NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CIVIL ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATIONS

Represented By

All India Civil Accounts Employees Association

(RECOGNISED BY GOVT. OF INDIA)

CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS: NEW DELHI

All India Civil Accounts Employees Association Category -II

CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS: COCHIN

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Central Office: -                                                                                             Address for Communication:-

16-A, Akbar Road Hutments,                                                                                   17/2 – C, P & T Quarters,

New Delhi: - 110011                                                                                                                Kali Bari Marg,

                                                                                                                                           New Delhi-110001

No. NFCAA/HQ/A-1/Cir-14/2016                                                                                             Dated: 20.08.2016

To,

            All Federal Executive Members,

            All Women Committee Members,

All Branch Secretaries of AICAEA & AICAEA Cat- II

Dear Comrades,

            A meeting of the available Federal Executive members and delegates for the 25th All India Conference of Confederation of Central Government of Employees and workers was held in Chennai on 17^th & 18^th August, 2016. Com. G.K. Nair, President, Com. V.Bhattacharjee, Secretary General, NFCAA, Com. Shantanu Bhattacharjee, President, Com. B. Sitaram, Vice President, Com. Ravi Shankar Tank, Com. A. Balasubramanian, Com. P.K. Gopi, Com. K.M. Moundekar, Asstt. Secretary Generals, AICAEA, Com. Smti. Kamlesh Kumari, Vice Chairperson, National Women Committee, Com. Smti. Barnali Dalui, Convener, Com. Smti. Aparajita Roy Choudhury, National Women Committee, NFCAA, Com. M.S. Manivasan, Finance Secretary, Com. Amal Sule, Asstt. Secretary General, AICAEA Cat-II, Com. Harbans Lal, Branch Secretary, Com. K.K. Yadav, Addl. Branch Secretary, AICAEA, Delhi Branch, Com. R.D. Fanibhare, Branch Secretary, AICAEA, Nagpur Branch attended the meeting.

Following are the decisions of the meeting:-

1.         Approach of NFCAA towards 25^th AIC of Confederation:-

            The meeting deliberated on the report of the Secretary General and Audited Accounts report of confederation. The meeting made some observation on these reports.

            Further, the meeting also discussed the letter issued to Central Headquarters of AICAEA by the West Bengal Branch regarding functions of Confederation.

            After detailed discussion, it was decided by the meeting that, in addition to the report of Secretary General and Audited Accounts reports, representatives of AICAEA and AICAEA Cat-II shall also raise other issues raised by the West Bengal Branch. It was also decided that Com. A. Balasubramaniam shall speak on behalf of AICAEA and Com. Amal Sule shall speak on behalf of AICAEA Cat-II.

            Accordingly, these two Comrades presented the views of affiliates of NFCAA in the 25^th All India Conference of Confederation. Their presentations were very effective and appreciable. Finally 3 representatives from NFCAA has been accommodated in the newly elected committee of confederation. They are Com. V.Bhattacharjee, Finance Secretary, Com. Shantanu Bhattacharjee and Com. G.K. Nair, Organizing Secretaries.

2.         Implementation of call of strike on 2^nd September, 2016:-

            The meeting endorsed the call of strike given by the Central Trade Unions and all independent federations including the confederation of Central Government Employees and workers on 2^nd September, 2016 and appealed upon all the Civil Accounts Employees to participate and make the strike a grand success in Civil Accounts Organization.

The meeting also reiterated the following:-

i)        No apex level office bearer including the Women Committee members shall skip the strike at any cost.

ii)      As per the strike tour programme circulated through the earlier circular dated 13.08.2016 all concerned should visit the units/stations allocated to them.

iii)    Branches shall send the strike intimation on 23^rd August 2016 to all local authorities as per circular dated 13.08.2016.

3.         Attack on members of PAOs, Central Excise Jaipur and Madurai:-

            The meeting took the stock of the situation and observed certain positive developments. CGA has intervened effectively and asked Pr. CCA, CBEC to settle the problems in both the offices. Pr. CCA, CBEC met the delegation of Delhi based office bearers of AICAEA on 9^th August 2016 and ordered for payment of salary of Com. Velapathy Pandian of Madurai. Com. Velapathy Pandian was not paid salary for more than two months.

