The CAG's mandate

As auditor to a nation whose institutions of oversight are weak and underdeveloped, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India is more than just the keeper of our national accounts. It is, in many ways, a conscience-keeper and a watchdog, which may not bite but can bark and warn ordinary citizens that something is amiss in the wider affairs of state. Like the Election Commission and the Supreme Court, the CAG has managed to protect its integrity and independence despite pressure from various arms of the state. If conducted freely and fairly, a robust audit can serve as a catalyst for corrective action. The CAG's report on Bofors in 1989 had major political consequences. Its explosive 2010 report on the allocation of 2G spectrum led to the filing of criminal charges against politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen. Other reports may have had a less dramatic political impact but they have been equally useful. The CAG's observations may be politically embarrassing to the government but they clearly contribute to the public good. Democratic India must ensure that the government takes the work of this constitutionally sanctioned institution very seriously and removes the obstacles placed in the path of a more effective and efficient audit process.

Aware of the limitations of its mandate, the CAG has asked the United Progressive Alliance government to make three broad amendments in the 1971 Audit Act, which governs the functioning of the audit authorities. The first amendment is intended to ensure that government departments reply to audit enquiries in 30 days rather than in the open-ended manner as now. Secondly, the CAG wants the statute to stipulate a clear timeframe for the tabling of completed audit reports on the floor of the relevant legislature. The Act, as it stands today, gives the Central and State governments wide latitude in this regard and it is hardly surprising that this freedom has been abused to delay making public the audit reports that contain embarrassing observations. The third set of proposed amendments is aimed at bringing the CAG's legal mandate up to speed with the changes that have taken place in the way public money is spent. Since the 1971 Act was passed, the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution have been adopted, adding a layer of decentralised governance — and hence expenditure management — to the institutions of the state. Liberalisation has meant public money is increasingly utilised in joint ventures and public-private partnerships. Because of ambiguities in its mandate, the CAG feels unable adequately to audit this vast area of public economic activity. The government should deal with the call for a modernised Audit Act proactively.

Courtesy: Editorial: The Hindu dated: 28th June 2011

Events During the Inaugural Session of 34th Conference

During Inaugural Session a book titled as

" In the Quest For Truth ....... To Serve the People"was released

in the Presence of Honourable Parliamentarians by our Association 

The Book " In The Quest For Truth ..... To Serve The People

was handed Over by our veteran Leader Com S.K.Vyas to

Worshipful Mayor of Chennai in the presence of

Honourable Parliamentarians,Fraternal leaders

Honourable Member of Parliament Shri.S.S.Ramasubbu M.P

addressed the gathering

Honourable Member of Parliament Shri.T.K.Rangarajan M.P being

Honoured by our Secretary General

Presidiential Address to the gathering

Convenor, Coordination Committee Shri.G.Jesuraja being Felicitated by Our President

Chairman of the Coordination Committee Shri.K.T.Sridharan

being felicitated by our Vice President Com.P.Prabhakar

Convenor Coordination Committee invited our Guests to Dias

Worshipful Mayor of Chennai  Welcome address 

during our inaugural Session 

Secretary General Conducted the proceedings of the inaugural Session

Fraternal Leaders in the Dias

Fraternal Leaders in the Dias

Nonourable Member of Parliament Shri.Basudeb Acharia M.P 

addressed the Gathering

President Com.S.V.Deshpande Hoisted our Association Flag

Honourable Member of Parliament Shri.S.S.Ramasubbu arrived to our Venue

Reception Committee Chairman Worshipful Mayor of Chennai Shri.M.Subramanian in the Dias

Reception Committee Chairman Worshipful Mayor of Chennai M.Subramanain 

honoured by our Secretary General

President S.V.Deshpande, Worshipful Mayor M.Subramanian,

Honourable Member of Parliament shri.Basudeb Acharia,

Honourable Member of Parliament Shri.S.S.Ramasubbu,

Former Secretary General Com.Unnikrishnan in the dias

HonourableMember of Parliament Shri.T.K.Rangarajan,

Worshipful Mayor of Chennai M.Subramanian,

Honourable Member of Parliament Shri.S.S.Ramasubbu,

Former Secretary General UnniKrishnan, Former President Radhakrishna in the Dias 

We Salute the Indian

Who choose to brave

The most difficult battle field in the world

 THE SIACHEN GLACIER

-53ºC        21,147 Feet

The 62^nd Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the

Constitution of India came into force replacing

the Government of India Act 1935 as the

governing document of India on 26 January 1950.

