Thursday, January 26, 2017
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Dear Comrades,
Today on 25.01.2017, a meeting was held in Delhi at 11:00 Hrs at C. R. Building, New Delhi, which was termed as the “Meeting of Steering Committee of Associations of CBEC on GST, comprising of IRS Association, Supdt. Association, Inspectors’ Association and Ministerial Officers’ Association of Central Excise”. The meeting was attended by some of the members of the said committee, mostly of Delhi Units. Surprisingly as a good sign, first time the IRS (C&CE) Association officially participated in any such joint forum.
In this context, at first we want to make it clear that AICEIA is not part of this Steering Committee. However, as a token of solidarity, Delhi Circle of AICEIA participated in the meeting as joint movement is the need of hour, when the department is at risk. We appreciate the resolutions taken locally at Delhi meeting as a ground work but at the same time we make it clear that this resolution is not in consonance with the letter of AICEIA, submitted yesterday. As the view of the national bodies of all the constituents are not reflected in this resolution, we feel it will not be justifiable to go with this resolutions, if we expect a Pan-India impact. Further, after seeing the resolutions, we failed to find any logic and impact of Central Excise formations boycotting the International Customs Day Celebration. It shows that the resolution is a bit tilted one. Hence, the decisions/resolutions made in the said meeting does not hold any importance to AICEIA. Therefore, the decisions of observing (i) No Customs Day Celebration on 27th January at any place, and (ii) Observing Black Day by wearing Black Badges on 30th January on Martyr’s Day is not binding on the members of the AICEIA, posted across the country.
As we found that one of the joint conveners of the first Steering Committee (on GST) Meeting held at Utpad Shulk Bhawan, Bandra Kurla Complex on 01/10/2016 also attended the said meeting today at New Delhi, we expected a minimum courtesy from his side to inform other two joint conveners. Surprisingly, he did not inform. However, we again expect that the meeting of all principal office bearers of the national body of all the Associations of Central Excise will be held at the earliest and a strong resolution may be adopted and sent to the higher forums. Being the representative of the largest workforce of CBEC, AICEIA is committed to fight for the justice in ensuing GST regime on its own. Further, it also ensures its members as well as the entire CBEC fraternity that we will work hard to make a successful joint action committee with other organizations too and achieve the desired results.
AICEIA is making all the efforts to safeguard the interest of the cadre as well as the department in the ensuing regime of GST. We are in the process of finalizing our course of action and the suggestions have been sought. We will take appropriate decisions and intimate the cadre shortly, so that there will be unanimity and consensus in the decisions and force in the action.
Yours fraternally,
Abhishek Kamal
SG, AICEIA
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
F. No. AICEIA/GST/2017/4 Date:24.01.2017
To
Sh.
Arun Jaitley,
Union
Minister of Finance,
&
Chairman,
GST
Council, New Delhi.
Sir,
Subject: GST the biggest revolution
in Indirect Tax Administration – suggestions reg .
At very onset , we the
Inspectors’ of the Central Excise put it straight before your good office that
entire Cadre is apprehensive yet appreciative and ready for being part of the
biggest ever revolution in the Indirect Tax Administration of the Country.
A tax administration, we
understand, is as good as it reflects on the ground. It is at the ‘cutting
edge’ level, the administration is seen and assessed by the very citizen/
taxpayers. The day to day provision of service or lack of it determines how
government will be perceived. The surveys made by the independent agencies
acknowledge the fact that the lower executive formation of Central Board of Excise
& Customs are working with positive attitude .
In this long walk to GST
regime, we tried to submit our views & concerns for smooth transition
several times through our CBEC administration, but every time the ground level
sentiments were diverted with the comment that everything is in liquid state
and unless it takes some shape it is not possible to talk on administrative
part.
After the 9th
meeting of the GST Council on 16.01.2017, which placed the GST implementation
in an advanced stage, we find it as our moral responsibility to put before you
the aspects which need consideration while implementing GST. For convenience
these aspects are classified in following three categories:-
a) Issues related to the
Assessees: - Entire Tax Administration is based on the entities which are being
assessed. The decision dividing the Taxpayers’ base in asymmetric cross
sections both vertically as well as horizontally creates confusion and
inconvenience among the Taxpayers, who expected GST to provide a simplified Tax
compliance mechanism. Though actual parameters to effect such distribution is
yet to be divulged, the business entities are anxious, with multi-location
units fearing the fact that their one business vertical
may fall under Central Control whereas the other may fall under State Control,
due to this random distribution.
b)
Issues related to the Union of India: - We are proud to have the unique Federal
Structure, where co-existence and togetherness is the key. The very purpose of
GST implementation in our Country was to provide a better Fiscal Health to the Union and States as the unified system will minimize the
revenue leakage.
