This blog is maintained for the benefit of the entire fraternity of Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax Officer's

Wednesday 26 February 2014

D.A. HIKE! MEGA-BONAZA FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES & PENSIONERS!!

The Centre is learnt to be rushing through a mega-bonanza for Central Government employees and pensioners. This is likely to  be taken up by the cabinet as its Friday meeting. The Seventh Pay commissions terms of reference, said to be notified, may include a proposal to merge 50% of current D.A. to basic pay, that will mean 35% Hikes, benefiting 50 Lakhs employees & 30 Lakhs pensioners..

Will CR be put in place before June,2014?

Chairperson, CBEC  has intimated  the Zonal Members and Zonal CCAs that new restructured formations along with the new sanctioned strength will be notified by 31-3-2014. These new restructured formations and new sanctioned strength will be effective from 1-4-2014. Chairperson has also intimated that all the Committees which have been formed to oversee the implementation of the CR are actively working. 
Chairperson has  directed them to ensure that DPC s are held before 30-6-2014 for promotions in Group-B and C at any cost. 
On this positive note, it is ardently hoped that CR will be made effective from 1-4-2014 and all the restructured formations will be made functional and operational before 30-6-2014 by effecting promotions in the Group-B and C   Cadres. However, Chairperson letter is silent about the DPCs required for promotions in Group-A cadre consequent to implementation of CR. 

Sunday 23 February 2014

Union Cabinet approves Terms of Reference (TOR) of 7th CPC

Union Cabinet approved Terms of Reference (TOR) of 7th CPC for over 50 lakh Employees and 30 lakh pensioners of Central Government. The TOR includes merging of 50% of DA with Basic Pay. It seems the Cabinet has not approved the merger of 50% of DA with basic pay per-se but only included in theTOR of CPC. 

7TH CPC for Central Govt. Employees Terms of reference to include DA Merger and Interim Relief – Central Govt. Cabinet likely to approve 7th CPC terms of reference seen

In a bid to woo central government employees ahead of General Elections, the UPA government is expected to ask the seventh pay commission to  consider merging 50% dearness allowance with basic pay of the employees.
 This will form part of the 7th CPC terms of reference (ToR), to be considered by the Cabinet this week. The Commission may suggest interim relief as well.
 Officials said the ToR of the Pay Commission categorically states that a proposal in this regard should be actively considered.
 The hikes will be all the more appealing as the Centre is expected to increase the dearness allowance by 10% to 100% by the end of February.  Usually, the DA is merged with the basic pay when the former  goes beyond 50%. However, DA is 90%, but it has not been merged so far.
 Assuming an employee gets Rs 100 as basic pay and Rs 100 as DA at present, the basic will rise to Rs 150, even if 50% allowance is merged.
 A higher basic pay will also impact the house rent allowance (HRA) of employees as it is calculated at 30% of the basic pay for central government employees.
 Earlier this month, the government had constituted the Pay Commission under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court  Judge Ashok Kumar Mathur. The other members of the panel are Petroleum Secretary Vivek Rae (full-time member), National Institute of Public Finance  and Policy Director Rathin Roy (part-time member) and Officer on Special Duty in the Expenditure Department Meena Agarwal (Secretary).
 The Commission’s recommendations would be implemented from January 1, 2016, officials said. However, it may recommend interim relief as well, they added.
 The recommendations of the Commission, will directly benefit almost 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners. Employees of states governments which will adopt the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will also benefit.
 Source: Business Standard

Central Govt employees to file separate property returns for Lokpal

Govt employees to file separate property returns for Lokpal

 All government employees have to file a revised declaration, information or return of their liabilities and those of spouse and their dependent children as per the mandatory requirement under the Lokpal regime, which came into being two days ago.
These declarations would be different from the existing such returns being filed by the government employees under various services rules.
The government has on Saturday gazetted the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties)Order, 2014 under PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii) of  The Gazette of India which mandates “public servants who have filed the declarations, information and returns under the provisions of the (other) relevant rules shall file revised declarations, information or returns”.