The date 26 January was chosen to honour the

memory of the declaration of independence of 1930

“WE, the people of INDIA, having solemnly

Resolved to constitute India into a

SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

and to secure to all its citizens;

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief,

faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the

Individual and the unity

and integrity of the Nation”

Be Proud to be an Indian…… Happy Republic Day

S.Mohan

Secretary General

Circular 9 -2010 -11 of All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association

To

The National Executive Members &

The Secretaries of the Affiliates.

Dear Comrades,

34^th Conference of All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association:

The 34^th Conference of the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association was held at ICSA Centre Jivana Jyothi Building, 107, Pantheon Road, Egmore Chennai from 09.01.11 to 11.01.11 as notified. Its inaugural session was held at Museum Theatre Egmore, Chennai on 9^th Jan 2011 at 10.00 A.M. 34 Delegates and 20 observers and 2 Special invitees representing 17 units attended the Conference.

Inaugural Session of the 34^th Conference: 09.01.2011:

Com.S.V.Deshpande,  President of the Association hoisted the Flag and saluted the martyrs in the presence of Com.Basudeb Acharia, who is a seven time Member of Parliament, Com.S.K.Vyas., President Confederation of CGEs, Com MS Raja Secretary General All India Audit & Accounts Association, Com Unnikrishnan, former Secretary General of our Federation, Com.Radhakrisna former President. Shri,M.Subramanian, Worshipful Mayor of Chennai,the Chairman, Reception Committee, welcomed the Honorable members of Parliament, delegates and leaders of fraternal organisations.  The Conference was inaugurated by Com.Basudeb Acharia, who greeted this Association for its tradition of struggle and of discharging the responsibility through its accountability to the people. He pointed out that as a nation we were facing a crisis of Public Accountability today. The major crisis was that even after 63 year of independence we have not been able to resolve many of the problems faced by the majority of the people in this country such as the problem of poverty, the problem of unemployment, the problem of ignorance. The Gap between the rich and poor had increased and the society was divided not in the name of religion, caste, or region but in the name of wealth. He further added that we, the elite of the society, should search our soul for the rooting out of these problems. He explained the reasons behind these problems and how the pursuance of the policy of globalization, privatization, and liberalization followed by the successive Governments had been the sole reason behind this and proposed that the elite should come forward to reverse degeneration. Special Address was delivered by Shri.Ramasubbu Honourable Member of Parliament. He mentioned that the service of Audit and Accounts Officers were the backbone of the not only to Indian Audit and Accounts department but also to the entire nation. He further elaborated that the services of the AOs/SAOs should be honored with suitable grade pay and suitable status. He assured that our genuine demand would be taken by him in the floor of Parliament.

The 34^th Conference was felicitated by T.K.Rangarajan Honourable Member of Parliament. He pointed out that the  houses of the auditors in the private firm was raided by the CBI where as it would not be in the case of our case since the Audit Officers and Sr.Audit Officers  were very honest in their service to the nation. He also assured that our genuine demand would be taken by him in the floor of Parliament.

Release of a Book:

The institution of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India shoots into the limelight from time to time whenever his reports bring out issues that the media and the political parties find to be good publicity or adverse publicity material. The latest being the report on the 2G Spectrum allocation that marked the dawn of the 150^th year of the institution with a bang.  It has been the experience of many of those who serve the IA&AD that the public at large remains ill-informed about the institution of the C&AG and how it serves the public, largely because of the conscious avoidance of publicity and the uncompromising professional quest for facts regarding financial propriety, regularity etc. That the institution has not been accused of having “compromised” so far stands testimony to the practiced resistance to external influences and had discharged its responsibilities “without fear or favour”. But the deliberate isolation has also prevented “public awareness” about the institution.

The book titled as“In the quest for truth …… to serve the people” is an attempt by the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association, to inform the reader of the “Who and Why” of the Supreme Audit Institution of this country. The Association takes great pride in bringing out this book in the 150^th year of the C&AG which was released by our veteran leader Com.S.K.Vyas and the first copy was received by Com.Basudeb Acharia in the Presence of Worshipful Mayor Shri.M.Subramanian and Honourable Member of Parliament Shri.Ramasubbu and Shri.T.K.Rangarajan in our inaugural session of the 34^th Conference. It is our endeavor to place the facts before the reader and not to eulogies the Institution or to criticize it. This book contains facts about the struggle of the Accounts Officers, Audit Officers, Sr.Accounts Officers and Sr.Audit Officers for due recognition of their contribution to the department that has enabled it in achieving what it had over the years of its existence. All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association is grateful to Com.N.Kannan & Com J Balakrishnan SAOs (both retired) for their contribution to this book.

