DA ORDER OF 80%

Da 01012013

Govt to extend ‘online’ RTI facility to all central depts

New Delhi, April 23, 2013(PTI): Soon RTI applicants can seek information related to all central ministries or departments here through a web portal.

It is planned to extend RTI online facility to all the Ministries or Departments of Government of India within a month.

The Department of Personnel and Training, which acts as nodal ministry for the implementation of Right to Information Act, has launched — www.rtionline.gov.in — to facilitate e-filing of applications and payment of fees.
“This portal, developed by NIC, is a facility for Indian citizens to online file RTI applications and first appeals and also to make online payment of RTI fees.
“The prescribed fees can be paid through Internet banking of State Bank of India and its associate banks as well as by credit or debit cards of Visa or Master, through the payment gateway of SBI linked to this site,” the DoPT said in an official order.
At present, people can file online applications and appeals for information related to the DoPT only.
“It is planned to extend this facility to all the Ministries or Departments of Government of India within a month,” the orderissued yesterday said.
The Centre’s flagship Right to Information Act, which was enacted in 2005, mandates timely response (within 30 days) tocitizen requests for government information. One has to pay a fee of Rs 10 for seeking information.
The facility, however, will not be extended for field offices, attached or subordinate offices, it said.
The DoPT will also train officials to facilitate easy processing of citizens requests through the transparency law.
At present, the text of an application that can be uploaded at the prescribed column (on the website while filing application) is limited to 500 words only.
In case, an application contains more than 500 words, then it can be uploaded as an attachment.

AIACEGEO- Deferment of Mass Resignation.

Dear friends,

Good evening.

1. Hope that all the office bearers and units would have booked their tickets to attend the AEC meeting to be held at Patna on 25 to 26.05.13. In case of any help, the following officers may kindly be contacted-

                        Sh. B. K. Sinha-09430250270       Sh. V. N. Jha-09431522232

All the Zonal Vice Presidents and Joint Secretaries are requested to kindly convey the dates and venue to all the units under their jurisdiction/zone. Agenda of the meeting will be sent soon. Meanwhile, the host unit is requested to send the desired invitations to all the units and zonal office bearers.

2. One more meeting was held with the Member (P&V) on 18.04.13. Discussions were also held with DG, HRD. The note to be sent to the Cadre Review Committee have now been finalized and be sent to them anytime through the Revenue Secretary. Keeping in view the positive developments in cadre restructuring and maintain positive atmosphere, the mass resignation programme of 30.04.13 is now being deferred. However, it is not the end of the road. Our ultimate aim is parity with common entry counterparts. We may have discussions on agitational programme in the forthcoming AEC meeting.

3. The new sanction strength from AC/DC to Principal CC level has already been communicated to all. The increase (in addition to existing strength) at Superintendent and Inspector level is as follows-

Superintendent level-5160     

Inspector level-5040

4. The stepping up case of seniors in ACPS/MACPS has again been sent to DOPT for general implementation of Supreme Court verdict on it.

Love,

Ravi.

Update by Com.Loknath Mishra on CR file

According to the information received from Com.Loknath Mishra Out of five secretaries , three ( Secretary ( R), Secretary(E) & Chairperson) have cleared the file, Secretary DOPT has partially cleared the file. Further information is awaited.

TA TO STA PROMOTIONS OF HYDERABAD CCA ISSUED

TA to STA Promotions

APAR of govt employee can’t be made public: SC

New Delhi, April 16, 2013(PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea for disclosure of the annual confidential reports (ACRs) of public servants under the RTI Act.

Hon’ble Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya

A bench of justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya upheld the Delhi High Court’s order that the annual performance appraisal reports (APARs), previously known as ACRs, of a public servant were personal information and exempted from disclosure under the transparency law. “We find no reason to interfere with the impugned judgement passed by the division bench whereby the order passed by the learned Single Judge of the High Court was affirmed,” the bench said.
The court passed the order on an appeal filed by transparency activist R K Jain’s plea challenging High Court’s order.
Jain had sought setting aside of HC order and issuance of a direction to the Centre to disclose alleged “adverse” remarks in ACR of Jyoti Balasundaram, a member of Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) in 2000-01.
Jain had earlier approached the CESTAT’s Central Principal Information Officer, who had refused to “divulge any information on the ground that it was exempted under Section 8(1)(i) of the RTI Act”. The CIC had also declined the plea on the same ground.

Source: Sentimes

LATEST MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING ON REWARD GUIDELINES

further update by com.loknath mishra

COMMITTEE OF SECRETARIES, TO APPROVE THE CR OF CBEC.
1. CABINET SECRETARY-- CHAIRMAN.
2. SECRETARY, DOPT.
3. SECRETARY, EXPENDITURE.
4. SECRETARY, REVENUE.
5. CHAIRPERSON, CBEC.
TODAY CBEC MAY PLACE THE NOTE APPROVED BY FM TO DOPT TO PLACE BEFORE COS.