According to Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, a public servant shall, within a period of thirty days from the date on which he makes and subscribes an oath or affirmation to enter upon his office, furnish to the competent authority the information relating to the assets of which he, his spouse and his dependent children are, jointly or severally, owns.

He is also mandated to declare his liabilities and that of his spouse and his dependent children, as per the Act.

An annual return of assets and liabilities as on March 31 of an year should be filed on or before July 31st of that year, it said. Such declarations have also to be published on ministries’ or departments’ websites by competent authorities by August 31 of that year.


Central government employees file such declarations under the All-India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, and the Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966.


“Some concerns were raised on the implementation of the provisions of the Act. The order has been taken out to bring into the notice of all concerned that government employees will be filing revised returns, in additions to such declarations already been filed by them, under the Lokpal regime,” a senior Ministry of Personnel official said.

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Proposal for raising Retirement Age to 62 waits for Cabinet Nod : Hot News

We have heard it so many times . Every one of us got tired of hearing this rumour again and again. But this time this news may not fade away just as a rumour.
Because the series of events that had happened until now listed below are telling that it will be come true soon.
1. Though there is no any demand from any corner to raise the retirement age of central government employees to 62 years, a parliamentary panel has recommended a proposal to increase the retirement age of government servants to 65 years. The report of the standing committee of Parliament on social justice and empowerment tabled in the Parliament on 7th of this month. Ample justification also was given for their recommendation to increase the retirement age.
2. A reliable source close to a Cabinet Minister told that, the Cabinet Minister himself, while addressing to the Trade Union Wing of his party told ‘the Central Government would announce some important decisions in respect of central government employees within a week or two. This will be good news for all the central government employees.’
3. A close ally of a Central Minister told that, in a meeting held with the leaders of the state unit of his party day before yesterday, the Minister told the Leaders ‘a proposal of increasing retirement age of central government employees to 62 years has been waiting for Cabinet nod. It is expected that the cabinet will clear this proposal within a week. After it gets the Cabinet Nod, the formal announcement will be made by Central Government before the Election announcement.’
The above information clearly indicates that some Good News for central Government Employees are waiting to be announced within a week or two. All the central government employees know what that good news is!

 The expected good news will be either increasing retirement age or Merging 50% DA with Basic Pay or Both!
Gservants

Thursday 13 February 2014

BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION I THANKS ALL MEMBERS DUE TO THEM THIS LUNCH TIME DEMONSTRATION BECAME GRAND SUCCESS.

THE LUNCH TIME DEMONSTRATION ON 13.02.2014 i.e FOR SECOND DAY  DONE BY THE ALL INDIA CENTRAL EXCISE INSPECTORS ASSOCIATION AND SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION, HYDERABAD ZONE COMBINEDLY AT HEAD QUARTERS OFFICE, BASHEERBHAG,HYDERABAD.ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION I THANKS ALL MEMBERS DUE TO THEM THIS LUNCH TIME DEMONSTRATION BECAME GRAND SUCCESS. UNITY IS STRENGTH! 







Wednesday 12 February 2014

THE LUNCH TIME DEMONSTRATION ON 12.02.2014 DONE BY THE ALL INDIA CENTRAL EXCISE INSPECTORS ASSOCIATION AND SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION, HYDERABAD ZONE COMBINEDLY AT HEAD QUARTERS OFFICE AT BASHEERBHAG,HYDERABAD. FURTHER, IT IS REQUESTED TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF INSPECTORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION TO JOIN FOR LUNCH TIME DEMONSTRATION ON 13.02.2014, AT BASHEERBHAG OFFICE TO MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS AND FOR ACHIEVE OUR CHARTER OF DEMANDS AS ANNEXED TO THE NOTICE. UNITY IS STRENGTH!




