Agitating ETOs of Punjab holding protest meeting on the roof top of Excise Bhawan Punjab in Mohali on July 16,2018 :
Punjab Excise Officers’ Agitation Enters Second Day, around 300 ETOs on Mass Casual Leave
Chandigarh, July 17, 2018: Around 300 Excise & Taxation Officers (ETOs) of Punjab proceeded on Mass Casual Leave on the second consecutive day today. The Mass Casual Leave protest will be continued on July 18, 2018 . These excise officers agitating to protest against the posting of probationary & very junior PCS officers as district heads and in support of their long-pending demands.
The ETO Association has expressed resentment over the appointing “very junior PCS officers” as AETCs in Amritsar, Jalandhar & Ludhiana districts. In the resolution submitted to ETC, Punjab the association had already conveyed the displeasure in light of latest posting orders of AETC’s of Jalandhar-1, Ludhiana-2 & Amritsar.
ETO Association meeting picture
The copy of the text of the memorandum submitted to the ETC by ETO Association :
The ETO association, Punjab would like to convey the displeasure to your good office in light of latest posting orders of AETC’s of Jalandhar-1, Ludhiana-2 & Amritsar.
The whole cadre is feeling short changed due to diversion from the promises made by the management regarding re-designation and restructuring. Not only these issues have been relegated to back burner but even the present status quo is not being maintained.
The post of AETC is an important cog in the management of taxes at District level. It is thus critical that a person well versed with the nuances of GST Act and Excise act be only posted on these posts so that proper tax administration can be upheld at District level. But the Association is appalled to see the post being offered to very junior PCS officers, some of whom have not even cleared their probation.
This has created a lot of heartburn in the cadre and overall morale of the officers working in the department. It is thus the demand of the cadre that PCS officers may only be posted in Administrative posts at HQ level. The PCS officers shall be able to serve better there in Administrative capacity as they are generalists. It will also be an service to them as to learn nuances of law and implementation of the same is not possible for them in capacity of AETC.
Due to inaction of government to address the important issues that are creating problems with all the cadre it has been resolved that all ETOs of Punjab shall go on mass casual leave for three days ie from 16/07/2018 to 18/07/2018.
With a great hope and confidence, we are submitting this resolution and demand letter to your high office. It is hoped that all the demands, which are just and inline with the present Tax regime, shall be met with prompt and positive action. This shall not only assuage the cadre but shall also provide a new resolve to the officers to work hard for the betterment of Department and State.
Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhatia president of the Association told Babushahi.com that these districts are very important for the department in terms of revenue collection. This is an unwise decision of the government to appoint such junior officers.
He further sad that there were some other demands of ETOs requires immediate action of the sate government. A delegation had met Excise and Taxation Commissioner Punjab and presented their charter of demands which included the pay revision of taxation officers, re-designation and restructuring of the department with parity to the central government and other states.
The association has already submitted various representations earlier on the important issues concerning the cadre and department, but no attention has been paid by the Government to the demands.
Mr. Kali Charan , vice-president of the Association said that the whole cadre is feeling short changed due to diversion from the promises made by the management regarding re-designation and restructuring also which was not fulfilled till to date. Not only these issues have been relegated to back burner but even the present status quo is not being maintained.
He said, “The post of AETC is an important cog in the management of taxes at District level. It is thus critical that a person well versed with the nuances of GST Act and Excise act be only posted on these posts so that proper tax administration can be upheld at District level. But the Association is appalled to see the post being offered to very junior PCS officers, some of whom have not even cleared their probation.”
“This has created a lot of heartburn in the cadre and overall morale of the officers working in the department. It is thus the demand of the cadre that PCS officers may only be posted in Administrative posts at HQ level. The PCS officers shall be able to serve better there in Administrative capacity as they are generalists. It will also be an service to them as to learn nuances of law and implementation of the same is not possible for them in capacity of AETC,” he added.
Mr. Bhupinder Bhatia said that they would intensify the agitation if their genuine demands were not fulfilled.