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Inspectors and Superintendents of Central Excise
and Customs are the backbone of the Central
Board of Excise & Customs. From the day one they
are a neglected lot. The Board is not at all giving
proper and much needed support to promote this
cadre.
The Inspector of Central Bureau of Investigation is
doing a good job and the 4th Pay commission has
recognized this by recommending a Basic Pay of
Rs.2000/- for them. Whereas, the Inspector of
Central Excise, an equivalent grade, was left at a
lower level with Rs.1640/- basic pay. Inspector of
Central Excise will definitely do wonderful job more
than their counter part in the CBI. At times they
have to be Cost Accountant, Chartered Accountant,
Engineer, Chemist, Biologist, Economist, etc., to
understand the problem and analyse them for
assessment, clearance, adjudication et al.
Later on the Government recognized this fact and
brought them also to the same pay scale but
prospectively from April 21, 2004, but the purpose
has not been served. There is a clear-cut disparity
among Inspector of CBI of 1996 batch with that of
Inspector of Central Excise. The Pay of Inspector
Central Excise after the latest revision is not the
same as that of their counter part at CBI.
Further, 1992 batch Inspectors whose increment
fell in the month of January, February, March and
April were deprived of their due share. After 1st
ACP they had already got the said scale in 2004
January, February, March and April itself. So when
the notification was issued for revision of pay scale
to Rs.7500-250-12000, as it was not given
retrospective effect their pay remained the same.
Whereas the juniors of 1992 Batch Inspectors
whose increment fell in the month of May and
thereafter, because of higher pay scale attached to
the Superintendent grade, got their pay fixed at
levels higher than 1992 batch Inspectors whose
increment fell in January, February, March and
April. This is illustrated below:

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Date of
Joining 11.03.1992 16.06.1992
01.02. Pay : 7075 ± Scale of Pay: Pay : 7075 ± Scale of Pay:
04 5500-175-9000 5500-175-9000
One
increment
01.03. (Rs. 175/-)
04 given Pay: 7250/- Pay : 7075/-
11.03. A.C.P given 7250+175=7425 Pay :
04 upgraded (notional pay) as 7075/-
to Pay per FR.
Scale of 22(1)(a)(i) pay
6500-200- fixed at Rs.
10500 7500/- (the
stage next
above the
notional pay)
Replaced to
the pay
scale of Rs.
7500-250- Replaced
12000 to the
without pay scale
any of 6500-
incremental 200-
21.04.04 benefit. Pay: 7500/- 10500 Pay:7100/-
One
increment
(Rs.
200/-)
01.06.04 Pay: 7500/- given Pay:7300/-
A.C.P 7300+200=7500
given (notional pay)As
upgraded per
to Pay FR.22(1)(a)(i)Pay
Scale of fixed at
Rs. 7500- Rs.7750/- (the
250- stage next above
16.06.04 Pay: 7500/- 12000 the notional pay)
01.06.05 Pay: 7750/- Pay: 8000/-

When this anomaly is bought to the notice of the

department, the department showed DOPT norm
that no disparity in pay will be accepted if it is
because of ACP. They have not observed the
ground reality that the pay scales for next
upgraded post were different for 1992 batch up to
21.04.2004 (it was 6500-200-10500) and their
juniors at the time of ACP (it was Rs.7500-250-
12000).
Now 6th Pay Commission is implemented. Here
also there is a step-motherly treatment for
Department of Revenue. There is anomaly in the
pay of Superintendent of Customs & Central Excise
in the 6th Pay Commission report revised by the
cabinet committee.
There is a disparity between Superintendents of
Customs & Central Excise with other cadres which
is illustrated in brief as follows:


 
&

$

%









8000-
13500
Grade
Section officer pay of
/PS/equivalent of Staff 6500- 7500-12000 grade 5400
1. in the secretariat 10500 pay of 4800 PB-3
8000-
13500
Section Officer Grade
(excluded) Ministry of pay of
finance Department of 7450- 7500-12000 grade 5400
2. Economic affairs 11500 pay of 4800 PB-3
Entry Grade in 8000-
DANICS DANIPS, 13500
Pondicherry Civil Grade
service and pay of
Pondicherry Police 6500- 7500-12000 grade 5400
3. Service 10500 pay of 4800 PB-3
 Assistant Nursing
Superintendent, 6500- 8000-13500,
Deputy Nursing 10500, 8000-13500 and
Superintendent and 7500- 10000-15200 with
nursing 12000 pay band of PB-3
Superintendent of and and grade pay of
Nursing and para 8000- 5400, 5400 and
4. medical staff 15200 6600 respectively. N.A
Grade II
7500-
12000, 8000-13500 and
Trained Graduate Grade I 10000-15200 with
Teacher, Vice Principal 8000- grade pay of 5400
5. of Teachers cadre 13500 and 6600 of PB-3 N.A
Audit / Accounts
officer of Organised 7500- 7500-12000 with
6. Accounts Cadres 12000 grade pay of 5400 N.A
Master Gazetted in
military Schools of
Ministry of defence, 8000-13500 with
Department of 7500- grade pay of 5400
7. defence 12000 and 6600 of PB-3 N.A
Senior Audit /
Accounts officer in
Indian Audit Accounts 7500- 8000-13500 Grade
8. Department 12000 pay of 5400 PB-3 N.A
8000-
13500
Grade
Superintendent of pay of
Customs & Central 7500- 7500-12000 grade 5400
9. Excise 12000 pay of 4800 PB-2
Thus it can be seen that there is a clear cut step
motherly treatment of Superintendent of Customs
& Central Excise.
Also the Superintendent of Customs & Central
Excise has been placed in the pay scale of 7500-
12000 very recently i.e., on 21.04.2004 with the
acceptance of pay of 6500-10500 to Inspector of
Customs & Central Excise on par with the
Inspector of CBI. CBEC is a peculiar department
where the next promotion opportunity for
Inspector is Superintendent of Customs & Central
Excise and that for Superintendent of Customs &
Central Excise is Assistant Commissioner with no
cadre in between them.
Neither Sixth pay commission nor the review
committee have given proper attention to the pay
revision of Superintendent of Customs & Central
Excise.
In the present system the number of Inspectors
available is very less, because of this peculiar
problem the Superintendent of Customs & Central
Excise has to work both as basic worker and also
as a supervisory officer.
The Implementation cell vide order from File
F.No.1/1/2008-IC dated13.11.2009 has granted
grade pay of 4600 to Inspectors. When these
Inspectors become Superintendent or got their
MACP they will be placed in grade pay of Rs.4800.
i.e. their grade pay will be increased by mere
Rs.200. Is it not strange? Their Next Grade pay
should be at least Rs.5400 in PB-3 & not PB-2.
DOPT has issued circulars that Grade pay of 5400
in PB-2 and PB- 3 are different and grade pay of
Rs.5400 in PB-3 is superior. So if an officer is in
grade pay of 5400 in PB-2 he will be upgraded only
to Grade pay of Rs.5400 in PB-3. Why this
disparity of PB-2 and PB- 3 for the same grade pay
of Rs.5400?
This is because the Government wants to continue
with the policy of DIVIDE & RULE borrowed from
British.
Now the DOPT has issued another circular where in
it has been stated that the up gradation to Grade
pay of Rs.5400 after 4 years of service, same
would be off set against one financial upgradation
under MACPS. So for Superintendent who are due
or 2nd MACP will get no benefit.
There is vast inequality in treatment towards
Inspector of Central Excise Vis a Vis Preventive
Officer and Examiner as well as Superintendent of
Central Excise Vis a Vis Superintendent of Customs
and Appraisers. Though all are doing comparable
duties and are under one and the same Ministry,
they are not treated at par. It is true that
whenever there is a shortage or no separate
customs formations nearby, officers are borrowed
from Central Excise formations for doing Customs
Work.
In most of the Customs formations it is Central
Excise staff that are working and strengthening the
department with their efforts. Still Appraisers and
Superintendents of Customs are given more
weightage than their Central Excise counterpart. In
the recent cadre review that is being undertaken, it
is stated that all the Appraisers (even 2007 batch)
will be promoted to the grade of Assistant
Commissioner.

Whereas the Superintendents up to 1997 batch

may have a chance to become Assistant
Commissioners. Even those lucky
Stenos/UDCs/LDCs and Preventive Officers who
will become Examiners/Appraisers will become A.C.
and supervise their own seniors. Whereas it will
take years, even after the present cadre review,
for an Inspector of Central Excise to become
Superintendent.

Why is this discrimination? While a case is pending

before the Hon¶ble Supreme Court the CBEC has
gone ahead to issue promotion orders promoting
around 100 Appraisers on 19.11.2010.

The CBEC should merge the cadres of Preventive

Officers and Examiners with that of Inspector of
Central Excise & that of Appraisers and
Superintendent of Customs with that of
Superintendent of Central Excise and do justice to
all.
 So, need of the hour is :
Ê To grant pay scale of 6500-200-10500 to
Inspector & pay scale of Rs.7500-250-12000 to
Superintendent retrospectively with effect from
01.01.1996 on par with that of CBI.

Ê Merge the cadre of Preventive officer and

Examiner with Inspector of Central Excise and
that of Appraisers and Superintendent of Customs
with that of Superintendent of Central Excise
retrospectively.

Ê The ratio of promotion to the grade of Assistant

Commissioner be revised in view of Supreme
Court Order.
Inspector on promotion to Superintendent of
Central Excise OR on ACP/MACP should be placed
in 8000-15200 scale with grade pay of Rs.5400 in
PB-3 with two additional increments (since grade
pay of Rs.4600/- has been accorded to
Inspectors).

Ê After 4 years they should be placed in 10000-

15200 with Grade pay of 6600 PB-3 irrespective
of ACP/MACP/Promotion with two additional
increments (recently High Court has upheld CAT
decision on this issue)
Ê On promotion or due to second MACP they should
be placed in 12000-18000 with grade pay of
Rs.7600 with two additional increments to be
given.
Ê If for any reason the pay scale is not revised
retrospectively, do justice for 1992 Batch
Inspectors.

DOPT may issue separate circular in this regard to

end neglecting the cadre. Please remember the
country is running because of Direct & Indirect Tax
collections for which the Customs and excise staff
are instrumental. INDIA is SHINING because of
Inspector of Central Excise & Superintendent of
Central Excise. They should be rewarded
accordingly.

Hope Our Finance Minister who has become pro-

staff in recent times will take personal interest in
this regard and direct the DOPT to issue desired
orders. Though the latest pay revision coupled with
the global meltdown and recession abroad could
contain to a little extent the mass exodus of
officers (reported to be 5% to 10%) from the
department it may be wise to remember ± ³if you
pay peanuts, you get monkeys´.
The views expressed in this article are those of the guest author and are not intended to represent the views of GConnect.

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