            After detailed discussion, the meeting passed a resolution and forwarded it to all concerned. The copy of the resolution is annexed to this circular.

            It has however, been decided that, if no effective measure to resolve the problems in Jaipur and Madurai are taken by the authorities within reasonable period of time, the Federation Headquarters shall review the situation and take decision on next cause of action.

4.         7^th CPC related issues:- Pay Scales of Civil Accounts Cadres:-

            CGA vide an OM dated 10.08.2016 issued orders prescribing the revised Pay Scales applicable to different cadres after implementation of 7^th CPC report. However, the Central Headquarters of AICAEA vide its letter dated 14^th August 2016 raised the demand of granting higher pay scales to the cadres like AAO, Sr. Acctt, Private Secretary and Sr. Private Secretary etc. The copy of the letter has already been circulated/posted in website.

            The meeting directed federation headquarters to continue persuasion of the demands raised.

5.         Status of Cadre review:-

            The status of the demand of Cadre Review was also reviewed by the meeting. It was reported in the meeting that the authorities have decided to finalize the proposal of cadre review and recommended to the higher authorities.

            In view of this, meeting directed Secretary General to ascertain the latest position of the demand and take necessary action as per the need of the situation.

6.         Organizational review:-

            The meeting also reviewed the position of the organization. It has been observed that, though the AICAEA, Gujrat Branch and Rajasthan Branch have held their Conferences, but many units and Branches are yet to hold their conferences. Membership Subscription from some members/Units of both AICAEA and AICAEA Cat-II are long due. Such a situation has been causing impediment in functions of the organization. Moreover, due to shortage of fund, Branches and Units are suffering and they are unable to function up to the expectation of the members.

            The meeting after examining all aspects made following appeal to the members:-

1.      Strengthen the organization through democratic exercises – hold conferences of Branches and units.

2.      Ensure deduction of membership subscription so that recognition and the seats in the National Council JCM and Department Council JCM could be retained by the Association.

3.      Contribute Rs:- 200/- (Rupees two hundred only) as special contribution from arrears of 7^th CPC for stabilization of the fund position of Branches, Central Headquarters and Federation Headquarters. The amount would be equally shared by Branches and Central Headquarters @ Rs:- 100/- (Rupees one hundred only) per member. However, Branches may take their own decision for raising more fund if they decide so.

            The meeting was declared over after the above discussions were over.

With warm greetings,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

(V.Bhattacharjee)

Secretary General

RESOLUTION

          This meeting of the available Federal Executive members of National Federation of Civil Accounts Associations represented by the All India Civil Accounts Employees Association and the All India Civil Accounts Employees Association Category-II held today i.e. 18^th August 2016 in Chennai deliberated on the up-to-date situations  in PAO, Central Excise, Jaipur and PAO, Central Excise, Madurai.

          The meeting is very happy to note that the Controller General of Accounts was kind enough to intervene into the state of affairs of the Pay and Accounts offices of CBEC, Jaipur and Madurai. His office on the whole has sought an effective intervention of Pr. CCA, CBEC for settlement of situation arisen in both the offices. The meeting therefore, conveys it’s sincere thanks to the Controller General of Accounts and all other officers of his office.

          The meeting is also happy to note that, the Pr. CCA, CBEC had personally interacted with the Delhi based representatives of the Association on 9^th August 2016 and agreed to respond positively. She had instantly instructed her administration to release of salary of the official transferred from Madurai to out of station and not paid salary by the PAO, CBEC, Madurai for two and a half months. The meeting therefore, conveys it’s thanks to the Principal CCA, CBEC for the sympathetic and humanitarian action taken by her. 

          The meeting however, observed that the administration of the Pr. CCA, CBEC has not taken any tangible step to settle the situation prevailing in PAO, Central Excise, Jaipur for last six months. Though the fact of the incidents and grievances of the employees had been systematically brought to the notice of the authorities by the Unit, Branch and Central Headquarters of the Association respectively but administration of the Pr. CCA, CBEC has been trying to process the so called inquiry against the grievances of employees by ignoring the Association and official procedure. Not only this, the administration is creating pressure on the individual employees in different forms which are nothing but attempts of drifting the focus of the issue to a different direction.

