To all members of P&T Audit Officers & Sr. Audit Officers Association

After a long struggle our Association got recognition of CAG. It is the only platform of AOs and SAOs of P&T Audit to raise their voice collectively. Every member can directly interrupt with the Association through its blog. Please take this opportunity to communicate your suggestions, criticism and complements.  

A BRIEF REPORT ON 7TH ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEATING

The 7^th   Annual General Body Meeting of P&T Audit Officers’ & Sr. Audit Officers’ Association has been successfully completed  on 17^th November 2017 at Institute of Development Studies (IDS), 8B, Jhalana Institutional Area, Jaipur 302 004. Fourteen delegates from the office of the DGA, P&T and its different Branch Offices have participated in the meeting. The Secretary General, All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association was also invited in the meeting. The activities of the Association in last one year and the present issues and problems facing by the AOs/ Sr.AOs of P&T Audit organisation were discussed in details. The following Charter of Demands has been conceived by the Association to raise before the administration in future days:-  

·         Norms of Audit to be reviewed and recasted

·         Requirement of Sr. AO/ AO in Central Office and all Branch Offices to be reassessed on the basis of work load

·         Sanction for required number of Sr. AO/ AO to be obtained and filled up in Central Office and all Branch Offices

·         Policy of transfer and posting should be adhered transparently and to be amended from time to time to reprieve the officers from difficulties. 

·         Vacancies in all subordinate cadres to be filled up

·         Sufficient funds to be allotted for travelling expenses and LTC

·          Central Office and all Branch Offices should be equipped with sufficient number of desk tops, laptops, hand scanner etc for the smooth functioning of the office. 

·         All Sr. AO/ AO on inspection duties to be provided with lap tops

·         Posting of Group Officers in all Branch Offices to be ensured.

·         Nomination of AO-in-Charge should be bases upon a transparent policy

·         Place of posting to be intimated to the AOs who promoted from AAO cadre

Sri S K Menon has been co-opted in the Executive committee in the vacancies arises in absence of Sri M S Suresh. Sri Harshavardhana has been re-elected as the Auditor of the Association for the year 2017-18.  

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMIITEE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE P&T AUDIT OFICERS & SR. AUDIT OFFICERS WITH DGA P&T HELD ON 27TH FEBRUARY 2017.

The following Executive Committee members of the P & T Audit Officers’ & Sr. Audit officers’ Association attended the meeting with DGA P&T at his chamber at 11.30 AM on 27^th February 2017.
Sri Dipan Karmakar, Deputy Director (Hqrs) was also present in the Meeting.

1)      Sri K Kamalakshan, Vice President

2)      Sri I N Kirtania, General Secretary

3)      Sri D Pratihar, Asstt. General Secretary cum Treasurer

4)       Sri S B Nikam, Executive Member and

5)       Sri T K Eshwaraiah, Invitee Executive Member

The representatives were introduced by General Secretary and the DGA (P&T) welcomed the Association representatives. The General Secretary submitted that the Association is very much concerned about the present situation of the P&T Audit Organization, agreeing to this DGA urged the members to give more emphasis for more audit contribution.

1.       The Association requested DG to consider the revision of Audit Norms and Codes & Manuals of the Department due various changes and advancement taken place in the areas of our Auditee Entities. In this connection DG appreciated the concern of the association and agreed and informed that the action would be initiated shortly.

2.       The association requested for provision of Laptops to officers and Desk Top Computers to offices. In this regard Deputy Director (Hqrs) informed that in the next financial year some new allotments will be made to all Offices.

3.       The acute Shortage in the cadre of AAO was highlighted by the Association. Due to the retirement in SAO/AO cadre in the near future, there will be big gap for which action need to be initiated now to address this issue. The DG informed that the direct recruitment of AAOs is in progress and some improvement can be expected in near future.

4.       On the issue of 2^nd time transfer and posting of SAOs, the Association requested DG to consider them for posting to nearby BAOs and also to consider deputations to some deserving cases on humanitarian grounds.  Further, association requested to issue orders transferring back on priority basis to parent office on completion of their term of two years or 57 years whichever is early. To this DG highlighted the requirement of the organization and current manpower position but agreed to consider deserving cases on merit basis on humanitarian grounds. DG also mentioned that the officers are being transferred back to their parent BAOs on completion of their terms as per transfer & posting policy.