THE LUNCH TIME DEMOSTRATION ON 12.02.2014 AND 13.02.2014 GIVEN BY THE ALL INDIA CENTRAL EXCISE INSPECTORS ASSOCIATION, HYDERABAD ZONE

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

1. Accept the terms of reference of 7th CPC, submitted by the staff side, National Council JCM.
(a) To examine the existing structure of pay, allowances and other benefits/facilities, retirement benefits like Pension, Gratuity, other terminal benefits of various categories of Central Government Employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) of Postal Department.
(b) To work out a comprehensive revised pay package for all the categories of Central Government employees including GDS as on 1.1.2014.
© The Commission shall determine the pay structure, benefits, facilities, retirement benefits etc. taking into account the need to provide minimum wage with reference to the recommendation of the 15the Indian Labour Conference (1957) and the subsequent judicial pronouncement of the honourable Supreme Court thereon, as on 1.1.2014.
(d) To determine the Interim Relief needed to be sanctioned immediately to the Central Government employees including GDS.
(e) To determine the percentage of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief immediately to be merged with pay and pension including GDS.
(f) To settle the anomalies raised in various for a of JCM.
(g) To work out the improvements needed to the existing retirement benefits, like pension, death cum retirement gratuity, family pension and other terminal or recurring benefits maintaining parity amongst past, present and future pensioners and family pensioners including those who entered service on or after 1.1.2004.
(h) To recommend methods for providing cashless/hassle-free Medicare facilities to the employees and Pensioners including Postal Pensioners.
2. Ensure every five year revision of wages of Central Government Employees in future.
3. (a) Regularisation of Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Postal Department and grant of Civil Servant status, statutory pension and all other benefits at par with regular employees.
 (b) Regularisation and revision of wages of casual and contract workers.
4. Compassionate appointment – removal of restrictions imposed by Government.
5. JCM and Anomaly Committee Functioning.
6. Fill up all vacant posts and creation of new posts wherever justified.
7. Stop downsizing, outsourcing, contractorisation and privatization of Government.
8. Stop the move to introduce performance related Pay (PRP) system, Extend PLB Bonus for all, removing bonus ceiling.
9. Revise OTA and Night Duty Allowance rates and clothing rates.
10. Implement arbitration awards.
11. Five promotions to all.
12. Rescind the PFRDA Act.   Ensure statutory Pension for all.
13. Stop price rise.  Revive and extend public distribution system for all.
14. Stop trade Union Victimization.

15. Ensure Right to Strike.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

CR NEWS FROM DELHI..


AICEIA office bearers met the new Chairperson of CBEC today, and apprised her of the concerns of the Central Excise Inspectors' cadre regarding implementation of the Cadre Restructuring.  Removal of stagnation and regional disparities in promotion, All India seniority for Inspectors, problems being faced in processing of Inter Zonal Transfer applications, Revision of Recruitment Rules etc. were discussed in detail. Suggestions were also made for initiating certain measures to improve career prospects for Inspectors in the long term.  These include creation of a separate service in CBEC, introduction of base cadre seniority in Gr B executive cadre for purposes of promotion to Gr A entry level post, and  including the definition of Approved Service as per DoPT guidelines in the Recruitment Rules. The Chairperson has assured that all issues and suggestions will be carefully considered.   

Later in the day we met the DG HRD, and all other senior officials of the HRM Wing of the  DGHRD, and reiterated our positions on  the issues of  stagnation, inter-cadre and intra-cadre disparities in promotions, All India seniority for Inspectors etc.

On our inquiry, it has been clarified that the vacancies arising in the Gr B Gazetted Executive cadres  consequent to  promotion to the 2118  temporary posts of Assistant Commissioners  will be available for promotion of Gr B non gazetted executives.

We have been assured that in the implementation of CR, regional disparities within C Ex will definitely be addressed. At present  the various Committees are working on different aspects of the implementation of CR. Locations of  the new Commissionerates etc. is also being re-worked. The new formations are expected to start functioning from 01.04.2014.   

Ajit Kumar K G
Secretary General

CONGRATULATIONS! TO THE CUSTOMS OFFICIALS OF RGI AIRPORT AS THEY SEIZED GOLD WORTH Rs.18 LAKHS ON MONDAY(10-2-2014).

