Appointment of Treasurer-Surat and Office Secretary

Ref. No. AIACEGEO/MoMEC/01                                                                  Dated : 17.06.2020

 

 

RESOLUTION

 

            It has been unanimously resolved by the Executive Committee of AIACEGEO Surat-Daman on 17.06.2020 to accept request of Shri Sanjay Kumar, Treasurer, Surat Station to relieve him from his responsibilities due to his personal reasons.

 

2.         It has also been unanimously resolved by the Executive Committee to make the following appointments by way of nomination :

 

(i)                Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, Superintendent (presently posted at Customs House, Hazira) for the post of “Office Secretary”.

(ii)              Shri Ankur Sinha, Superintendent (presently posted at EPC, Surat) for the post of “Treasurer” of the AIACEGEO, Surat-Daman unit for Surat station.

 

3.         The duties and responsibilities of “Office Secretary” and “Treasurer” shall be as specified in the Constitution of the association. Being nominated Office bearers, they shall not have voting rights in the Executive Committee meetings and they shall not directly corresponds with the authorities unless authorized by the Executive Committee to do so.

 

 

 

(M.S. Prabhat)

General Secretary

 

Copy to :

1.      The Secretary General, AIACEGEO.

2.      All concerned.

Constitution of Welfare Committee in Surat Audit Commissionerate

F.No. Ref. No. AIACEGEO/Deptt.Comm./01/2020                                     Dated : 10.06.2020

 

To

The Hon’ble Commissioner,

CGST & Central Excise,

Surat-Audit.

 

Respected Sir,

 

            Subject : Constitution of “Advisory Committee” to conduct activities as per Welfare                          Fund Manual – reg.

 

 

            It is submitted that as per ‘Welfare Fund Manual’ an advisory committee has to be constituted in each Commissionerate so as to conduct the following activities related to welfare of the officers/employees of the Commissionerate, such as :

(i) Grant of financial assistance for non-reimbursable expenses under CS (MA)/ CGHS Rules;

(ii) Grant of ex-gratia financial assistance in cases of death of departmental officials;

(iii) Advance on medical grounds in exceptional cases in emergencies;

(iv) Arrangements for medical treatment in hospitals recognized under CS (MA)/ CGHS Rules without payment of any advance deposit by the departmental officials;

(v) Grant of cash awards to the children of departmental officials for performance in Board Examinations at the level of 10^th and 12th Standard;

(vi) Grant of scholarships for pursuing specified professional courses at graduate level;

(vii) Setting up of common facilities, viz. departmental guest hoses, acquiring accommodation in hotels, Canteens, Creches, Gym./ Recreation/ Sports Centers;

(viii)Grant of financial assistance for the losses suffered due to natural calamities like Tsunami, earthquakes, Floods etc.;

(ix) Cash Awards for winning medals in games/events of National/ International importance and financial assistance for meeting expenditure on participation in National/International games/ events, etc.

(x) Financial assistance for recreation and other outdoor activities including a sense of adventure.

 

2.         We respectfully submit that a “Welfare Advisory Committee” may also be constituted in CGST Surat-Audit at the earliest so that the officers and employees of CGST Surat-Audit Commissionerate may get benefitted from Welfare Fund as applicable.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

(M.S. Prabhat)

General Secretary

 

Misuse of office letter pad

To

The Principal Commissioner,

Ahmedabad Customs.

 

Sir,

 

            Subject : Misuse of AIACEGEO letterhead by Shri Ajay Singh Kundu, Supdt – reg.

 

            This is to inform your honour that Shri Ajay Singh Kundu holds no post in Executive Committee of AIACEGEO, Surat-Daman unit as he did not contest in the elections of Executive Committee held on 03.03.2020, though he had voted as a member.

 

2.         However, it has come to our notice that on 6^th June, 2020 Shri Ajay Singh Kundu has communicated with your good office through the email ID aiacegeostdn@gmail.com, while mentioning his position as ASG, AIACEGEO. It is disheartening to know that he has used this email ID for representing his individual case which is a gross violation of Rule 6 of CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993 and thereby he has demeaned the position of an employee association. Even then if the said officer wishes to represent any motley team of AIACEGEO, he must use letterhead/email ID of the All India body not the local body.

 

3.         While we appreciate your good office for implementing the court orders in respect of grant of grade pay of 5400 in respect of most of the officers of South Gujarat Customs and also request to extend such benefits to all the left over officers including Shri Ajay Singh Kundu, but at the same time, we also request you discourage any such unauthorized communications.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

(M.S. Prabhat)

General Secretary

 

Copy to :

1.      The Deputy Commissioner, Customs Division, Surat with request to extend benefit of CAT order to Shri Ajay Singh Kundu.