 

GPF TO ATTRACT 8.7% INTEREST FOR 2013-14

General Provident Fund (GPF) and other similar funds shall carry interest at the rate of 8.7%  per annum for the year 2013-2014- Finance Ministry

(PUBLISHED IN PART I SECTION OF GAZETTE OF INDIA)
F.No.5(1)-B(PD)/2013
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
(Department of Economic affairs)

New Delhi, the 8th April, 2013

RESOLUTION

It is announced for general information that during the year 2013-2014, accumulations at the credit of subscribers to the General Provident Fund and other similar funds shall carry interest at the rate of 8.7% (Eight point seven per cent) per annum. This rate will be in force during the financial year beginning on 1.4.2013.

The funds concerned are:-
1. The General Provident Fund (Central Services).
2. The Contributory Provident Fund (India).
3. The All India Services Provident Fund.
4. The State Railway Provident Fund.
5. The General Provident Fund (Defence Services).
6. The Indian Ordnance Department Provident Fund.
7. The Indian Ordnance Factories Workmen’s Provident Fund.
8. The Indian Naval Dockyard Workmen’s Provident Fund.
9. The Defence Services Officers Provident Fund.
10. The Armed Forces Personnel Provident Fund.

2. Ordered that the Resolution be published in Gazette of India.

sd/-
(Peeyush Kumar)
Director (Budget)

Source: www.finmin.nic.in

UPDATE BY COM.LOKNATH MISHRA

Existing cadre strength of total GR-A posts ( Organised) in CBEC is at present
2485. FM proposed for 6104 , thus there is an increase of total 3619 posts.
FM accepted the cuts made by DOPT in respect of JC/ADC, Commissioner +/ CC+,
but inrespect of AC/DC (initially Board proposed for 4896, DOPT suggested for 3600)
FM proposed for 4668, thus there is an increase of 3118 posts.
... The most important issue is during the next 5 years the nos of DR
is to be restricated to 150 (2. 5 % of the total cadre strength)
This is applicable to new posts to be created and vacncies
within 5 years of implementation of CR. This is possible
due to calling of agitations continously , deferring these in last movement in a game plan etc.

MESSAGE FROM COM.LOKNATH MISHRA, PRESIDENT AIACEGEO

It is learnt that CR file after cleared from FM will be placed before COS. DOPT
will place such file before COS. We are planning to meet Secretary DOPT. Thereafter
making due consultation with our Units , we will review the agiation on mass resignation. As per requirement to solve the stagnation issue around 7000 posts of AC/DC are required. As per 98 guiedelines around 4800 nos of posts can be the total sanctioned strength of AC/DC ( subject to certain limitation). As per 2008 giudelines ,around 3600 nos. posts can be the total sactioned strength of AC/DC ( without limitaton). However considering the present situation FM cleared for around 4600 nos of posts as the sanctioned strenth of AC/DC with some relaxation. After clearance of CR proposals finally, we will demand immediately for Separate Service, new RR considering the increase of sanctioned strength on implementation of CR and in situ scheme to solve the stagnation issue. We will demand for replacement of MACP to In-situ. The Pay anomalies and NFSG issues are at present subjudice.

FINALLY THE NEWS OF CLEARING CR FILE IS CONFIRMED

FINALLY THE NEWS OF CLEARING THE FILE OF CADRE RESTRUCTURING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE LEADERS OF BOTH THE ASSOCIATIONS WITHOUT ANY CUTS IN AC/DC POSTS. STILL THE DOUBT CONTINUES ON WHETHER THE POSTS ARE GOING TO BE FILLED BY ONLY PROMOTION OR AS USUAL DIRECT/PROMOTEE RATIO. IN ANY CASE THERE IS A RELIEF TO ALL THE STAGNATING OFFICERS WHO CAN EXPECT THEIR FIRST PROMOTION AND A FEW FOR THEIR SECOND PROMOTION BEFORE THEY RETIRE. IN ANY CASE THOSE OFFICERS WHO ARE POSTED AWAY FROM THEIR HOMETOWN ON PROMOTION CAN EXPECT TO JOIN THEIR FAMILY AFTER IMPLEMENTATION. NOW IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEADERS TO SEE THAT THE CBEC IMPLEMENT THE SAME AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE .

GOOD NEWS ON CADRE RESTRUCTURING

NEWS ARE COMING ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT THE FINANCE MINISTER HAS CLEARED THE CADRE RESTRUCTURING FILE WITHOUT ANY CUTS ON AC/DC POSTS. STILL THIS NEEDS CONFIRMATION. SOME OF THE SOURCES SAY THAT FM IS LIKELY TO CLEAR THE FILE TOMORROW IE. ON 12.4.2013 BEFORE PROCEEDING ABROAD. WE HOPE  THE NEWS BECOMES REALITY.

