It appears an irony that the IRS (C&CE) continues to be denied its dues even though the indirect tax collections (as per data, 1st quarter, released by Fin Min in the first week of July) jumped 30.8 percent between April and June 2016 to Rs 1,99,790 crore, net direct tax receipts are estimated to have grown by 24.79 percent to Rs 1.24-lakh crore in the period.
The Prime Minister had directed, in June 2015, to complete the empanelment of the officers belonging to all AIS (other than IAS) and Central Services Gp.'A'. upto 1995 batches, by 31.12.2015. Following this, officers of 1986 & 1987 batches of IRS (C&CE) were empanelled. However, the empanelment of 1988, 1989 & 1990 batches is still pending. It appears that before taking up these pending batches, EO's office has sought a clarification from the Establishment Division, DoPT as to whether the officers officiating in SAG on an ad-hoc basis can be considered for empanelment.
It is pointed out that due to prolonged seniority disputes within the feeder cadres, the seniority at entry stage of IRS (C&CE) has been under dispute since entry years 1986 onwards. As per RRs, the entry level posts in IRS (C&CE) are to be filled in a ratio of 50:50 between the DRs and the Promotions. The seniority disputes pertain to the distribution of 50% quota for promotion between the feeder cadres and their inter-se placement thereafter in the Seniority List against the promotion points. Therefore, the seniority disputes do not in any way alter the position of DR IRS (C&CE) officers. Despite this factual position, even the DR officers have also been promoted by the CBEC on an ad-hoc basis to avoid any legal disputes. The officers have been promoted, against panel year wise vacancies, after following all the due procedures including DPCs. Wherever required, the DPCs have been conducted by the UPSC and recommendations made on a provisional basis subject to finalization of seniority disputes. Thus, the promotions have been made by the competent authority after following due procedure against sanctioned posts. As such, the promotions have all the trappings of regular promotions.
It is also pointed out that the qualification criteria for empanelment to the post of JS/ JS equivalent, as per guidelines, is that the officers should have rendered 17 years of services in Group 'A' and should be drawing pay in the scale of Rs 37400-6700+ Grade Pay Rs. 10000 in their respective parent cadre/ service. Thus, there is no requirement that the officers should be officiating in the SAG on a regular basis. It is perhaps for this reason that the officers of 1986 & 1987 batches have already been empanelled though they are also officiating in SAG on an ad-hoc basis.
The sharpest rise was in Central excise collections, which grew 50.1 percent to Rs 91,225 crore in the first quarter from Rs 60,787 crore a year ago. The gross tax collection target is pegged at Rs 16,30,888 crore, which marks a 12.5 percent rise over the Budgeted Rs 14,49,490 crore last fiscal.
Estuary of ironies: JS empanelment of IRS C&CE ?
By IndianMandarins - 2016-07-14 10:58:37
It appears an irony that the IRS (C&CE) continues to be denied its dues even though the indirect tax collections (as per data, 1st quarter, released by Fin Min in the first week of July) jumped 30.8 percent between April and June 2016 to Rs 1,99,790 crore, net direct tax receipts are estimated to have grown by 24.79 percent to Rs 1.24-lakh crore in the period.
The Prime Minister had directed, in June 2015, to complete the empanelment of the officers belonging to all AIS (other than IAS) and Central Services Gp.'A'. upto 1995 batches, by 31.12.2015. Following this, officers of 1986 & 1987 batches of IRS (C&CE) were empanelled. However, the empanelment of 1988, 1989 & 1990 batches is still pending. It appears that before taking up these pending batches, EO's office has sought a clarification from the Establishment Division, DoPT as to whether the officers officiating in SAG on an ad-hoc basis can be considered for empanelment.
It is pointed out that due to prolonged seniority disputes within the feeder cadres, the seniority at entry stage of IRS (C&CE) has been under dispute since entry years 1986 onwards. As per RRs, the entry level posts in IRS (C&CE) are to be filled in a ratio of 50:50 between the DRs and the Promotions. The seniority disputes pertain to the distribution of 50% quota for promotion between the feeder cadres and their inter-se placement thereafter in the Seniority List against the promotion points. Therefore, the seniority disputes do not in any way alter the position of DR IRS (C&CE) officers. Despite this factual position, even the DR officers have also been promoted by the CBEC on an ad-hoc basis to avoid any legal disputes. The officers have been promoted, against panel year wise vacancies, after following all the due procedures including DPCs. Wherever required, the DPCs have been conducted by the UPSC and recommendations made on a provisional basis subject to finalization of seniority disputes. Thus, the promotions have been made by the competent authority after following due procedure against sanctioned posts. As such, the promotions have all the trappings of regular promotions.
It is also pointed out that the qualification criteria for empanelment to the post of JS/ JS equivalent, as per guidelines, is that the officers should have rendered 17 years of services in Group 'A' and should be drawing pay in the scale of Rs 37400-6700+ Grade Pay Rs. 10000 in their respective parent cadre/ service. Thus, there is no requirement that the officers should be officiating in the SAG on a regular basis. It is perhaps for this reason that the officers of 1986 & 1987 batches have already been empanelled though they are also officiating in SAG on an ad-hoc basis.
The sharpest rise was in Central excise collections, which grew 50.1 percent to Rs 91,225 crore in the first quarter from Rs 60,787 crore a year ago. The gross tax collection target is pegged at Rs 16,30,888 crore, which marks a 12.5 percent rise over the Budgeted Rs 14,49,490 crore last fiscal.