        A Malayali passenger was held at RGI Airport for allegly concealing gold by converting it into thin wires, and plating the wires with aluminium. He had placed the Gold wires on the edge of his bag. Customs Officials found the passenger Abdul Rahman who came from Dubai had replaced the normal steel wires on the edge of his trolley bag with gold wires weighing 400 Grams. While scanning his bag, some bright wires were spotted, when Custom officials checked them manually they found that he had replaced the steel wires on the edge of the bag with aluminium-plated gold wires. The seized gold was worth arounf Rs.12lakhs.

      In another case Customs officials also caught another person from Hyderabad while he was trying to smuggle 221 grams of Gold by concealing it in his body. The passenger came from Thailand via Singapore on Tiger Air. The total seized gold worth around Rs.18 lakhs.. 

Friday 7 February 2014

A Final Request, One Last Attempt from Shri Ajit Kumar K G Secretary General of AICEIA to all branches to pursue the matter with administration to furnish the required information immediately

A Final Request, One Last Attempt

The  ADG (HRM), DGHRD, CBEC had vide letter  dated 12.12.2013 reproduced hereunder called for  from all Cadre Control Authorities for Inspectors of Central Excise as well as  their counterparts from the Customs side within CBEC, information in format prescribed to get a very clear picture of inter-cadre and intra-cadre disparities in order to move a proposal to the Board aimed at bringing in All India Seniority for Inspectors, and taking firm measures to do away with disparities among and within these  non-gazetted executive Gr B streams.

I had requested office bearers of AICEA reppeatedly by mail, assigning specific responsibility Zone-wise to individuals, to get copies of the information furnished by the 15 CCAs for Inspectors of CEX, and mail them to me. Despite repeated Reminders, copies of the subject reports only in respect of Bhopal, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Lucknow and Patna have been received so far  from the AICEIA office bearers of the respective places.

Our representation to the Board in this matter is held up and very badly delayed in absence of this information. Needless to say, without complete facts and figures, and projections based on them, representations and proposals from our side are rendered ineffective.

In view of the above, it is earnestly requested that any Inspector from any of the remaining Zones may kindly get a copy of information from their Cadre Control Authorities' offices, and e-mail a scan of the same at ajitkgbhilai@gmail.com . We need it most urgently, and in any case by the evening of 07.02.2014.

With an updated Seniority List (which is certainly available in all Cadre Control Offices, and also with most of us Inspectors),  it will take hardly 2 hours to prepare this information.

Even in the past, some regions have held back such information at crucial times, and the results are there for all to see.

I trust this  co-operation  is not too much for your Association to expect from each member, when the stakes are obvious.

In case any clarifications are needed,  kindly feel free to call me on 07775950144



 Fraternally yours,
Ajit Kumar K G
Secretary General

Monday 3 February 2014

AICEIA.,CEC MEETING AT MUMBAI INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE FURNISHED BY THE BRANCHES.:-

 CEC Meeting at Mumbai

Posted by JAIPAL SINGH on Feb 3rd 2014
AICEIA Mumbai Circle has informed that many Circles and Branches have not yet sent  confirmations of their  attendance in the ensuing CEC meet. It is, therefore, requested that those who have not done so yet may please do so immediately to avoid inconvenience - to themselves, as well as the host unit.

We have also got a few calls from some Circle office bearers that they have not received the e-mail with Notice for CEC Mumbai. Emails were sent promptly to all of them. However, for reference scanned copy of the same is reproduced once again hereunder. All  Circle office bearers / All India portfolio holders and Committees constituted at Shimla may do the needful at the earliest.




Strike Notice : Strike Call Given By Our Confederation 

All Circle/ Branch Secretaries who have not yet served Notice for the Strike on 12th and 13th of February must do so immediately. All India office bearers and all office bearers at the regional and local levels are requested to launch a massive campaign and mobilisation to make the Strike Total.