2.      The Secretary General, AIACEGEO with request to take up matter of violation of Rule 6 of CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993 by the AIB office bearer of the fraction of AIACEGEO led by Shri Manimohan with Board as well as with Shri Manimohan.

3.      Shri Ajay Singh Kundu.

Shifting of Valsad CGST office

Ref. No. AIACEGEO/Deptt. Comm./01/2020                                             Dated : 29.06.2020

To

Hon’ble Chief Commissioner,

CGST & Central Excise,

Vadodara Zone.

 

Respected Sir,

 

            Subject : Request for shifting of CGST Office at Valsad to new location preferably by                                    getting constructed CGST building in our own vacant plot in Valsad – reg.

 

            At the outset, we sincerely thank your goodself for your proactive approach towards shifting of GST Division Offices from old and rented premises of Samruddhi Building to newly constructed GST Bhavan, Surat.

 

2.         Now, we wish to draw your kind attention towards the pathetic situation of CGST & C. Ex. office of Valsad situated in Om Plaza, Dharampur Road, Abrama from where Tapi and Valsad Divisions are working at 2^nd Floor. Customs Division Valsad is also situated in the same building at 2^nd and 3^rd Floor. This office is located in a shopping complex and it is too old, too unhygienic and unsafe to work from. The office location also gives a very poor picture of the department and bad impression about our work culture among the assesses, clients and visitors. Rent charged by the owner of this building is too much as compared to present day market price of similar space in the current real-estate scenario.

 

3.         Our department is already having its own plot in Valsad, which is vacant and unutilised as it is not well connected with the approach road. Your honour is respectfully and sincerely requested to make a dedicated task force of officers to take up the matter with local authorities and persons of the locality to procure land near approach road so that our own building may got constructed in Valsad. This will prove to be landmark act on your part and our officers and staff will ever remain obliged for such great act. Till such procurement of land and construction of CGST Building, the office may got shifted to a new location in an independent and new building.

 

4.         We are also writing separately to the Hon’ble Principal Commissioner, Customs Ahmedabad to get Customs Division, Valsad shifted to a new premises similarly.

 

                                                Thanking you. With regards.

 

   Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

      (M. S. PRABHAT)

                                                                                                                        General Secretary

 

Copy to the Commissioner of CGST & Central Excise, Surat.

Amendments in Transfer/Placement/Deputation policy for Officers in the cadre of Superintendents/Inspectors of Vadodara Zone

F.No. Ref. No. AIACEGEO/Deptt.Comm./01/2020/01                              Dated :   16.03.2020

 

To

The Chief Commissioner (CCA),

CGST and Central Excise,                                  

Vadodara Zone.

 

Respected Sir,

 

            Subject : Inviting suggestions for Amendments in Transfer/Placement/Deputation                           policy for Officers in the cadre of Superintendents/Inspectors of Vadodara                           Zone – reg.

 

            We thankfully acknowledge receipt of your letter issued under F.No. II/03-10/CCO/2019 dated 03.03.2020 vide which suggestions have been sought on the Transfer/ Posting/ Rotation Policy for Group ‘B Executive Officers of Vadodara Zone. The proposal for certain amendments have been proposed by CCO in the above said policy.

 

2.         In this connection, it is submitted that while we submit our following comments after deliberations and discussions on the same among our member officers, we also propose certain other amendments with a view to bring more transparency and staff welfare without affecting ease of administration & AGT procedure. Further, while our department is entering into an era of faceless and paperless work-system, it would be desirous and result-oriented step to ensure minimum displacements and would also be economic to the exchequer as it would cut the burden of payment of transfer allowances unnecessarily.

 

Our Suggestions on Amendments proposed by the CCO :

 

(a)  Para 3 (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii) & (ix) : Amendments proposed by CCO are accepted.

 

(b)  Para 5 (viii) : Amendments proposed by CCO are accepted.

However Para 5 (vii) and Para 5 (viii) may be merged and replaced with the following :

“Officers repatriating from any formation outside CGST Cadre i.e. Customs/SEZ/ DGGI/DRI/ED/Any other directorate/office etc. whether on rotation or loan or deputation basis shall not be posted to Audit Commissionerate for at least one year. However the period of one year shall be counted from AGT to AGT orotherwise more than nine months period may be considered as one year.”

 

(c)   Para 7 (v) : The changes suggested are against transparency in the department as it would result into bringing undue influence for staying in the CCO for a period longer than 3 years. It would affect the policy making decisions and would go against the staff welfare. Further, if posting in CCO is not counted as posting in Vadodara cluster, those transferred to CCO from Surat Sector on seniority basis (in case sufficient willingness is not received) will serve outside Sector but their tenure outside Sector shall not be counted.

Therefore, proposed amendments in Para 7(v) appears against the principles of equality, fair play as appears prejudice to interests of Surat Sector officers in comparison to other Sector officers as being posted to CCO will not be counted towards out Sector posting. 