Com M.S.Raja Secretary General of All India Audit and Accounts Association greeted the delegates and explained the hostile situation prevailing in the department and he assured that with the cooperation of employees and officers the situation would be overcome. Com Virugu Bhattacharjee, Convener of the Joint Action Committee of audit and accounts employees and officers’ organasations reiterated that the joint action committee would move forward to achieve our demand. Com Vasudevan, General Secretary of Insurance Officers Federation, Com.Varadharajan General Secretary of the Promotee Officers Federation , Railways, Com.Ananda Padmanabhan General Secretary of the Pay and Accounts Officers Association, Com.Chandramouli,  Central Excise Officers Association, Com.Dakshinamoorthy Postal Accounts Officers Association, Com.UnniKrishnan  Com.A.V.Venkataraman Former Secretary General of All India Audit and Accounts Association, Com.S.K.Vyas, President of the Confederation of Central Government Employees, Com.M.Duraipandian, President of All India Audit and Accounts Association, Com.N.Srinivasan General Secretary Railway Accounts Staff Association also greeted the Conference. Com.K.T.Sridharan, Chairman Coordination Committee proposed the vote of thanks.

Felicitation to our Leaders:

Com. K.T.Sridharan, Vice President of the Association, who had already retired and Com.G. Jesu Raja Convener Coordination Committee of the Audit and Accounts Officers Association Tamil Nadu Unit who is to retire in April 2011 were felicitated in the venue of the Inaugural Session.

Delegate Session: 10.01.2011:

The Delegate Session was presided by the Presidium consisting of Com.S.V.Deshpande and Com.K.T.Sridharan. The Secretary General presented the minutes of 33rd Conference held at Nagpur which was adopted unanimously by the Conference. Com.S.Mohan then presented the report of the Secretary General for the period from 2008 to 2010 and explained the salient features of the report. More than 14 delegates from various affiliated units took part in the discussion. Finally the report of Secretary General was adopted with certain modifications/additions   The Secretary General’s report adopted by the Conference shall be circulated shortly. Then the Secretary General presented the Audited Accounts for the year 2008-09 & 2009-10 which were unanimously adopted by the Conference.  

Special Address by Dr.Venkatesh Atherya:

The delegate Session was addressed by Dr.Venkatesh Atherya, who is a leading economist. He presented the situation prevailing in this country. He explained about budget, deficit budget and fiscal deficit and how the country as well as the world was facing the economic crisis .The response of the delegates was very good and the question hour session witnessed a mind boggling discussion.

Resolutions Adopted:

The Conference adopted unanimously a detailed resolution on ‘policy and programmes’ for the future course of action in the coming years after a detailed discussion amongst the delegates as also a resolution on conferment of Group A status have been adopted.  

Election to the National Executive:

The Conference appointed Com.M.G.Venkatesh Vice president of P&T Audit Officers and Sr.Audit Officers Association and Com KV Nagaraju out going Assistant Secretary General as Election Officers to conduct the election of the members of the National Executive for the period 2011 to 2013. All the office bearers were elected unopposed and unanimously. The 34^th Conference also unanimously nominated Auditor and nominated advisors to the National Executive. The list of office bearers,  General Auditor nominated and the Advisors for the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association unanimously approved by the conference are enclosed. After the acceptance speech by the newly elected office bearers, valedictory address by the Former vice President, and the convener of the Coordination Committee the conference concluded after adopting a resolution thanking the Host Unit for their splendid efforts in organizing the Conference successfully.

It is requested that each unit leadership should undertake extensive campaign by holding activists’ meetings, group meetings etc about our problems confronted day to day and to communicated view points for further course of action.

                                                                                                     Yours Fraternally,

                                                                                               

                                                                                                            S.Mohan

                                                                                                     Secretary General.

