Quarterly review meeting of JCA with CBDT on 14.07.14

West Bengal JCA likely to withdraw agitation soon. CBDT to constitute a committee to re look post distribution. Ultimately JCA, WB, is going to get the long awaited "escape route" to end the agitation ! Read details below.

The Quarterly Review Meeting with the Board took place on 14.7.2014 on the agenda items submitted by the JCA. The Meeting was chaired by Shri R.K. Tewari, Chairman, CBDT. Ms. Deepa Krishen, Member (P&V) and other officials were also present.  The delegation of ITEF consisted of Com. KP Rajagopal, SG; Com. Ashok Kanojia, Addl. Secy., Com. Raveendran B Nair, Jt. Secy.; and Com. Rupak Sarkar, Finance Secy.  Apart from the listed agenda items, the ITEF also took up the following items as issues of urgency.

1. To expedite the approval of Jurisdiction proposal submitted by various Regions.
2. Communication to CCAs the stay granted by Pr. Bench of CAT, on recovery of the alleged overpayment on fixation of pay of ITI/AO/PS.
3. Instructions to CCAs to fill up the consequential vacancies of RY 2013-14 as certain CCAs has not done the same.

Gist of the meeting is as under :

  ITO to ACIT:

The staff side requested that in the vacancy years 2013-2014 & 2014-2015 (regular as well as vacancies arising out of cadre review) may be affected immediately. The official side informed them that for proposal for promotion of ITOs to the grade of ACsIT for the vacancy year 2012-13(Review-DPC) and 2013-14(Regular-DPC) had been submitted to UPSC, who had been requested to process the proposals and intimate the convenient date(s) for holding of DPC Meetings at the earliest possible.

Promotion in the same grade pay - HRD issued O.M.

CBDT (Directorate of HRD) issued an O.M. regarding fixation benefit on promotion of Steno Grade-II to Grade I and Sr. TA  to OS. 
The O.M. conveys the approval of Dept. of Expenditure on the proposal of Dept. seeking fixation of pay under Rule 13(i) of CCS (Revised Pay) Rules 2008 in case of promotion from Steno Gr II to Steno Gr I and Sr T.A. to O.S. where both feeder and promotional cadre carries same Grade Pay.
View the O.M. dated 16.07.2013
Click here for CCS (Revised Pay) Rules 2008
( We are unable to publish a large number of comments as they consist direct personal attack to individuals and groups. It is once again requested not to make any personal comment here.)

Delhi JCA's agitation programme gets immediate attention, but WB's agitation ?

It seems the Delhi Circle JCA's agitation programme effected the Board. The CBDT in the last week has constituted a four members committee to examine the demands of Income Tax Employees regarding recruitment and promotion issue. The committee headed by Jt. Secretary(Admin), Finance Ministry, Shri S. K. Lohani will submit its reports by July 18 and on the basis of the committee’s recommendation the CBDT will take a call regarding long pending demands of the employees.

In the other hand, JCA West Bengal unit is organizing non cooperation movement including non submission of statistical reports, non participation of search and survey etc. for more than three months but CBDT seems to be not bothered at all. Surprisingly the All India Secretary General of ITGOA is from West Bengal but could not create any impression on CBDT on any issue including national issue as ACIT promotion or local issue of unjustified cadre allocation in his own state.

(With inputs from http://insideincometax.blogspot.in/)

Bonanza for taxpayers in budget

Bringing cheer to individual taxpayers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his maiden Union Budget 2014-15 in Parliament on Thursday, raised personal tax exemption limit to Rs 2.5 lakh from the current Rs 2 lakh. Income tax exemption limit for senior citizens has been raised to Rs 3 lakh. The Investment limit under Section 80C has also been hiked to Rs 1.5 lakh from the current Rs 1 lakh, while the FM increased housing loan interest rate deduction limit to Rs 2 Lakh. In further relief to the depositors, the FM announced that the PPF (Public Provident Fund) deposit ceiling will be raised to Rs 1.5 lakh from the existing Rs 1 lakh.
Highlights of budget 2014 regarding Income Tax
* No hike in direct tax rates 
* Retain tax targets for FY15
* Gross tax revenue seen 10.9% of GDP in FY16; 11.2% in FY17
* Retain interim gross tax collection aim
* Propose relief to individual tax payers
* Ups 80C tax break invest cap to Rs 150,000 from Rs 100,000
* Up tax exemption limit for senior citizens to Rs 300,000
* No change in rate of surcharge for corporates, individuals 
* No change in surcharge rates for direct tax
* To up personal income tax exemption limit to Rs 250,000
* Personal income tax exemption hiked by Rs 50,000 per year
* Will consider views on new Direct Tax Code draft
* Education cess to continue at 3% 

Mumbai ITGOA members seek clarification, threaten to resign from Association

Flash news : Delhi ITGOA agitation suspended
The ongoing agitation of ITGOA, Delhi kept in abeyance, as board has constituted a committee on directorate issues, committee will report by 18th July, 2014

News from ITGOA, Mumbai
A number of ITOs in Mumbai have written to ITGOA Mumbai and sought clarification regarding ACIT promotion, seniority list etc. They belong to 2001 batch of ITO. In this letter they requested answer of queries within 5 days and threatened to quit the association if their just demands and queries are not adhered to. A copy of the letter is with us. We are publishing it for public interest.
Click here to view the letter
(There were some technical problem and this link was not working. Now it is rectified and working perfectly. Sorry for the inconvenience.)