          As regards the situation prevailing in PAO, Central Excise, Madurai, the meeting of the Federal Executives examined the reporting of the meeting held on 9^th August 2016 in Delhi between the Pr. CBEC and the Delhi based representatives of the Association and also the subsequent discussion held in the informal meeting on 17^th of August 2017 between the Dy.CA, CBEC, South Zone, Chennai  and the  delegation of  National Federation of Civil Accounts Associations composed of Shri S. Bhattacharjee, President, Shri B. Sitaram, Vice President, Shri V. Bhattacharjee, Secretary General, Shri A. Balasubramaniam, Asstt. Secretary General, AICAEA, Shri G. K. Nair, Secretary General and Shri. M.S. Manivasan, Finance Secretary, AICAEACAT II. It was clearly evident before the meeting of the federal executive that the situation in Madurai was created due to the direct nexus between AO of PAO, Central Excise, Madurai and the administration of Principal CCA, CBEC. The PAO of Central Excise, Madurai being occupied with vested interests has been pouring in false and fictitious reports about the staff position to the administration of Pr. CCA, CBEC. Reportedly, he had gone to the extent of manipulating the seniority of the employees of his office and sending false work allocation reports to the office of the Pr.CCA, CBEC. On the other hand, the administration of the Pr. CCA, CBEC also kept various informations and reporting of the zonal head of the south zone  away from the notice of  higher authorities i.e. Pr. CCA, CBEC. It was extremely surprising for the meeting of the federal executives to find that the representation of the individual who had been transferred vindictively from Madurai was forwarded by the Dy. CA. CBEC South Zone, Chennai, but it was not placed for consideration of Pr. CCA, CBEC for nearly two months by her administration. The fact of submission of representation by the affected official concerned and its forwarding to the office of the Pr. CCA, CBEC by the Dy.CA, CBEC, South Zone, Chennai came to surface on 9^th August 2016 when the representatives of the Association reported the matter to the Pr. CCA, CBEC.

          This meeting therefore, deplores the activities of the local administrations of PAOs of Central Excise, Jaipur and Madurai and also the actions of the administration of the Pr. CCA, CBEC as they are responsible for creating turmoil in the offices by handling the issues without following the measures laid down by the government of India and by not keeping the senior authorities i.e. Pr. CCA, CBEC and the CGA properly informed.

          Considering the gravity of the situation emerged as an outcome of the above discussion, the meeting resolved to urge upon the Principal Chief Controller of Accounts, CBEC and the Controller General of Accounts to kindly intervene personally and settle the stalemate in PAO, Central Excise, Jaipur and PAO, Central Excise, Madurai at the earliest.

          The meeting also resolves that the Resolution adopted shall be forwarded to the Controller General of Accounts and the Principal Chief Controller of Accounts, Central Board of Excise and Customs and all others concerned.

 (G.K.NAIR)

PRESIDENT

                            

AICAEA LETTER TO CGA FOR GRANT OF APPROPRIATE REPLACEMENT PAY LEVEL TO THE EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS OF CIVIL ACCOUNTS ORGANIZATION 

All India Civil Accounts Employees Association

(RECOGNIZED BY GOVT. OF INDIA)

Central Headquarters

Phone No. 011-23345070, Mob. No. 9868520926 e-mail:- aicaeachq@gmail.com

Central Office: -                                                                                 Address for Communication:

16-A, Akbar Road Hutments,                                                                             17/2 – C, P & T Quarters,

New Delhi: - 110011                                                                                                  Kali Bari Marg,

New Delhi-110001

No: AICAEA/HQ/A-2/7^TH CPC/847-878                                                             Dated: 14.08.2016

To,

            Shri M.J.Joseph,

Controller General of Accounts,

            Ministry of Finance,

            Department of Expenditure,

            Loknayak Bhawan,

            Khan Market,

            New Delhi - 110003

Subject:- Implementation of recommendations of the 7^th CPC – grant of appropriate replacement pay level to the employees and officers of Civil Accounts organization – regarding.