5.       Members raised individual office issues with the permission of the DG in respect of BAO Thiruvananthapuram regarding rented building and BAO Mumbai/ Delhi regarding issue of Local TA. DG suggested to send the proposals for examination.

6.       The meeting ended with vote of thanks.

7.       This issues with the approval of the Executive Committee members present in the meeting.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Dear Friends,

                        The 6^th Annual General Body Meeting of the Association held on 26^th September 2016 at the Centenary Hall of O/o the Director General of Audit, Post & Telecommunications, Delhi has selected the executive committee in terms of  Art. 6(b) of the Constitution as follows:

1.      Sri M S Suresh                   President

2.      Sri K Kamalakshan            Vice President

3.      Sri I N Kirtania                   General Secretary

4.      Sri V Sooriyanarayanan   Joint Secretary

5.      Sri D Pratihar                     Treasurer cum Asstt. Secretary

6.      Sri V Premachandran       Executive

7.      Sri G D Ramaswami           Executive

8.      Sri S B Nikam                     Executive

                        In addition Sri Kamalesh Kumar (BAO Lucknow), Sri Sudipta Mallick (BAO Jaipur), Sri P R Rathi (BAO Delhi), Sri Ravinder Suri (BAO Kapurthala), Sri S K Menon (BAO Ahmedabad), Sri J P Sah (BAO Patna), Smt. Ambika Nair (BAO Nagpur),  Sri R C Rana (BAO Cuttack), Sri N Chandramouli, (BAO Hyderabad), Sri N K Maity (Central Office) and Sri T K Eswariah (Central Office) have also been elected as Permanent Invitee Members of the Executive Committee.

                        The Committee met on 19^th November 2016 at Chennai and decided that the Association will seek an appointment to meet with DGA P&T to discuss the following matters :-

·         Transfer and posting of Gr. B Officers as per the approved Policy without deviation.

·         Filling up the vacancies in the cadre of Asstt. Audit Officer.

                        It has also been decided that the Executive Committee will meet at least once in six months to review the activities of the association and chalk out the future course of actions of the organization.

The Committee will make an appeal to all of its members to contribute Rs. 1000 each to the Struggle Fund of All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association.

                        Active co-operation of all members is solicited to materialize the goal of the Association in all respect.

APPEAL TO THE MEMBERS

Dear friends,

The Central Working Committee of All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association seriously held discussions about the financial position of our Federation in the backdrop of consistent struggle, pursuing its demands and its success to certain extent, the development in the pay commission and decided to create a Struggle Fund and collect at least Rs.1000/- per member to meet its certain commitments and to improve the financial position. The Federation has given a call to all its affiliated units to Collect Rs.1000 per member and to remit this amount to the Account of All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association. Friends, in the world of competitive era nothing comes on its own. We may not satisfy with the expectation of the salary increase but at the same time to reach this stage lot of efforts have been taken by the leadership of our Federation. Moreover, this Federation strives hard to ensure its role in every struggle to get the due share to the AOs and Sr.AOs of Indian Audit and Accounts Department.

Being an affiliated unit of it the P&T Audit Officers’ & Sr. Audit Officers’ Association appeal to all of our members to contribute Rs.1000/- each to the Struggle Fund of All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association. The members of Executive Committee of the Association posted in each BAOs and CO will collect the contribution from each member of their units and deposit it in the Bank Account of the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association. 

NOTICE

No. : Notice/ E C Meeting/2016/20                                                                           Date:   19-10-2016

NOTICE

                     A General Body Meeting will be held on 19^th November, 2016 at 11.30 AM at Chennai to discuss on the following agenda:-

1.           Confirmation of the proceedings of the previous Meeting.
2.               Organizational matters.
3.                Miscellaneous.

                  All the Members of the Association are requested to attend the Meeting. The Members may contact with Sri V Sooriyanarayanan, Sr Audit Officer (09445195723) for further necessary information.

 ( I N KIRTANIA )

CONVAINER

MASS SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN FOR SR AOs/ AOs

Dear friends,
At the call of our Federation a mass signature campaign address to the Cabinat Secretary, Chairman of the Empowered Committee for 7th CPC has been adopted by our Association. Please get a print out of the following draft and send it with your signature in duplicate for onward transmission through the proper channel:-

To,

 The Cabinet Secretary,

 Chairman, Empowered Committee of Secretaries, Cabinet Secretariat,

Rashtrapathi Bhawan,

New Delhi 110001.

