Officers and other representatives of the All India Association Of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers, a majority of whom are on protest against the failure of the government to meet their charter of demands, have announced plans to present two to three roses to each of the favoured Indian Revenue Service officers or staff members who have been granted promotion, or have received post-retirement membership/chairpersonship in any authority/commission/tribunal throughout India.
All units will present the roses (two or three in a bunch) to the respective CCAs'.
In a letter to Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Ravi Malik, Secretary General, All India Association Of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers, said: "As you know, it is submitted with due regards that the celebration of Central Excise day was started on the demand of Central Excise executive staff. But very unfortunately, nothing is left to celebrate in the life of these poor officers in relation of career, pay or any other service matter."
"Despite of total demoralisation, disappointment, job dissatisfaction, demotivation and frustration, the revenue targets are regularly being achieved above the set goals by the sincere efforts of these officers, i.e., Superintendents and Inspectors of Central Excise. Under the present circumstances, these officers are forced to retire at a PB2 post after only one promotion in the service career while their common entry counterparts are easily enjoying PB4 levels after getting 5-6 promotions. These officers are getting promotion (if any) merely to Junior Time Scale while their counterparts of CPWD, CSS etc. to Senior Time Scale," he added.
The letter further stated: "These poor officers are also forced to work under the extreme juniors of Customs belonging to the same cadre. If career prospects were disclosed at the time of recruitment, these officers would have never joined this job. Instead of taking some positive measures in r/o of their career prospects, the CBEC is planning to increase the residency period and reduce the promotion quota for these officers to limit them within the post of Superintendent."
"Nobody is worried about this actual workforce of CBEC. The direct IRS officers have been ensured upto 9 promotions to upgrade them within the standard residency periods prescribed by DOPT by creating the posts at Apex, HAG+ etc. levels in higher scales even without availability of the eligible officers but no measures are being taken for the Central Excise Superintendents and Inspectors to promote/upgrade them within the standard residency periods prescribed by DOPT. The Income Tax Inspectors and the Assistants of CSS under the Department of Revenue are also able to reach the post of Commissioner and Joint Secretary," the letter added.
The charter of demands includes immediate implementation of cadre restructuring, scheme to improve the career prospects of Central Excise Superintendents/Inspectors independent of cadre restructuring to retire them in PB-4 after gettingat least five functional promotions.
The next promotion of Central Excise Superintendent in STS like many other group 'B' gazetted officers and a pay scale equivalent to the Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/- in PB3 to the Superintendent of Central Excise w.e.f. the date of the grant of the same to the counterparts of IB, CBI etc. alongwith other perks as being granted to the analogous counterparts of IB and CBI.