Sir,

I have been directed to refer the Office Memorandum No.A-60015/1/2014/MF. CGA (A)/NGE/7^th CPC/214 dated 10^th August 2016 of your office with regard to the pay scales prescribed by your office in respect of different Cadres of Civil Accounts Organization and state that, as per Gazette Notification G.S.R.721 (E) dated 26^th July 2016, following pay level of the pay matrix shall be the revised pay consequent on implementation of the recommendations of the 7CPC in respect of the posts mentioned below-

		Existing		Revised
Sl No.	Post	As per 6th CPC		As per 7th CPC
		Pay Band	Grade pay	Pay Level(Matrix)
1	Senior Accountant	PB-2(9300- 34800)	4200	Level 7
2	Stenographer Gr.II&I( Merged)	PB-2(9300- 34800)	4200	Level 6
4	Private Secretary	PB-2(9300- 34800)	4600	Level 8 Level 9 after completion of 4 years
5	Sr.Private Secretary	PB-2(9300- 34800)	4800 &  after 4 years5400	Level 12
6.	Assistant Accounts Officer	PB-2(9300- 34800)	4800	Level 8 Level 9 After completion of 4 years

In support of our above claim, we are annexing herewith separate detailed notes as ANNEXURE- I and ANNEXURE-II for your perusal and necessary action. Necessary orders granting revised pay scales in respect of above cadres may kindly be issued at an early date.

Further, the revised pay scales applicable to the cadres like Junior Hindi Translator, Hindi Translator and Canteen employees have not been indicated in the above mentioned O.M. issued by your office. Therefore, necessary orders indicating the revised pay level of the Pay Matrix applicable to these categories of employees may kindly be issued.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Enclo: as above

(V.BHATTACHARJEE)

Secretary General

ANNEXURE -I

NOTE ON THE PAY SCALES APPLICABLE TO SENIOR ACCOUNTANT AND STENOGRAPHER CADRES OF CIVIL ACCOUNTS ORGANIZATION                                                                                                               IN TERMS OF THE GOVT. OF INDIA NOTIFICATION DATED 26^TH JULY 2016 ON 7CPC RECOMMENDATIONS

            7^th CPC, had discussed the parity of Pay scales with Assistance of CSS and Senior Accountants/Auditors elaborately in the Chapters on “Organized Accounts Staff” in para 11.12. 136 and gave its recommended in para 11.12.137 wherein it has also made recommendations in respect of different categories of Stenographers. Those are as below-

11.12.136 In 1984, the government bifurcated the Audit cadre of IA&AD into Auditors (20percent) and Senior Auditors (80 percent) and granted the pay scale of Assistant of CSS to Senior Auditors. The IV CPC, had, after above consideration, taken the view that there should be broad parity in the pay scales of the staff in IA&AD and other accounts organisations. The recommendation of IV CPC was accepted by the government and implemented w.e.f.01.01.1986 for audit and from 1 April, 1987 for accounts in case of IA&AD and other Accounts Departments and Senior Auditors has been given same pay scale of Assistant of CSS.

Analysis and Recommendations

11.12.137 The Commission, in Chapter 7.1, has already taken a view with regard to pay level of Assistants of CSS. The recommendation there in will settle the parities as have been sought to be established. “

The Commission in the para 7.1.4 J) stated the following:-

7.1.4 j)    Issue of parity of field functionaries with the Assistants of the CSS: It has been demanded that CSS be allowed to retain an ‘edge’ over other services or posts which have claimed parity with CSS. It has been argued by the CSS that parity among various posts and services is to be considered on long established principles of classification of posts, duties and responsibilities, their hierarchical structure, historical parity, mode of recruitment as well as minimum qualification for recruitment at entry level as well as level. Historically, various services in the Secretariat have had an edge over analogous posts in the field offices. The CSS has, in its memorandum, demanded that this edge over other services be retained. This has been justified on various grounds, key amongst which is that office staff in the Secretariat perform complex duties and are involved in analysing issues with policy implications whereas their counter parts in field offices perform routine work relating to matters concerning personnel and general admini-stration, and so on. Apart from retention of the edge, the CSS memorandum also seeks a change in the mode of recruitment. It has been argued that up until 1987, directly recruited Assistants of the CSS were selected through an examination conducted by the UPSC and other categories of employees falling under Group `C’ were recruited through the Staff Selection Commission [SSC]. In 1987, recruitment of Assistants to the CSS was also brought under the SSC and is now carried out through a common examination called the Combined Graduate Level Exam (CGLE) and an All India Merit List.