(Through Proper Channel)

Sub: Upgradation of Pay for AO/Sr.AO

 Sir,

                 I--------------------------------------------------member of P&T Audit Officers’  & Sr. Audit Officers’ Association submits the memorandum for the kind consideration of Empowered Committee of Secretaries. The AOs and SAOs, who are the cutting edge of the IA&AD, have been denied their genuine demand. The only appreciable thing that the 7th CPC has done for the IA&AD is the recommendation to upgrade the GP of `Rs. 4,800 to ` Rs.5,400 (from level 8 to 9 as per 7th CPC recommendation in Para No.11.12.140) on completion of four years in the cadre of AAOs. The 7th CPC treats the cadre of SAOs as the feeder cadre for induction into IA&AS. It also notes that both SAOs and the entry level pay of IA&AS for induction into IA&AS are equal. 7th CPC notes that SAOs and Direct entry IAAS cadre are in the same Grade pay. None the less, it concludes that the SAOs are a feeder cadre to the IA&AS despite being aware that the Entry level grade pay and that of the SAOs are the same. It conspicuously ignores that, the grade pay, by its very definition, determines the relative position in the department. Thus, it is our considered submission, Sir, that the cadres of the SAOs and the JTS cadre of I.A.A.S are relatively placed at the same position. SAOs are indeed the feeder cadre for STS Cadres such as Dy.Accountant General/ Dy.Director of Indian Audit and Accounts Department and not to the JTO. Thus the present practice of inducting the SAOs to the entry Cadre of IA&AS is indeed an injustice as they cannot be ‘promoted’ to the same relative position in the department. When they got promotion or when they got upgraded they need to be inducted into Group A cadre at the higher level. This is supported by the fact that the Entry Cadre of IA&AS in the JTS does not supervise the Audit/Accounts officers and Sr.Audit/Accounts officer in IA&AD. JTS officers are treated as probationers and they learn work from the department during that tenure and are posted against the post of A.Os/Sr.A.Os only. In fact, the Junior Time Scale (JTS) officers as well as the SAOs are supervised administratively by the Sr.Time Scale (STS) Officers only. The AOs/Sr.AOs cadre is a technical cadre. They are the back bone of this department in handling the work scientifically, in respect of public accountability mechanism. In many of the audits these cadres have a better cutting edge than the Chartered Accountants. This cadre absorbs the developments in audit functions as well as accounts function in the international arena and they are in the process of continuously developing their domain knowledge for the purpose of discharging their functions. Comparing this cadre with the entry Cadre of IAAS and to next level Cadre of Sr.Time Scale Cadre is against the canon of natural Justice. The Globalization of Indian economy and consequent entry of foreign Chartered Accountants firms and Tax Consultancy services and exposure of the Supreme audit Institution of India, to the Global/Regional Audit Institutions has resulted in the technological upgradation of the department with additional content to Audit/Accounting activity, to meet the Global Competition. The introduction of the Voucher Level Computerization (VLC), the time bound implementation of the Ghosh Committee recommendations on the Government Accounting System, the introduction of online audit system of the Computerized Accounting data presented by the auditee Institutions, the introduction of New Company bill, the development in Audit Assurance standards, Reporting standards, introduction of Financial Accounting Standards, Scheme Reviews, Performance Audit and the undertaking of the Audit of Panchayat Raj Institution and Urban Local Bodies as recommended by 11th finance commission has resulted in enormous technical upgradation and resulting in additional workload on the cadre of Accounts/Audit officer particularly due to the absence of appreciable increase in the cadre strength. The additional skills acquired have to be recognized and compensated adequately. The C&AG, when his opinion was sought under article 148 (5) regarding CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965- classification of posts of Sr.AOs consequent upon notification of Central Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008, on 31.03.2009, opined, “We have no objection to the revised classification of posts as proposed in the draft order forwarded with the above U.O. Note. We may, however, also refer to the correspondence resting with the D.O. letter of Shri.V.N.Kaul, former C&AG vide No.58-CAG/2002/24-GE/01 dated June 13, 2002 to Shri.A.K.Agarwal, the then Secretary, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions (Department of Personnel & Training), and stated that this department fully supports inclusion of the posts of Sr.AOs in the Group ‘A’ posts. However, in view of the large magnitude of the cadre of Sr.AOs in this department as well as Finance & Accounts Departments of the Government of India, this classification would present some practical difficulties in the initial states of implementation of this decision. This department would, therefore, need