICEIA will not attend office on 29th, 30th and 31st March'13. Copy of same is attached . Circle/Branch Secretaries are requested to serve notice immediately on these lines to Chief Commissioners/ Commissioners. Please mobilise maximum support among all members to make this protest a total success.

This call is being given in tandem with the similar move by the Central Excise Superintendents'  Association. So mobilisation may be co-ordinated with counterpart formations of the Supdts' Assn .

A Co-ordination Committee of the two Associations representing the Inspectors and Superintendents of Central Excise has been formed at New Delhi on 16.03.2013 as a precursor to formation of a Federation of both Associations very soon.


Ajit Kumar K G
Secretary General

Text of the letter is reproduced hereunder for ease of viewing

F. No.AICEIA/CBEC/Agitation/ 2013                              Bhilai, dtd.20.03.2013  

To

The Chairperson

Central Board of Excise & Customs

North Block

New Delhi -110 001

Sub-  Not attending office on Holidays

Madam,

             We regret to inform you that in view of the continuing apathy  and indifference of the CBEC and the Government of India to the appallingly poor career prospects available to Inspectors of Central Excise including abject stagnation being faced by them for decades , very wide  disparities in promotions within and among the three cadres of Inspectors of Central Excise/ Preventive Officers of Customs/Examiners of Customs to the Gazetted Gr B posts and further to the Gr A, and several other major grievances ventilated by this Association from time to time, we are highly agitated and demoralized.

             In protest against this treatment being meted out to this cadre, no member of this Association will attend office on Government Holiday/Saturday/ Sunday – 29^th, 30^th and 31^st March 2013 respectively.

                                                                    

                                                                                     Yours faithfully,

                                                                                               -sd-

                                                                                   (Ajit Kumar K G)

                                                                                  Secretary General