There is an impression in
general that this very purpose was lost midway due to conflict on control
between the Central & the State Governments.
Sir, it is felt that in the
quest to control, the GST Council missed the elementary point of Development
Economics, where division of land reduces its productivity while division of
labour increases it. If the duties
and responsibilities of Tax Administration are divided between the Centre and
States instead of Taxpayers
base the administration will be more cohesive and firm. Even this cross
administration will minimize the chances
of Revenue Leakage.
In the Global Scenario, the
economic health of the country is the strongest parameter of gradation. For
making India centre of the world, we need a strong Fiscal position which
is possible only when some controls are centralized and major policies don’t
get blocked due to regional aspirations.
c) The Executers of
transition: - The employees of Revenue Departments be it Central or State, are
the primary carrier of transition and the success of the new regime mostly
depends on their contribution. But, non-communications are creating panic among
these parts of Administration regarding their role and position in the new
regime. The Inspectors of Central Excise are the most stagnated Cadre working
under the Government of India and despite this fact they work hard and
discharge their duty with full integrity which results in Revenue Collection
more than targeted. In such a situation if the question of job security comes
even as rumor , it is sufficient to de-motivate and demoralize the Cadre and
adversely affect the transition.
Above points of concerns are
needed to be considered for successful GST implementation. We know that raising
concerns is not our only responsibility; rather suggesting way outs for
consideration also lies on us. As a responsible service association, which
desires success of Government Policies, we propose following points for consideration:-
1) Instead of dividing the
Taxpayers’ Base, functional verticals be divided between the Centre & the
States. It may be done in a manner, where all core verticals like Registration,
Assessment & Dispute Resolution etc. are put under state domain and all
peripheral verticals like Audit & Enforcement, Automation, Taxpayers’
Service & Vigilance and Training etc. are kept with the Central. The
dispute resolution function should be kept with the Centre, as the adjudication
pattern in Commercial Taxes of the states is somewhat different from what we
follow and would be in GST.
2) Apprehension in field
formations as to their role in new regime be taken seriously and requisite policies
may be framed, wherever necessary, in consultation with the staff association
3) There should be parity in
duty, responsibility, position & career prospects of the counterparts of
the Centre and State GST.
4) Inspector of Central Excise should be given with role in
GSTN module.
5) Levy of IGST should be kept under Central Control to
safeguard the federal structure.
Sir, we solicit an early
action to ensure that already agitated, stressed Central workforce are soothed
and also request your good office to give us an opportunity to be heard in
person, so that the above submissions can substantially be placed before you.
Yours
faithfully,
Abhishek Kamal
Secretary General
Monday, January 23, 2017
On 16.01.2017, the 9th meeting of GST
Council took place where the Centre and states reached a consensus on sharing
powers for control over tax payers under GST , which will now be rolled out from
July 1. The consensus was reached after the Centre almost surrendered to the
demands of states. The following major
decisions were taken at the 9th meeting of all-powerful GST Council:-
1.Under the proposed tax
regime, 90% of all assessees with a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore or less will be
assessed for scrutiny and audit by state authorities, the remaining 10% by the
Centre.
2.Assesses with a
turnover above Rs 1.5 crore, the Centre and states will assess with a 50:50
ratio.
The above decision of the GST Council is
a big blow to the existence of the CBEC.
Since, a large portion of the assessee base will go with the states, the
employee of CBEC will face greater obstacles in career headway. With this decision, it will be very difficult
for the CBEC to carry on existing posts in the new GST regime. The indifference and inactiveness of the
Board towards the career advancement of Group-B officers is not new. During the Cadre Restructuring in CBEC, 7th
CPC and thereafter, we faced a similar situation when the Board made certain
commitments and later forgotten.
Whenever, we went to the Board or Ministry
and told them our concerns about GST, we were assured better career prospects
in GST era and we were told not to protest since all grievances/suggestions of
the AICEIA will be taken care of. But at
this present juncture, we feel betrayed.
The lack of unity and understanding among the Associations of Central
Excise Department also played a key role in it.
Dear comrades, we will not achieve
anything till we fight tooth and nail, this is reality. We will have to fight without any fear. When our career is at stake, no option
left. We have nothing to lose and little time in
our hand, we should start preparing for final fight so that we may survive with
dignity. We are assessing the impact of
the decision and finding the avenues where we can get benefited. Moreover, we are also assessing whether going
on strike will yield result or not. All
options are open. All office bearers
and members across the country are requested to stay prepared for the call of
AICEIA. Meanwhile, in case, any member
has anything to suggest, please send us on our email id- sgaiceia@gmail.com.
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