Analysis and Recommendations

The VI CPC had gone into this issue in considerable detail. It had noted that while at an earlier point in time it may well have been the case that those in the Secretariat ended up performing more complex duties relating to policy formulation, but over a period of time things had changed. It had noted that there was an increasing emphasis on strengthening the delivery lines and with growing decentralization, the importance of delivery points in the field cannot be understated. Therefore, in its view, the time had come to grant parity between similarly placed personnel employed in field offices and in the Secretariat and that this parity would need to be absolute till the grade of Assistant. The VI CPC had noted that beyond this, it would not be possible or even justified to grant complete parity because the hierarchy and career progression would need to be different. Although the recommendation of the VI CPC was accepted in the first instance, a year down the line the Grade Pay of Assistants was increased from Rs.4200 to Rs.4600, thereby squarely going back to the original position in which the Assistants in the Headquarters resided at one level higher than those in the field. In fact this latest modification follows a consistent pattern seen over the decades. This is elucidated in the table below:

Table 1: Upgradation of Pay of Assistant over Successive Pay Commissions
Post: Assistant	Pay Scale as Initially Recommended		Pay Scale as Revised by Government
	Date	Scale	Dates (when issued and when effective)	Scale
IV CPC	1.1.1986	1400-2660	31.7.90, but effective from 1.1.86	1640-2900
V CPC	1.1.1996	5500-9000	25.9.2006. effective from 15.9.2006	6500-10500
VI CPC	1.1.2006	GP 4200	August 2008, but effective from 1.1.2006	GP 4600

It may be seen from the above table that the recommendations of successive Pay Commissions with regard to pay of Assistants, even if initially implemented, has invariably been modified at a later point and they have been placed at one higher level. As a corollary to this, the level of Section Officers also is at one level higher than that of SOs in the field.

While notifying the most recent upgrade in August 2008, the order states that the Assistants in Headquarters are required to be at a higher level since “there is an element of direct recruitment in their case and that too, through an all-India Competitive Examination.”

The Commission notes that certain inherent contradictions prevail. The first relates to the Common Grade Level Examination (CGLE) through which selections are carried out by the SSC for a range of positions, at varying levels of grade pay. No doubt the examination process is a graded one, with applicants for certain positions having to undergo two written examinations as well as an interview and for certain other positions only two written examinations. But in the case of Assistants for CSS and Assistants for certain other organisations, the examination process is common although the grade pay for the two sets are different. This then brings about a situation where those with lower grade pay continuously demand parity with the others while those with higher grade pay seek to set themselves apart. The categorical observations of the VI CPC that the time had come to grant parity between similarly placed personnel employed in the field offices and in the Secretariat are echoed by this Commission, which sees merit in placing all Assistants recruited through the CGLE, whether working in the field offices or in headquarters, at the same level.

The Commission accordingly strongly recommends parity in pay between the field staff and headquarter staff up to the rank of Assistants on two grounds- firstly the field staff are recruited through the same examination and they follow the same rigour as the Assistants of CSS and secondly there is no difference in the nature of functions discharged by both. Therefore to bring in parity as envisaged by the VI CPC, this Commission recommends bringing the level of Assistants of CSS at par with those in the field offices who are presently drawing GP 4200. Accordingly, in the new pay matrix the Assistants of both Headquarters as well as field will come to lie in Level 6 in the pay matrix corresponding to pre revised GP 4200 and pay fixed accordingly. Similarly the corresponding posts in the Stenographers cadre will also follow similar pay parity between field and headquarter staff. The pay of those Assistants/Stenographer who have in the past, been given higher Grade pay would be protected.

           Therefore, 7th CPC vide para No 11.12.137[read with para No. 7.1.4 J)]  has recommen-ded for parity between the Assistants of Central Secretariat and the Senior Accountants of organized Accounts  in order to remove the disturbance arose due to upgradation of the Grade pay of the former to Rs. 4600 in August 2008 retrospectively with effect from1.1.2006.