Composition of National Executive Committee of

All India Audit and Accounts Officers’ Association

I.National executive Committee Members

Sr. No	Post	Name	Present Office
1	President	S. V. Deshpande	O/o Accountant General (A & E) II Maharashtra, Nagpur
2	Vice President	P.Prabhakar	Principal Director of Audit, South Central Railway, Secundrabad
3	Secretary General	S. Mohan	O/o Pr.Directpr of Commercial Audit & Ex-officio Member Audit Board IV New Delhi @ Chennai.
4	Additional Secretary General	R. K.Gowtham.	O/o Accountant General (A & E) I Madhya Pradesh Gwalior
5	Secretary (Finance)	Y.P.Kanade	O/O the Accountant General (A&E) I., Maharashtra Mumbai
6	Asst. Secretary General	Balbir Singh Sharma	O/o Director General of Central Revenues New Delhi
7	Asst. Secretary General	V.Prema Chandran	O/o the Director General of Postal Audit Branch Office Thiruvananthapuram
8	Asst. Secretary General	P.Balasubramaniam	O/o Principal Accountant General (Civil Audit), Tamil Nadu and Puduicherry Chennai

Wishing You
A
Diwali
That lights up
Joy
Happiness
Peace
Prosperity
Happy Diwali


S.MOHAN

Dear Comrade,

On behalf of All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association and on my own behalf I recollect your association with us in all our Struggles to achieve our demands. Kindly Mark your calendar right away and block Sunday, the 9th Jan 2011 to 11^th Jan 2011 be present at Chennai, for our 34^th Conference of All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association.The Honorable Mayor of the Corporation of Chennai has agreed to head the Reception Committee of the Conference.

Thanking You,

Yours Comradely,

S.Mohan.

All India General Strike by Central Trade Unions on Sept 7, 2010

The representatives of the central trade unions and workers and employees Federations -- BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC AND LPF organised the second National Convention of the workers in New Delhi at Mavalankar Hall on July 15, 2010 and adopted the following declaration.

DECLARATION

The representatives of central trade unions and workers and employees federations having assembled in the second national convention of the workers on July 15, 2010, reviewed the joint action programme over five commonly agreed demands as decided in the first historic convention of workers on September 14, 2009. This convention considering the review of joint actions - all India protest day on October 28, 2009, massive dharna on December 16, 2009 and satyagraha/jail bharo on March 5, 2010 in which ten lakh workers participated and also considering the situation arising thereafter adopts the following declaration.

Despite the trade unions demanding effective steps to curb price rise, particularly food price inflation, food prices escalating as high as 17 per cent, inflation rising to double-digit, government continues to remain totally unresponsive to mitigate the deep sufferings of the working people;

Despite the trade unions expressing deep concern at the uninterrupted violation of labour laws and trade union rights, situation is becoming grim and repressive every day;

Despite trade unions protesting against job loss, underpayment, unbearable living conditions, lengthening working hours, rampant contractorisation, casualisation and outsourcing, nothing is being done to prevent the declining living conditions and inhuman exploitation of working masses;

Despite the trade unions opposing the disinvestment in the profit making public sector, the latest disinvestment being pushed through in Coal India Ltd, BSNL, SAIL, NLC, Hindustan Copper, NMDC etc.,the pernicious policy of reckless disinvestment is continuing with impunity;

Despite the trade unions earnestly asking for the setting up of a massive welfare fund for universal comprehensive social security coverage for the unorganised sector workers without any restriction, the fund allocation remain nominal and restrictive provisions continue.

The convention notes with concern that not only the protests of the trade unions are being ignored, the policy that accentuates increase in the prices of food grains is being constantly bulldozed, the latest is the deregulation of petroleum pricing linking it with the international market leading to hefty increase in the prices of kerosene, cooking gas, diesel, and petrol.The convention reiterates the unanimously formulated demands once again as under:

Price rise of essential commodities to be contained through appropriate corrective and distributive measures like universal PDS and containing speculation in commodity market

Concrete proactive measures to be taken for linkage of employment protection in the recession stricken sectors with the stimulus package being offered to the concerned entrepreneurs and for augmenting public investment in infrastructure

Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws

Steps to be taken for removal of all restrictive provisions based on poverty line in respect of eligibility of coverage of the schemes under the unorganised workers social security act 2008 and creation of national fund for the unorganised sector to provide for a national floor level social security to all unorganised workers including the contract/casual workers in line with the recommendation of national commission on enterprises in unorganised sector and parliamentary standing committee on labour

Disinvestment of shares of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) is not resorted to for meeting budgetary deficit and instead their growing reserve and surplus be used for expansion and modernisation purposes and also for revival of sick public sector undertakings.

