Central Excise officers complain lack of career prospect, to perform "Satyagraha"

The Association of Central Excise officers has written a letter to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley complaining about the lack of career growth options available to them besides salary issues.

Ravi Malik, Secretary General, All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers, in his letter, said that there was no change in the scenario regarding the career prospects, pay matters or any other service matter of the Central Excise Superintendents despite of the revenue targets being regularly achieved.

"These officers are forced to retire at a PB2 post with only single promotion in the career after joining as Inspector whereas their counterparts are easily enjoying PB4 levels after getting 5-6 promotions," Malik said.

The Central Excise Superintendents are getting promotion (if any) merely to Junior Time Scale while their counterparts of CPWD, CSS, CSSS, AFHQS, Railway Board, UPSC, CVC, MEA, MPA, RajyaSabha Secretariat & many others like Administrative Services, Police Services, Forest Services, Engineering Services, State Services etc. to Senior Time Scale," he added.

Expressing his disappointment with the pay commission, he said that their demands were rejected on account of not being recommended by the department.

"Thus, our own department is working against us whereas the concerned department is able to get higher pay scales and other benefits for the officials of CBI etc. even without any recommendation from the pay commission. Our poor officers are even forced to work under the extreme juniors of Customs belonging to the same cadre," he said.

He said that they would go on a 'Satyagraha' on January 17 to draw the attention of the government to their demands.

"Under the prevailing circumstances, we have no option other than to observe '51 programme' under Satyagraha by going to the residence of the Member (P&V) of CBEC in Delhi and concerned cadre controlling authorities in field formations throughout the country in limited number on 17.01.16 (Sunday) as next step requesting for due pay scale, immediate DPC for the post of Asstt. Commissioner and taking concrete measures to retire all of our officers also in PB4" he added.

They have also submitted their charter of demands along with the letter.