INCOME TAX EMPLOYEES FEDERATION, MUMBAI CIRCLE
Dated:
1.11.2011
Dear
Comrades,
A broad look at the issues delaying promotions and the stand of ITEF
Many
of Our members are waiting for their long over due promotions and there seems
to be no end to their wait with the never ending litigations. Through this
circular our endevour is to place before our members in correct perspective the
chronology of events, the stand of the ITEF and efforts made to overcome the
situation created by the court cases so as to have a clear idea of the
situation in which we are placed today.
As you are aware the Mumbai CAT through its
order in the month of January, 2011, directed the department to implement the OM dated 10.8.2010 within 4 months and stayed all
promotions till then. On the issue of
consideration zone CAT also stayed the promotion for 29 vacancies of ITO.
However, the Board issued a circular and clarified that the OM
of August, 2010 is not applicable to Income Tax Department against which a
fresh OA was filed in Mumbai CAT in the month of March. In the meanwhile after
consistant pressure put by the ITEF the Mumbai administration filed MA for
vacation of stay in the month of May. The CAT however ruled that vacation of
stay is not required as the case is in the final stage of hearing. In the month
of July, 2011 the hearing in the Original appeal was completed and CAT, Mumbai
reserved the order and hence the stay continued.
In the meanwhile, the Federation demanded
that ad-hoc promotions should be issued in the post of ITO in the light of the
ongoing litigations and stay on promotions. However, inspite of series of
negotiations, the administration was reluctant to accept our suggestion. In the
light of the negative attitude of the
Mumbai admn. the ITEF decided to embark on agitation from
the month of July, 2011 along with other 14-point demands. The Mumbai CCIT
referred the matter to the CBDT even though the Federation was of the view that
this was unnecessary. However, after the
agitation was commenced the admn. deputed officers to get a direction from the
CBDT for effecting ad-hoc promotions. In the background of the agitation the
CCIT had a full- fledged meeting with the Federation representatives on 4th
August, 2011. In the meeting it was informed that the admn. has got a
favourable legal opinion and the CBDT has also approved the proposal for ad-hoc
promotion to the post of ITO and on other issues too the outcome was positive.
You may recall that on the basis of this development the agitation was called
off in the month of August.
However, when the department was in the
process of going ahead with effecting ad-hoc promotions the CAT, Mumbai
delivered its judgment in August itself directing the department to implement
the OM within 2 months and avoid further promotions till then, bringing to naught our efforts to get at least ad-hoc
promotions to the cadre of ITO.
We have always been taking the consistent
stand that all vacancies should be filled up whatever way the department feel
it can be done as per the rules. When the CAT decision came our efforts was to
ensure that the implementation of OM from 1997
was expedited. In this regard we met the CCIT on various occasions and
suggested that additional man power may be posted in the office of
Addl.CIT(HQ)Pers. so that the data from 1997 to 2001 can be prepared as the
data from 2002 to 2007 was already available. By the time the addlCIT(HQ)pers. was in the final stages of compilation of the data another development
in the form of the Judgement of Punjab & Haryana High Court came. The Punjab & Haryana High Court quashed
the OM dated 10.8.2010. When we met the CCIT after this development
there seems to be no clear stand on the issue. The CCIT was of the view that
since it was having an all India
Since no direction was forthcoming from the
CBDT, we requested to the CCIT to go ahead with the implementation of OM as per the CAT, Mumbai direction so that promotions
can take place. Subsequently, the data was finalized by the Addl.CIT(HQ)Pers
and given to the Addl.CIT(HQ)Admn. Office.
In the meanwhile, the Board directed the Mumbai CCIT to challenge the
penalty imposed by CAT in the High Court after taking legal opinion. The dept.
counsel gave opinion to challenge the CAT order in toto.
In view of this development in the month of October, 2011, as per the direction of the CBDT the Mumbai CCIT filed a Writ Petition in the Mumbai High Court challenging the order of CAT, Mumbai and the admn. seems to be going slow on the issue of implementation of the CAT order. The ITEF on the basis of our understanding of the situation, through a letter demanded that the promotions should be effected either by implementing the OM or holding regular DPC in par with promotions effected during the last 3 years on which there was no dispute. We had also given an ultimatum to the CCIT, Mumbai to issue promotion in all cadres before 31.10.2011 failing which we will be forced to go on agitation from the 1st of Novemer. The CCIT in turn assured us that promotion orders will be issued before Diwali.
However, in a surprise development another
stay order on promotions came from the CAT on 21.10.2011. But the DPC for
promotions for the post of LDC, NS, DB, Peon, SCD etc had already taken place
on 20.10.2011. But uncertainty prevailed over the promotion to the post of
Inspector etc eventhough the DPC meeting was to take place on 24.10.2011. The
Federation had a clear-cut view on this issue which was conveyed to the
Addl.CIT(HQ)Pers. and we are happy that the admn. has held DPC and issued
promotion order to the post of Inspector today (1.11.2011.) We are of the
considered opinion that bringing stay on promotions is un-called for as it will
have adverse affect on the career advancement of our members only. Moreover,
any judicial pronouncement can be implemented at any point of time by holding
review-DPC. In the present scenario this legal battle may prolong and settle
only in the Supreme Court and the ITEF cannot subscribe to the stand that till
such time no promotion should take place.
The
Admn. filed MA before the CAT for vacating the stay on promotion on the same day i.e. 21.10.2011
which was fixed for hearing on 31.10.2011. However, the matter was subsequently
adjourned for 14.11.2011. The writ filed by the department is also coming up
for hearing in the Mumbai High court on 8.11.2011. This is as far as the legal
developments are concerned.
From the above it can be seen that the ITEF
has taken a consistent and principled stand on the issue of promotions that
promotion should be effected in time and as per rules. We have always tried to
take all sections of our members along in the struggle we waged till date. The
promotion is an issue of importance for the members waiting for their
promotions for years, irrespective of which region, religion etc they belong.
However it must be understood that this is only a passing phase. The regular
promotion every year brings relief to a limited number of people. As happened in 2001, if today the situation
has to undergo a change and bring about large scale promotions, it can only be
achieved through the cadre restructuring which is still pending with the
Govt. The cadre restructuring is
expected to create large number of posts triggering promotions which can wipe out the long waiting lists. In order to
achieve this task we have to have strong organization and a sustained and
militant struggle in the days to come.
Therefore, we caution all our members to
guard against elements that are waiting for an opportunity to disrupt our
Unity. ITEF is not a one issue organization. We have many issues concerning our
members that calls for sustained struggles. A strong and united organization
alone can spearhead the struggle in the coming days for a better career in the
department. The endeavor of each and every one of us in this situation is not
to be carried away by misinformation campaign being spread by vested elements,
but stand united beyond caste, creed, religion and region under the banner of
Income Tax Employees Federation which alone can take you to a better future. In
conclusion we can assure you that our efforts for getting promotions and other
issues achieved will continue in right earnest. We seek the co-operation and
support of each and every member of our Federation so that we can succeed and
march forward unitedly with resolute determination to win many more battles
ahead.
With
greetings,
Yours
fraternally,
Ravindran B Nair)
General
Secretary.
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