            Similarly, the corresponding posts in the Stenographers cadre also have been recommended by the 7^th CPC for granting parity with their counterpart in Central Secretariat through the treatment of upgradation.

              As per paras 10 and 11 of the Gazette Notification G.S.R.721 (E) dated 26^th July 2016, Government has accepted the recommendations of the 7^th Pay Commission on upgrading of posts except for those specified at Annexure III of the said notification and concurrently rejected the recommendations of the Commission on downgrading of posts of Assistants to the Grade Pay of Rs. 4200(pre-revised).

            Therefore, consequent on the implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations, the revised the pay scales of following categories of employees of Organized Accounts shall be as below:-

1.       Senior Accountant                                         Pay level 7.

2.       Stengrapher Gr.II&I( Merged)                       Pay  Level 6

3.       Private Secretary                                           Pay Level -8 Level 9 After completion of 4 years   

4.       Sr.Private Secretary                                       Pay Level 12

            Controller General of Accounts is therefore, requested kindly to issue the OM in partial modification of the OM. No.A-60015/1/2014/MF. CGA (A)/NGE/7^th CPC/214 dated 10^th August 2016.

ANNEXURE -II

NOTE ON THE PAY SCALES APPLICABLE TO ASSISTANT ACCOUNTS OFFICERS OF CIVIL ACCOUNTS ORGANIZATION

IN TERMS OF  THE GOVT. OF INDIA  NOTIFICATION DATED 26^TH JULY 2016 ON 7CPC RECOMMENDATIONS

            7^th CPC  has discussed the parity of Pay scales with Section  officers of CSS  and Assistant Accounts Officers elaborately in the Chapters relating to Organized Accounts Staff in para 11.12. 138 and gave its recommendations in paras 11.12.139 and 11.12.140. Those are as below-,

Assistant Accounts Officers

11.12.138  They have contended that the existing parity between Assistant Account Officer(AAO) of organised accounts cadre and Section Officers of CSS was disturbed by granting Non Functional upgradation to GP 5400 (PB-3) after four years of service to the latter. They have stated that in the original scheme of things, Section Officer(A)/ Assistant Accounts Officer of organised accounts were also included for non functional upgradation to GP 5400(PB-3) after four years as evident from English release dated 14 August, 2008 of Press Information Bureau. Para 10 (v) of this English release reads “Government has continued the present position of granting Group `A’ scale to Group `B’ officers after 4 years of service and these officers would be placed in PB-3 instead of PB-2 recommended by the VI CPC. This would benefit Group `B’ officers of the Railways, Accounts Services, CSS, CSSS and DANICS and DANIPS.”

Analysis and Recommendations

11.12.139 The Commission notes that non-functional upgradation from GP 4800 to GP 540(PB-3), on completion of four years of service, has been accorded to a number of posts by the government in 2008 viz., Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service, Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service, Officers of the Central Secretariat Service and those of Central Secretariat Stenographers Service as well as other similarly placed Headquarters Services. This has also been extended to Group `B’ Officers of the Departments of Posts and Revenue. While extending this benefit, officers in GP 4800, both in Headquarters and in the field formations of these two organisations have been covered. In 2015, this benefit was also extended to Section Officers in the Indian Coast Guard.

11.12.140 The Commission is therefore of the view that there is no justification for excluding officers in the organised accounting departments who are at GP 4800 from this dispensation. It therefore recommends that all officers in organised accounts cadres (in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, Defence Accounts Department, Indian Civil Accounts Organisation, Railways, Post and Telecommunications) who are in GP 4800 should be upgraded, on completion of four years’ service to GP 5400 (PB-2), viz., Pay level 9, in the pay matrix.

            Therefore, consequent on the implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations, the revised pay scale of Assistant Accounts Officers of the organized Accounts shall be Pay level 8 and Level 9 after completion of 4 years (of the Matrix) and Controller General of Accounts may kindly take up the matter with the DOPT and issue the OM in partial modification of the OM. No.A-60015/1/2014/MF. CGA (A)/NGE/7^th CPC/214 dated 10^th August 2016.