Deferment of agitation.

Today met the MOS (Finance) and came to know that he has forwarded the CR  proposal  in original form ( without cut) to FM. FM likely to take a decision on today on CR proposals .  Our agitation  for  march  to FM house on 12.04.13 is being deferred to for the time being. 

-Ravi mallik SG AIACEGEO

SRI. K.P.LINGAM INSPECTOR, IS NO MORE

SRI. K.P. LINGAM INSPECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE WHO WAS WORKING AT AIR CARGO HYDERABAD HAS EXPIRED YESTERDAY NIGHT. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS SUFFERING FROM ASTHAMA. THIS BLOG EXTENDS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HIS BEREAVED FAMILY. MAY HIS SOLE REST IN PEACE.

CCA HYDERABAD CALLED FOR REPRESENTATIONS FOR IZT

CCA HYDERABAD HAS CALLED FOR REPRESENTATIONS FROM SUPERINTENDENTS FOR AGT 2013 AS PER LATEST IZT POLICY LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION TO CCA HYDERABAD  IS 22.4.2013. THE COMMISSIONER TIRUPATI HAS GIVEN LAST DATE FOR THE SAME IS 17.4.2013   CLICK HERE FORE CIRCULAR 

REPORT OF PABLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

Sir, the Public Accounts Committee in its 79th Report on the topic "Service tax on Banking and other Financial Services" submitted to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 21.03.2013 has at Para XVI of Part-B to Part-I has discussed in detail about the staff position in service tax under CBEC. At Para 18 of Part-II, the PAC has recommended as under ----

"The Committee note that there is a lack of perspective planning in the matter of deployment of staff on such a vital source of revenue collection viz., Service Tax. Taking into consideration the amount of revenue collected from Service Tax and Central Excise during the year 2011-12, the Committee are surprised to find that in contrast to the deployment of nearly 40,000 officers for excise, only 4000 to 5000 officers have been deployed for Service Tax stream and that too after withdrawing from the Central Excise stream. Apparently, Service Tax wing has been working for more than 15 years, with no staff of its own. The Committee are dismayed to note the helplessness expressed both by the Finance Secretary and Chairman, Central Board of Excise & Customs in this regard especially when, Ministry of Finance is itself one of the nodal authorities for examining and sanctioning requisite staff to Ministries. The Committee feel that the staff requirement be examined on priority basis by the concerned authorities in order to ensure that the Service Tax collections, which have increased phenomenally from Rs. 407 crore in 1994-95 to Rs. 97,389 crore in 2011-12 does not suffer for want of human resource.

As per the constitution of "Committee on Public Accounts", the report of the Committee on a subject is presented by the Chairman to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Reports of the Committee are adopted by consensus among members as there is no system of appending minute of dissent to the Report. After presentation to the Lok Sabha, copies of the Report are forwarded to the Ministry or Department concerned which is required to take action on the recommendations and observations contained in the Report and furnish action taken replies thereon within six months from the presentation of the Report.. Action taken notes received from the Ministries/Departments are examined by the Action Taken Committee and Action Taken Reports of the Committee are presented to the both Houses of Parliament.

Hope an early action on the recommendations of the PAC would be taken by CBEC. But we should try to awake them on the issue produced above.

 

-Ravi Mallik

Seventh pay panel to meet ex-servicemen's aspirations: Army chief

General Bikram Singh

Barrackpore (W B): Conceding that the current pension benefits for the country's ex-servicemen are not sufficient, army chief General Bikram Singh on Sunday said he would try to ensure their aspirations and requirements are fulfilled when the Seventh Pay Commission comes up. "I am deeply involved in meeting aspirations and requirements of ex-servicemen. I know that currently what you are getting is not enough. But you know about the current financial conditions in the whole world. So, taking into account the condition of the government's coffers, we have to deal with it," Gen Singh said while speaking at a mega ex-servicemen's rally here.

"However, I can assure you that when the Seventh Pay Commission will be set up and the economic conditions will start improving, all your aspirations and requirements would be included in it," he said.

About 10,000 ex-servicemen, war veterans, disabled soldiers and war widows (veer naris) were present on the occasion. The Army chief said he had taken up the issue of pension benefits with the central government for the welfare of the ex-servicemen.

Lauding the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government for supporting the army on welfare issues, he said it was giving "full support" for the re-employment of ex-servicemen. "I would like to inform you that the Indian Army is getting full support from the West Bengal government. When I met the chief minister earlier, then I saw her love and concern for the Army," he said.