This national convention of workers, while exercising their constitutional and democratic rights seek to further its legitimate protest and call for immediate correction of the patently wrong policies that dangerously hurt the interests of the working people and the society as a whole, and to give vent to the feelings of the growing indignation of the working people.

The convention therefore resolves to call for an all India General strike on September 7, 2010.

The convention calls upon the entire working people of the country, irrespective of affiliations to rally everybody in the united call for countrywide general strike and make it a total success and intensify the struggle further and prepare for a massive march of the workers to parliament in November/December 2010.

Circular No 11

Dear Comrades,
Meeting With Pr.Director (Staff):
As a follow up to the meeting with DAI, the President and Secretary General had a meeting with Pr.Director of Staff on 19/03/2010. In the Meeting the Pr.Director (Staff) sought certain clarifications on the applicability of MACP Scheme to the AOs/Sr.AOs. In support of our demand for MACPS to AOs/SAOS by treating the AAO as entry cadre, the following arguments were cited.

MACPS TO AO/SAO: As per Point 5 of Annexure 1 to OM No.35034/3/2008-Estt.(D) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training), New Delhi, Dt 19th May, 2009, Promotions earned/upgradation granted under the ACP Scheme in the past to those grades which now carry the same grade pay due to merger of pay scales/upgradations of posts recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission shall be ignored for the purpose of granting upgradations under Modified ACPS. Further clarification on the applicability of point – 5 of MACP Scheme with regard to merger of four pay scales of Group D cadre was issued by DOPT in OM Dated 16.11.09.Based on the order and clarification, Clerk who was appointed in the cadre of Peon and got three promotions as Filer, Record keeper and Clerk prior to Jan 2006 was given two financial upgradation on completion of 30 years of service ignoring promotions to Filer and Record keeper as Peon, Filer and Record keeper were merged and given grade pay of Rs 1800. As per sixth CPC, Stenographer Grade II, Stenographer Grade I and Personal Secretary were merged and given Grade Pay Rs.4200. Subsequently the Ministry of Finance vide OM.Dated 13.11.09 decided that the pre revised scale of Rs.6500-200-10500 would be placed in PB-2 with a Grade Pay of Rs 4600 with effect from 1.1.2006. Accordingly C&AG in its letter dated 9.2.2010 has communicated to all heads of department in IA&AD the re designation of Stenographer cadre and requested to take appropriate action to review financial upgradations granted under MACPS to stenographer cadre. In view of the above Private Secretary who was appointed in the cadre of Stenographer Grade III and got three promotions as Stenographer Grade II, Stenographer Grade I (PA) and Private Secretary prior to Jan 2006 would be eligible for third financial upgradation on completion of 30 years of service ignoring promotions to Stenographer grade I & II. It was also implemented by our department in various offices by granting third financial upgradation with Grade pay of Rs.4800 to the cadre of Private Secretary. As on 1.1.2006, both Group D promotee clerk and Private Secretary were not continuing in the merged cadre and were granted financial upgradation to next higher Grade pay after completion of 10 years in the same Grade on the analogy of point – 5 of Annexure I of MACPS.

Similar dispensation should be extended to Section officer Grade. Audit Officers/ Sr.Audit Officers who were appointed as Section Officer on passing SOG examination and promoted as Asst. Audit Officer and Audit Officer /Sr.Audit Officer prior to Jan 2006 should also be considered for financial upgradation under MACP as Section Officer and Assistant Audit Officer were extended same grade pay of Rs 4800 as per Section II of Part B, First Schedule in the Sixth CPC notification dt 29th Aug 2008. Subsequently Section Officer and Assistant Audit Officer were merged and section officer was re-designated as Asst.Audit Officer. It is pertinent to note that for a query “Whether the promotions of UDCs to old Tax Assistant and old Tax Assistant to Inspector shall be counted two promotions or one for the purpose of MACPs owing to redesignation of old Tax Assistant to Sr.Tax Assistant in the higher pay scale of Rs5000-8000 & merger of pay scales of 5000-8000,Rs5500-8000 &Rs.6500-10500” it was clarified by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Department of revenue, Central Board of Excise & Customs vide No.F.No.A-26017/76/2009-AO-11A dated 29th September 2009 that if the pay scales of feeder grade and promotional grade have been merged on the recommendations of 6th CPC, such cases would be regulated in accordance with point No 5 of the MACP. Section Officer, the feeder grade was merged with Asst.Audit/Accounts Officer, the promotional Grade and therefore AO/Sr.AO would be eligible for third financial upgradation as per point – 5 of Annexure I of MACPS. On hearing our argument the Pr.Director (S) stated that the issue would be further examined and if found fit the proposal would be carried forward further.