Information on Stagnation Not Received 

It is regretted that some Circles/ office bearers given responsibility to do so have not yet sent in copies to us of information called for from the Cadre Control Authorities by the ADG(HRM) regarding joining year-wise figures to study stagnation of Inspectors vis-a-vis other feeder cadres in CBEC, and to determine exact extent of regional disparities among the 15 Central Excise Zones. Since assigning this work to office-bearers is not yielding desired results, it is requested to all Inspectors who can do so to kindly take copies of this information from CCA offices  and mail  scanned copies at ajitkgbhilai@gmail.com .     It would be a great help in pursuing further  the matter of removal of  stagnation and regional disparities in promotions among Inspectors of Central Excise.




Plans for Agitation - Acute Stagnation, Shameful Regional Disparities in Promotions

We are getting several calls and messages every day from various constituents of our Association asking us to give a call for agitation, starting with Boycott of Excise Day Celebrations, in protest against CBEC not doing anything  to wipe out stagnation in the cadre of Inspectors of Central Excise, and removal of acute disparities across the 15 Cadre Control Zones in promotions from Inspectors to Superintendents.  A well considered decision in the matter will be take at the appropriate time and promptly communicated to all concerned and same will be posted on this blog too.

Yours fraternally,
Ajit Kumar K G
Secretary General

DA for Cent.Govt. Employees to go by 10% from 1-1-2014

Confederation of Central Govt. Employees reports that the Govt. has decided to increase the DA from 1-1-2014  by 10% taking the total DA to 100%. This increase will benefit around 50 lakh Cent.Govt. employees and 30 lakh  Pensioners. It is also reported that  Govt. will announce merger 50% of the DA  with Basic pay before Election Notification is issued on 21-2-2014. 

Entries in ACRs/APARs and proper disposal of representation in a quasi-judicial Manner by the competent authority against remarks in ACRs/ APARs or for upgradation/downgradation of the final grading.

No.21011/1/2005-Estt.(A)(Part.III)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
North Block, New Delhi.
31 st January, 2014 
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
 Subject: Entries in ACRs/APARs and prbper disposal of representation in a quasi-judicial Manner by the competent authority against remarks in ACRs/ APARs or for upgradation/downgradation of the final grading.
 This Department has issued OM dated 14th May, 2009 wherein the new system of
communicating the entries in APAR is made applicable with effect from the reporting
period 2008-09. This Department's OM dated l e April, 2010 Ministries and Departments
have been further asked to provide a copy of the reckonable below bench mark ACRs for
the period prior to the reporting period 2008-09 to the concerned employee for his
representation, before such ACRs are placed before future DPCs. This OM also lays
down that the representations against the remarks or for up gradation of final grading in
the APAR be considered by the competent authority objectively in a quasi-judicial
manner on the basis of material placed before it. It provides that the competent authority
shall take into account the contentions of the officer who has represented against the
particular remarks/ grading in the APAR and also take the views from the reporting and
reviewing officer and in case of up gradation of the final grading given in the APAR, gives
specific reasons in the order.
 2. The UPSC has brought to the notice of this Department that in the DPCs being held
in the aegis of the Commission, orders of the competent authority do not contain specific
reasons for such up gradation in a number of cases. In this regard this Department has
already issued OM No. 2011/1/2005-Estt. A(Pt. II) dated 19th May, 2011 which, inter alia,
states that such orders cannot be termed as disposed off in a quasi-judicial manner as
laid down in the aforesaid OM dated 13.04.2010. Grading an officer below the bench
mark by the DPC in such cases on the ground of up gradation being without giving
sufficient reasons is prone to avoidable representations.
 3. It is reiterated that proper disposal of representation in a quasi-judicial manner as
outlined in this Department's OM dated 13.04.2010 is mandatory before the under
consideration ACR/APAR may be placed/considered before/by the DPC.
 4. All the Cadre Controlling Authorities, Ministries/Departments are advised to ensure
compliance of this before sending proposals for consideration of DPCs.
 (Saojul  nkar)
Director
TeL No. 23093180

To,
All Ministries/Departments, Government of India (As per Standard List).