some time to streamline procedures for implementation of new classification of Sr.AOs. We accordingly propose that a general purpose proviso may be built in the body of the proposed order that gives departments an opinion to propose exclusion of certain posts or categories of posts from the groups to which they would ordinarily relate to. This department would like to urge emphatically that no specific exceptions should be built in the body of Government Order or otherwise, to deny, per-se, Group’A’ status to Sr.AOs of this department unilaterally”. This fact needs specific consideration of the Government while fixing the pay levels to AOs and Sr.AOs. It is our request that this aspect may also be brought to the attention of the Government while commenting on the recommendations of the CPC. It is our considered opinion that the injustice is repeatedly perpetrated because of the insistence on treating the SAOs as Group B Gazetted officers. Audit Officers/Senior Audit Officers deal with the auditee organizations at a fairly high level and the lack of appropriate status hinders their functional effectiveness. They have to come to this level after passing a very rigorous and difficult examination and a tough selection procedure. They constitute the backbone of the Indian Audit Department. . The category of these officers constitutes the fifth rung in the hierarchy of the Indian Audit and Accounts department. The Fourth CPC and the successive pay commissions have done great injustice to this category of Officers by not giving them the appropriate scale of pay and Status. In view of the unique position assigned by the Constitution of India to Audit, similar demands, if any, made by other departments will not be on the same footing. Retaining these cadres in the lower level, while their peers in other departments are placed in the higher cadre results in treating equals in an unequal manner which is contrary to Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Under Article 148(5), the conditions of services of the persons working under the C&AG of India should be fixed in consultation with him. On 7-4-2011 a letter was sent by the C&AG to the DOPT seeking their consent for classifying the Senior Audit & Accounts Officers/Sr Divisional Accounts Officers (in PB-3 Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/-) as Group A in terms of Government of India Gazette Notification dated 9-4-2009. The refusal to reclassify these cadres as Group ‘A’, therefore, constitutes an infringement of Article 148(5) of the Constitution of India. Further, the Status of Sr.AOs of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department has also been examined by the Honourable Bench of High Court of Delhi in the Writ Petition (Civil) 2698/2013 filed by the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association Versus Union of India and others. The High Court held “Accordingly, the impugned order of the CAT dated 10.12.2012, as also the Office Memoranda of the Central Government dated 11.4.2011, 17.6.2011 and 7.7.2011, which deny the petitioners classification as Group A officers along- with the attendant benefits, are liable to be set aside as unreasonable and arbitrary given the clear textual mandate of the relevant rules. Thus, the classification of Senior Audit and Senior Accounts officers as Group ‘A’ officers is mandated under the applicable rules.” This fact has been ignored by the CPC. It has failed to treat the SAOs on par with the Group A officers with out any valid ground for placing them on a lower level. Based on their job content and judicial decisions including Arbitration award of extending parity between Central Secretariat and IA&AD the AOs and Sr.AOs of the Department should be equated with Under Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Central Secretariat in pay Level and status. Even as per the arguments of the 7th CPC for denial of upgradation of pay scales demanded by this Association, the AAOs are the feeder cadre for AOs/SAOs. This has placed the AAOs (who completed four years of service in AAO cadre) and the AOs (on functional promotion as AO from the cadre of AAO) at level 9 creating an anomalous situation affecting the vertical relativity of cadres. This further justifies our demand that the AOs and the SAOs need be placed at a level next higher to the level of AAOs. Since 7th CPC itself agrees that AAO is the feeder cadre of AOs. As the promotion from AAO to AO is a functional one and involves higher duties and responsibilities. On this basis also our demand for higher scales and level stands validated and has to be considered. Taking into the consideration the, pay scales need to suitably modified and fixed at level 11 for AOs and Level 12 for Sr.AOs. I, Sri/Smt. ......................................... therefore, urges that the above facts may be considered favourably in respect of the pay scales of AOs and Sr.AOs of Indian Audit and Accounts Department while firming up the conclusions for approval of the Cabinet on the recommendations of the 7th CPC. It is the hope of every AO/SAO of IA&AD that the Empowered Committee of Secretaries would mitigate and not let the injustice continue.