Therefore, Para 7(v) may not be amended as proposed.

(d)  Para 17 : Amendments proposed by CCO are accepted.

However, those promoted mid-term i.e. before AGT may be allowed to work in-situ till next AGT to avoid mid-term disturbances. Further, to the extent possible promoted officers may be accommodated in the same station to complete their station tenure counted together as Inspector and Superintendent.

 

Now we submit our following suggestions for kind consideration and implementation please :

 

Para 2. :

 

In Para 2(a) the following to be added :

            “This Sector is comprising of the following stations for the purpose of transfer/ Posting/Rotation – (i) Main station – Vadodara (ii) Outstation – Anand, Nadiad, Halol, Bharuch and Ankleshwar”

 

In Para 2(b) the following to be added :

            “This Sector is comprising of the following stations for the purpose of transfer/ Posting/Rotation –

(i) (a) Main station – Surat for CGST  Surat and CGST Surat-Audit; (b) Main Station – Vapi/Daman for Daman Commissionerate

(ii) Outstation – Navsari, Valsad, Vapi, Umbergaon for Surat CGST; Vapi for Surat-Audit and Silvassa for Daman Commissionerate”

 

After Para 2(a) and 2 (b) the following to be added :

“Willingness shall be called for postings to the outstations and will be positively considered to the extent possible on seniority basis. The vacancies left unfilled even after considering the willingness cases, the same will be filled from the senior most officers at the station. Senior most officer means officers who have longest continuous tenure at main station.

Further, those officer who have been posted at the outstation without their willingness (as per rotation), should be repatriated to the main station in the next AGT on the basis of their willingness and the next officer in line (as per longest gap) should be transferred to the outstation as per rotation basis.

Further, if an officer is posted outside Sector without willingness in Customs postings or posting to a formation outside sector on promotion, period spent by him outside sector shall be considered as Out of Sector posting.

Further, an officer if has served in outstation postings in his tenure in the one sector, on inter-sector transfer to another sector, shall be considered for posting at the main station. ”

 

Para 3 :

 

Para 3 (xi) : To be replaced with –

“After spending at least one year of stay at other Sector, the officer may tender her/his willingness for transfer back to her/his parent Sector, which will be allowed to the extent possible on “First In First Out” basis. For this purpose one year period shall be counted from AGT to AGT or a period of more than nine months shall be counted as one year.”

 

Para 3 (xiii) – The following to be replaced :

“On returning to the parent Sector (only after spending at least one year in the other Sector), the period of stay in the parent Sector shall start from Zero. If in any circumstances, the Officer returns to her/his parent Sector before spending one year in the other Sector, this condition shall not apply and in this situation she/he shall be liable to be considered again for  Inter-Sector transfer in the next AGT. For this purpose, however, one year period shall be counted from AGT to AGT or a period of more than nine months shall be counted as one year. ”

 

Para 4 :

 

Para 4 (iii) : To be replaced with the following :

“Percentage of working strength of officers may be reduced to 25% from existing 50% for rotation from one Commissionerate to other.”

 

Para 4 (v) : The following may be added :

“Officers returning from Customs formations on repatriation, in case they were transferred to Customs from Audit Commissionerate shall be accommodated in a CGST Commissionerate of the station where they served before transfer to Customs.”

 

Para  5:

 

Para 5 (v) : To be omitted as it is inconsistent with Para 5(ii).

 

Para 8 :

 

Para 8 (iv) : The following to be added :

“For this purpose a period of one year shall be counted from AGT to AGT or otherwise more than nine months period shall be counted as one year.”

 

Para 8 (v) - The following to be added :

“Oficers repatriating from any formation outside CGST Cadre i.e. SEZ/DGGI/DRI/ED/Any Other Directorate/OIffice etc. whether on rotation or loan or deputation basis shall not be posted to Customs for at least one year. However, the period of one year shall be counted from AGT to AGT or otherwise more than nine months period shall be counted as one year.”

 

Para 9 :

 

Para 9(ii) – The following shall be added :

“Posting to SEZ shall be done on the basis of willingness from among the senior-most officers who have never worked in SEZ taking into account their records of services”.

Para 9 (iv) & (v) - The following to be added :

“For this purpose a period of one year shall be counted from AGT to AGT or otherwise more than nine months period shall be counted as one year.”

 

Para 10 :

 

Para 10 (ii) to be replaced with the following :

“The postings on rotational transfer basis to DGGI, DGRI, DGoV, DGoA and DGTS will be made by the Chief Commissioner’s Office in consultation with the concerned ADG on the basis of the willingness from officers of CGST Vadodara Zone.”

 

Para 11 : The following to be added :

 

“Inter Zonal Transfers shall be mainly made on the basis of the willingness of the officers.”