Gen. Singh said the army would set up old-age homes for ex-servicemen in every command across the country. "We are opening old-age homes in every command. We are currently experimenting in Chandigarh, where the first old-age home was built," he added.

(Source- ZEE News)

REVISED REWARD PROPOSALS APPROVED BY BOARD

Dear Sir/friend,

                            The Board has published revised reward guidelines which were approved in a full Board meeting. The major contents of the reward guidelines are as under:

1. The reward amount for the officers posted in Adjudication, Legal or Prosecution Cells of the Commissionerates has been raised to Rs. 50,000 in each case from the present limit of Rs. 5,000;

2. The reward amount for the officers engaged in Audit/Special Audit of the Commissionerates has also been raised to Rs. 50,000 in each case;

3. The Joint/Additional Commissioners have been made eligible to get reward with the ceiling of Rs. 50,000 in each case;

4. The existing reward ceiling for a government officer in a case has been increased to Rs. 2 lakh from Rs. 1 lakh in each case;

5. The ceiling of total reward during the entire career of an officer has also been raised to Rs. 20 lakh from the existing ceiling of Rs. 15 lakh;

6. On a proposal received from Member (L&J), the DRs working in CDR's office have been made eligible to get reward up to Rs. 50,000 in each case (except where issue is already settled by S.C. or H.C.'s judgment);

7. The reward amount of Rs. 25,000 in each case can be sanctioned by jurisdictional JC/ADC; Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 by the Commissioner/ADG; and above Rs. 50,000 by the Committee consisted therefore.

All officers up to the rank of Additional Commissioners working in field formations may enjoy the new reward policy.

Received from

Com.Ravindra Mallik, SG, AIACEGEO

Fin Min mulls new intel wing to check service tax evasion

New Delhi,  April 7,  2013(PTI): Concerned over mounting cases of service tax evasion, the Government is mulling to create a separate intelligence unit to check the menace and stop leakage of revenue.

P Chidambaram proposed to introduce new intel wing to check service tax evasion.

The proposed Directorate of Anti Evasion to check service tax evasion is likely to be set up by the Finance Ministry close on the lines of two other intelligence agencies under it–Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI), official sources said.
The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has detected service tax evasion of Rs 9,800 crore during April-December period of the last fiscal (2012-13) against Rs 5,000-6,000 crore in the same period of 2011-12.
The move to form a new directorate came after rise in the number of services under the service tax ambit, they said.
“The number of services under service tax has increased significantly. There is a need to strengthen anti-evasion activities in service
tax to ensure proper compliance from service tax assessees. A separate Directorate of Anti Evasion on the lines of DRI and DGCEI for service tax may serve the purpose,” according to an official note by the Ministry.
At present, DGCEI is entrusted with the responsibilities for collecting intelligence and acting against both the central excise and service tax evaders.
Whereas, the DRI is mandated to check customs duty evasion and collection of intelligence about smuggling of contraband goods, narcotics and under-invoicing among others.
Sources said the DGCEI and DRI have been actively catching service tax, excise and customs duty evaders. However, a separate directorate may help in ensuring strict check on service tax evasion, they said.
Source: Tbksen

VIEWS ON FORMULATION OF POLICY FOR ROTATION WITHIN VIZAG ZONE

ALL THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF TIRUPATI COMMISSIONERATE ARE REQUESTED TO GIVE THEIR SUGGESTIONS TO SRI. BPK REDDY GENERAL SECRETARY ON PHONE 9849046969 BY 10.4.2013

ALERT LIST OF SUPDTS LIKELY TO BE ROTATED IN AGT 2013

Supdt Alert List (1)

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT SIMILAR LIST WILL BE PREPARED FOR VIZAG ZONE OFFICERS ALSO FOR ROTATION WITHIN ZONE ON PAR WITH HYDERABAD ZONE OFFICERS AFTER FORMULATION OF INTRA ZONAL POLICY.

To
The President/Secretary General/ Members ,
All Service Associations of CBEC

Comrade,

Sub: Agitation- gathering at Jantramantra( New Delhi) on 12.04.13.
--------------------------------------------------

The gathering at Jantaramantra, New Delhi at 10.30 hrs of 12.04.13
to march to FM House by Superintendents of Central Excise in uniform to submit representations is going to be an historic one. However it will be in the fitness of things if we can bring about a united action of all employees of Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax by joining the strike action for immediate approval of CR proposals of CBEC without cut and introduction of In-situ scheme etc..It is therefore requested to explore the possibility of all service Associations of CBEC supporting the strike action of AIACEGEO.

With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
Sd/
(LOKANATH MISHRA)
PRESIDENT , AIACEGEO
Copy to all unit Secretaries of AIACEGEO. They are requested to request all local associations to join in agitation.