Under pressure from members, JCA to continue agitation

Under pressure from members from every corner of the country, JCA decided to continue the ongoing agitation and threatens to intensify it if at least some of the demands are not addressed properly.
In a letter addressed to Chairperson CBDT, JCA informs the following.
"In this connection, we are directed by the members of JCA to convey to you that if the actual number of vacancies taking into account the Assistant and Deputy Commissioners together are not computed, steps are not taken to address the stagnation in the ITO cadre, regularization of eligible casual/daily rated workers and relaxation of recruitment rules are not ordered, the issue of providing adequate infrastructure is not addressed, we will be constrained to intensify the agitation further."
Click here for the full text of the letter.

Agitation scaled down, most likely to be withdrawn

As anticipated, JCA leaders are the first to blink. The proposed dharna on 28.10.15 in front of the residence of Chairperson, CBDT has been withdrawn. Regarding ongoing agitation, decision is pending still now and to be decided today afternoon.
CBDT informed by a letter yesterday that 180 promotions to the post of ACIT for panel year 2014-15 to be submitted today to UPSC.
Similar exercise for 180 more posts to be done for the panel year 2015-16 has been commenced and to be submitted to UPSC shortly.
A meeting with Revenue Secretary and JCA to be held on 3rd November to address the issues relating to stagnation of ITOs.
No reference has been made regarding the other issues of the five point charter of demands in the said letter.
It is evident with the developments stated above, nothing could have been achieved so far. CBDT was always ready to effect promotion in the tune of 180 per panel year and they did not commit anything more. No other demands have been addressed yet. Still the leadership took this opportunity to escape and probably going to suspend the agitation.
The view of the leadership is expressed below :
" The meeting decided to postpone the Dharna programme to be held in front of the residence of the Chairperson on 28.10.2015 and the meeting was adjourned to 27.10.2015 without taking any further decision. It is felt that to create a conducive atmosphere to negotiate with the Revenue Secretary, GOI, in the issue of determining the correct vacancy calculations in the cadre of ACIT for the R.Y.s 2013-14 to 2015-16 and removing stagnation in the cadre of ITO created due to less number of posts sanctioned in ACIT cadre in the CRC, 2013, it may perhaps be necessary to scale down the ongoing agitation by partial suspension till the meeting scheduled on 03.11.2015."
Click here for JCA circular and CBDT letter.

JCA to decide the fate of ongoing agitation tomorrow - 26/10/2015

Consequent upon the request from CBDT to withdraw the ongoing agitation to facilitate the intervention of the Revenue Secretary, JCA will meet tomorrow to decide future course of action.
Members are insisting to continue the agitation unless it yields some fruitful result especially when CBDT is on back foot for the subdued tax collection this year. Present dispute with employees is certainly put them into an embarrassing situation before the Government.
In the other hand, leaders are worried whether to take it as an escape route to suspend the agitation. 
Will the intervention of Revenue Secretary bring any thing positive ? The West Bengal leadership must have a bitter experience about that ! They can recall the memories of cadre restructuring. West Bengal leaders met the then Revenue Secretary regarding post allocation. Despite positive assurance nothing was offered later and in addition 1633 posts diverted from West Bengal charge.
Click here for the notice of JCA meeting.

Outcome of meeting of Chairperson with JCA on 20.10.2015

A meeting held with Chairperson on 20th Oct'15 regarding the ongoing agitation. The minutes published by HRD available on ITGOA website. The salient features of the meeting is detailed below.
1. Regarding ITO to ACIT promotion - CBDT discussed the issue with Revenue Secretary. He desired a total scenario of career prospects in all cadres including ITO which will be presented before him shortly and thereafter CBDT will try to arrange a meeting of JCA with Revenue Secy within first week of Nov. Revenue Secy. desired immediate withdrawal of agitation , on which JCA wanted time to discuss.
On the other issues, no significant development or concrete assurance was made available from the board.
Click here for the minutes of the meeting. 