 

Para 13 :

 

Para 13 (i) (a) : Officers whose wards are studying in X to XII standard (including XI standard) may be granted exemption.

Para 13(i) (b) : The following shall be added :

“Such application for retention/transfer to a station near native place or station of his/her choice made by an officer attaining 57 years age shall remain operative till their retirement and they would not be required to be give an application every year to the same effect.

Para 13(i) (e) : The following shall be inserted :

“Lady officers shall be given a place of posting on the basis of their willingness.”

 

Para 15 : In many cases where preliminary inquiry initiated or vigilance proceedings contemplated, stipulated time period is not adhered for completing the same. Accordingly, vigilance proceedings and issuance of charge-sheet delays inordinately due to which officers facing charges have no recourse to come back to his/her parent Sector/Commissionerate. Therefore, this para either may be omitted or a time period e.g. one year may be stipulated for transferring back him/her to parent Commissionerate.  

 

Para 19 : The following may be added in this para :

“Once an officer has been exonerated or where major/minor penalty other than dismissal/removal/termination has been ordered and the penalty period is over, the officer shall be considered for sensitive postings.”

 

Para 26 A : May be inserted with the following :

“Station transfers shall be done keeping in view availability of funds for TTA and all TTA claims shall be preferably to be paid within three months of submission of claims by an eligible Officer on transfer/rotation.”

 

Para 26B : May be inserted with the following :

“The process of transfer during AGT should be completed by 30^th April of every calendar year so as to facilitate the officers in admitting their wards to schools on the commencement of academic year.”

 

 

            It is further requested that an opportunity to be heard in person may kindly be granted to us before finalizing the Transfer/Posting/Rotation Policy.

 

                        Thanking you. With regards.

Yours faithfully,

 

 

(M.S. Prabhat)

General Secretary

Request to discontinue posting of Appraisers from Mumbai Customs Cadre of Appraisers at ICD SHB Surat and other formations of Gujarat Zone Customs

F.No. Ref. No. AIACEGEO/Deptt.Comm./01/2020                                     Dated : 29.06.2020

 

To

The Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs

Gujarat Zone.

 

Respected Sir,

            Subject : Request to discontinue posting of Appraisers from Mumbai Customs                                   Cadre of Appraisers at ICD SHB Surat and other formations of Gujarat Zone                                     Customs – reg.

 

            It is respectfully submitted that since inception of ICD SHB Surat, Expert Officers were posted here as this formation was dealing with import of precious and semi-precious gems and jewelry. Such Expert Officers were appointed by UPSC till 1998 for Mumbai Customs Cadre and were then posted to ICD SHB Surat and other such formations of Gujarat Customs Zone. Post 1998, recruitment of such Expert Officers were discontinued however posting of Appraisers from Mumbai Customs Cadre was continued on rotation basis. As of now, most of the Expert Officers recruited through UPSC have either proceeded on superannuation and/or have got promoted and now working as Additional Commissioner or above.   However, posting of Appraisers in ICD SHB Surat and similar formations handling precious/semi-precious gems has been continued and these appraisers are trained to handle such precious/semi-precious goods through crash course at the expenses of the department.

 

2.         During re-organisation of Customs Zones in 2014, CBEC vide Letter No. A-11019/08/2013-Ad.IV dated 16.10.2014 again allocated Appraisers to the effect that Mumbai Customs is a feeder cadre to provide a total of 55 Appraisers for Gujarat Customs. Such Appraisers now posted to ICD SHB Surat or other such formations are not expert by virtue of their Recruitment Rules but they are trained through crash course on departmental expenses.

 

3.         Further, Inspectors were already being posted at ICD SHB Surat and Superintendents have also now been posted to ICD SHB Surat as well training has also been/is also being imparted to the Customs/Central Excise Officers of Gujarat Zone to handle precious/semi-precious gems and jewelry. If the officers of Customs Gujarat zone are posted to these formations of Gujarat Customs, the unwarranted expenses of payment of TTA to the officers of Mumbai Customs Cadre may be avoided and those officers would also be saved from their far away forced transfers to different places. Imparting training to the local eligible officers is far more convenient than to imparting on job training to the outstation officers.

 

3.         In view of the above, we seek intervention of your honour to take up this issue with Board to discontinue such practice so that our own Gujarat Zone officers may get accommodated at such stations of relevance, which, in fact, will also result in creation of 55 in cadre posts in Gujarat Zone Customs for which all the officers and staff of this zone will remain obliged to your honour.

Yours faithfully,

 

 

(M.S. PRABHAT)

General Secretary

 

-2-

 

Copy for information and necessary action to :

 

1.      The Hon’ble Member (P&V), CBIC, Govt. of India.

2.      The Principal Commissioner of Customs, Ahmedabad Customs.

3.      The Secretary General, AIACEGEO.

 

 

(M.S. PRABHAT)

General Secretary