Letter regarding uniform allowances

F.No. Ref. No. AIACEGEO/Deptt.Comm./01/2020                                     Dated : 17.06.2020

 

To

The Deputy Commissioner,

Customs Division, Surat

 

Sir,

 

            Subject : Request to withdraw letter dated 12.06.2020 requiring submission of                                 Certificate for the Uniform Allowance for the year 2019-20 – reg.

 

            Please refer to your letter No. III/13-Misc./2019-20/Accts. dated 12.06.2020 wherein all uniformed officers under your administrative control have been requested to submit the “Certificate for the Uniform Allowance for the year 2019-20” as per the proforma attached to the letter by 10^th July 2020, which is also to be countersigned by the Reporting Officer. However, the letter is silent about the provision/authority under which such certificate has been sought.

 

2.         In this connection, it may be brought to your kind notice that since 7th CPC, a number of allowances have been subsumed in a single "Dress allowance" and no Certificate is required to be submitted for this purpose. Para 4 of CBIC letter dated 4.10.2017 in this regard by using the term "shall" has made it obligatory to get the same paid alongwith salary for the month of July and no discretion lies with the disbursing authority.

 

3.         It is also strongly asserted that the above letter issued by your goodself appears to be unreasonable, arbitrary and has been issued without any legal authority. All the formations of the CBIC (Customs and CGST) have been disbursing uniform allowances without any certificate. Your goodself had himself received Dress Allowance during the year 2018-19 vide Sanction Order No. III/20-1/UA/2018-19 dated 24.07.2018 alongwith 133 other officers/officials and none of them were required to submit any such certificate/undertaking.

 

4.         It may not be out of place to mention that AIACEIA (Inspector’s Association) and our association have been demanding for abolition of practice of wearing uniforms in CGST and accordingly if Dress allowances of our members are not paid in the month of July 2020, it may be construed as an admission by the department that wearing of Uniform is an archaic and obsolete practice, which is no more required even in Customs and the same should be abolished.

 

Thanking you. Regards.

Yours faithfully,

 

 

(M.S. Prabhat)

General Secretary

Copy to :

1.      The Hon’ble Principal Commissioner, Customs, Ahmedabad with request to impart appropriate directions to the DC, Customs Division, Surat.

2.      The DC/AC, CH Hazira/CH Dahej/ICD Ank/ICD Sachin/Surat Hira Bourse

3.      The Secretary General, AIACEGEO.

4.      All members of the association.