CBDT asks for revised seniority list of ITOs - post NRP implementation

"In this regard, I am directed to request that a copy of the seniority list in the cadre of I.T.O. issued post implementation of the N.R Parmar judgement of the Apex Court be sent to this office by return post."
This is the communication from HRD to all cadre controlling Pr. CCIT issued today, 15th Oct'15.
Click here for the full text of the letter.
The revised seniority list of ITOs after NRP implementation is a very embarrassing issue for JCA, especially ITGOA. In most of the charges the revised list has not be prepared as there may be necessity to revert a few ITOs and many existing ITOs will definitely loose seniority. Some of them now availing the benefit of Grade Pay of Rs 5400 which will be subject to revision as their deemed joining date will be much later date and thus pay may be refixed at Rs 4800 again. To avert the possibility of reversion of a few ITOs ITGOA desperately needed a sizable number of ACIT promotion so that all existing ITOs may be accommodated.
If the reversion takes place, the competence of leadership will certainly be under a big question mark. 
Now it is to be seen how JCA leadership tackles the masterstroke of CBDT in the midway of ongoing agitation.

No search/Survey/Review Meeting - JCA goes allout

In response to the indifferent attitude of CBDT regarding redressing of charter of demands, JCA intensified their agitaion.
From 15th of this month members will 
1.Not to conduct/take part in search & survey operations including TDS survey, recovery survey;
 2.Not to conduct/hold/assist to hold meetings/seminars/lectures etc. to educate the public; 
3. Not to attend Protocol Duty;
 4. Not to attend review meetings with higher-authorities;
 5. Not to attend/assist in conducting the Video Conferences of CBDT. 
In addition to the above, A Day-long Dharna in front of the Residence of the Chairperson, CBDT at New Delhi will be held on 28.10.2015.
And from 1st November onwards 
1. Not to take part in Tax Recovery works;
2. Not to allow any outsider to work in office/ outsourcing of any functions except the caretaking jobs. 
It has also been decided to organise another strike action for a longer duration if the demands are not conceded by the Board subsequently. 

It is now evident that the leaders are desperately trying for some breakthrough while CBDT is still showing reluctance regarding the demands. Unless some positive result is achieved and agitation is withdrawn on mere assurance, the credibility of leaders will be surely on stake. Let's see who will blink first, CBDT or the leaders.
Click here for JCA communication and letter to Chairperson.

Outcome of JCA meeting awaited

Outcome of ITEF/ITGOA Secretarial meeting or meeting of JCA which was scheduled on yesterday (11/10) is still awaited. Viewers of this blog want to know the next course of agitation decided by JCA but the unprecedented silence from the association end makes the common rank and file confused. We are trying to gather information and will be published here as soon as available.

One day strike paralyzed functioning of department, JCA threatens to stop Search/Survey

All the Income Tax offices throughout the country remained closed on Thursday, the 8th October, 2015 in response to a call for a one day strike, jointly issued by the Income Tax Employees Federation and the Income Tax Gazetted Officers’ Association.
Leaders will take stock of the situation on 11th October and decide further course of action.
Today a press statement has been issued by JCA.
Click here to view the Press Release.

Strike tomorrow : CBDT reminds consequences

No fresh negotiation took place between CBDT and JCA to avert strike. As scheduled, all members of ITGOA and ITEF will participate in the strike tomorrow.
JCA made fresh appeal yesterday to it's members to make the strike successful. CBDT issued the routine circular informing the consequences of participating strike.
Click here for JCA appeal
Click here for CBDT Circular

Half day walkout today, Full day strike on 8th. Let's see the real position.

All members of ITEF and ITGOA will be observing a half day's walkout today followed by one day's strike on 8th of October for the five point charter of demands.
As far as the factual position lies, . For the promotions to the Cadre of ACsIT, DPC proposal for 2014-15 is under preparation. The exercise for promotion of ITOs to the Cadre of ACsIT, for vacancy year 2015-16, has already commenced. The number of promotion in each year is still 180 only despite the hue and cry.
CBDT published the minute of meeting with JCA held on 16th Sep'15 and described the situation from there view point.
JCA is not satisfied with the published minute and clarified their stand once again and sought immediate intervention of Chairperson CBDT. 
Click here for letter from HRD
Click here for the minutes of the meeting as per HRD
Click here for amendments suggested by JCA
Click here for the letter to Chairperson CBDT
Click here for JCA circular to all units dated 29.09.2015