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UNITY BRINGS SUCCESS – CONFEDERATION WRITES AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE TWO DAYS STRIKE ON 12TH AND 13TH FEB 2014…

 UNITED WE STAND – TOGETHER WE CONQUER
Battle lines for a showdown of the Central Govt. Employees are drawn. Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers had served notice for 48 hours strike on 2014 February 12th & 13th, to Cabinet Secretary on 21st January 2014 alongwith 15 point Charter of demands.
The demands raised by the entire Central Govt. employees includes DA merger, Interim relief, Grant of civil servant status and inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC, Regularisation and revision of wages of casual labourers, Rescind PFRDA Act and scrap new Pension Scheme, Date of effect of 7th CPC 01-01-2014 & Five year wage revision in future, Fixation of minimum pay based on Need-based minimum wage formula worked out by 15th ILC and modified by Supreme Court later, settlement of anomalies, Implementation of Arbitration awards, five promotions, cashless hassle free medical facilities, Removal of restrictions on compassionate appointments, removal of bonus ceiling, stop downsizing, outsourcing, contractorisation, casualisation and privatisation, Filling up of vacant posts. Stop price rise and strengthen public distribution system. Right to strike, vacate victimisations and revive JCM forums are also included in the charter.
The neo-liberal economic policies pursued by the Central Govt. from 1991 onwards is threatening the very existence of Central Govt. departments. Many Govt. functions are already outsourced and some departments are at the verge of closure. Eventhough Govt. proclaim that there is no ban, six lakhs of vacant posts remain unfilled, out of which three lakhs are in Railways. Downsizing, contractorisation and privatisation has become the order of the day. Exploitation of three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Postal department and casual labourers is still continuing. Hard-earned statutory Pension of the Govt. employees has been snatched away and share market oriented New Pension Scheme is introduced. Both the congress-led UPA Govt. and BJP led Opposition NDA had joined together in the Parliament to pass the PFRDA Bill. Prices of all essential commodities has shooted up and grant of permission by the Govt. to oil companies to raise the prices of Petroleum products including Gas has further aggravated the situation. Life of the workers and common people has become miserable. To compensate the price rise and to prevent further erosion in the real wages. Govt. is not ready to grant DA merger or interim relief. Entire negotiating forums called JCM has become totally ineffective and defunct due to the negative attitude of the Government.
General Election to Parliament is going to be declared shortly. Parliament is in session upto the second or third week of February 2014 only. Once election is declared, we cannot expect any positive action from the Government till the end of 2014. Confederation has framed the charter of demands in its National Council held at Mumbai in 2010 December 1st & 2nd and submitted to Government in 2011. Series of Nationwide campaign and agitational programmes has been organised and a massive rally of about 20000 Central Govt. employees was conducted in front of Parliament on 26th July 2012. As the Government remained indifferent one day’s nation-wide strike was conducted on 12th December 2012 followed by two days strike on February, 20, 21 along with the Central Trade Unions. Strike ballot for indefinite strike was also declared in the month of August, 2013. Due to the agitations conducted by Confederation, Government was compelled to announce 7th Pay Commission in September, 2013, of course, with an eye on the votes of the Central Government Employees and Pensioners in the by-election to four states including Delhi.
Now four months are over since the announcement of the Prime Minister assuring constitution of Seventh CPC. Till this day the notification constituting the 7th CPC is not issued by the Government and the Chairman and other committee members are also not appointed. DA merger, Interim Relief and terms of reference are also pending. In fact, Government has fooled about 50 lakhs Central Government employees including defence personnel and 40 lakhs Central Government Pensioners. Nobody can tolerate this type of humiliation.
We cannot expect any positive action from the Government, unless and untill we organise ourselves in a decisive manner and go for a strike action. Central Government Employees have the potential to get their due rights from an unwilling Government. For that there is no short-cut. Unity and struggle is the only way. 2014 February 12th & 13th 48 hour strike will be an outburst of resentment and anger of the entire Central Government employees. Let us unite together and make the 48 hours strike a show of our uncompromising determination, courage and unity.