Place:
 Date :           

                                                          Signature Name of the Member Name of the Association

Position of Government Employees in India

Successive Central pay commissions recommended the reduction in the number of Government employees in their reports without any justification.

Any time whenever we meet any authority he invariably laments that office is over staffed.

It is not only interesting but also shocking to know the number of Government employees compared to population in various countries.

According to 2012 data as regards the Government Employees India it is 1.6% in India, 7.58% in USA, 10% in UK, it is 5.9% in Brazil, 15.7 % in Russia. It is the least percentage in India. Even then, the Central Pay Commissions  had been recommending reduction in manpower to the Government every time.

Countries, where everything is under private sector, have a much better percentage of Government employees.

Is it not an issue of serious concern?

Does it not have resultant consequences of good governance and socially affecting secured employment in our country, which has highest level of human resources?

Let's all think of this to rise against the evil.

Build strong state level CCGGOO in order to fight this menace.

MEETING WITH DIRETOR GENERAL OF AUDIT, POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICTIONS

Office bearers of the Association consisting of i) Sri I N Kirtania, General Secretary, ii) Sri D Pratihar, Treasurer cum Assistant General Secretary and iii) Sri G D Ramaswamy, Executive Member met the new Director General of Audit, Posts & Telecommunications on 9^th September 2015 at her chamber. The Secretary General of our Federation, Sri S Mohan also invited in the meeting. Though it was entirely a courtesy meeting the following issues of the Sr. AOs/ AOs of P&T Audit Organization were discussed in a very cordial environment:-

1.   At the outset DGA P&T welcomed the Office bearers and Secretary General. On behalf of the Association we stated that the members of the Association expect a prosperous working environment and glorious dignity in P&T Audit organization in the coming days. Association will always extend their support to DGA P&T for betterment of the organization.

2.   Transfer and posting of AOs/ Sr. AOs

Attention of DG Madam was brought to the Orders issued on 29/6/2015 for transfer and posting of 32 Sr. AOs and AOs at Central Office and different BAOs. It has been stated that in some cases officers have been posted at far away from their home stations without considering their choice though vacancies were exist in the nearer BAOs. Secretary General personally requested DG Madam to reconsider the cases for necessary rectification. DG Madam admitted the hardship of the respective officers and told that it is difficult to change an order issued by her predecessor though she will try her best in this regard. It has also been assured that choice of the officers will always be considered in future cases of transfer and posting.

3.   Linking of performance of the officers with Transfer Policy.

It has been intimated to DG Madam that the members are very much agitated with the linking up of their performance with the existing policy of transfer and posting. It has also been mentioned that we have not got the copy our APAR for last three years. DG Madam assured that the backlog will be cleared very soon.

4.   Filling up of vacancies in Sr. AO, AO, and AAO cadre.

Existing position of vacancies in the cadre of Sr. AO, AO, and AAO were illuminated and DG madam intimated that the vacancies in Sr. AO/AO Cadre will be filled up soon by next promotion panel. For AAO cadre she also hope full that we are going to get a good number of officers through SOG Examination as well as direct recruitment for which correspondence has been made with C&AGs Office.

5.   Journey by Air.

Our problem for the existing restriction on performance of Air journey by the entitled officers has been intimated.  DG Madam stated that presently the fund position under TE head is not so bad and the entitled officers may now perform their journey by Air without obtaining any prior permission.

6.   ERP-SAP training.

On specific demand of the Association DG Madam intimated that ERP-SAP trainings with live data of BSNL and other service providers are going to be arrange this year, the process of which has already been started.

7.   Provision of Laptop/ Desktop.

On demand DG Madam intimated that sufficient number of Laptop/ Desktops will be provided to the needy BAOs.

Meeting with DGA P&T

The Association is going to meet with DGA P&T on 15th April 2015 to discuss upon the Policy of Transfer and Posting of Gr. B Officers of P&T Audit Offices. suggestions/ comments of SrAOs, AOS and AAOs on the above issue may kindly be communicated over phone (09471006567) or through e-mail <indrank@gmail.com> by the first week of April