Regarding Group “A” status to the Sr.Accounts/Audit Officers it was clarified that up to IV CPC the AO/SAO were placed at a grade higher than the entry level of IA & AS and degradation of the cadre started from 4th Central Pay Commission which placed entry level IA&AS Officers on par with the AOs and subsequent reduction in status by subsequent Pay Commissions should be rectified and the Status of the AOs restored to the original level. Only grant of Group “A” status would in the opinion of the Association, facilitate improvement of the Cadres in Future. Pr.Director (Staff) stated that the issue of conferring Group “A” Status to the SAOs is already under the consideration of the department.

The Pr.Director (staff) also informed that a note for enhancement of the Age limit for entry into the IAAS Cadre from 53 years to 55years is being processed.

However, it has been our experience that our demands would be met only if consistent pressure is maintained on the authorities. In view of this there will be no change in the Mass casual leave program me on 8th April 2010.
All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association Calls Upon All AOs/SAOs to participate in the Mass Casual Leave programme on 8th April 2010
The All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association has announced that on 8th April, there will be Mass Casual Leave programme throughout India to demand immediate steps to Up Grade the Grade Pay for Aos and Sr.Aos, enhancement of age limit for their promotion to IAAS, increasing their quota for promotion, and Cadre Review. The National Executive Committee of the Association felt that the preparations are on the right track and the response of the membership is quite encouraging. It has been further decided that effort should be made for unity on the charter of demands. It has been already decided to carry forward our initiative for unity and request the All India Federation of Sr. Audit Officers & Audit Officers to join the Mass CL programme of 8th April 2010. Secretary General attended their working committee held at Bhubaneswar Orissa on Feb 13th and 14th as a special invitee and appealed to their affiliates to join hands in the struggle of achieving our higher Grade Pay of Rs.6600 to AOs and Rs7600 to Sr.AOs. The National Executive calls upon every unit to make all out effort for the success of MASS CASUAL LEAVE programme on 8th APRIL 2010 a total success. All units should send the report about the number of CL applications collected by the unit upto 31st March evening along with staff strength position without fail.

Yours Fraternally,

S.Mohan.
Secretary General.

EX- SERVICEMEN HOLD PROTEST, DEMAND EQUAL PENSION
New Delhi: - Around 1000 retired defence personnel on Sunday staged a protest here demanding “equal pension for each rank” and collected their gallantry medals for returning them to the Government. Ex-servicemen from all the threje defence forces held the protest at Jantar Mantar. They would also submit a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, one of the organizers said. The main demand is that irrespective of the date on which a soldier retired, he or she should get the same pension. “It is a shame for the country that solders have to return their gallantry awards and meritorious medals and come to the streets for redressing their grievances”, they said,

PTI- Courtesy ------ The Hindu – 15.03.2010

Hold Protest, Demand Up gradation of Grade Pay!!

Participate in the MASS CASUAL LEAVE PROGRAMME ON 8TH APRIL;

We are no way different from these Soldiers.
They are the Guardians of this big Nation
We are the watch dogs of the public money.
They are defenders of the borders of this Great nation
We are the defenders of the taxpayer’s money
Show your protest in the similar way
Submit Casual Leave Application
Spare one day Casual Leave
For the sake of your Self respect,
For Up gradation of Your Grade pay,
For Better working Environment

Circular No 10

To
The National Executive Members &
The Secretaries of the Affiliates

Meeting with DAI: The delegation comprising the President Com.S.V.Deshpande, the Vice-President Com. K.T.Sridharan, the Secretary General Com S.Mohan, the Secretary Finance Com. P.Prabhakar met DAI on 2nd March 2010 at 3.00 p.m. in the Conference Hall in the Head Quarters office. After formal exchange of pleasantries we presented the following issues.

1.Up gradation of Pay Scales of Audit/Accounts and Senior Audit/Accounts Officers: The Notification dated 29th August 2008 prescribing the new pay scales effective from 1.1.06 has granted the Sr .Divisional Accounts officer of IA&AD with a Grade pay of Rs.5400 and has placed them in PB3.The AOs of the IA&AD have been granted the same Grade pay but placed in PB2. The SAOs of IA&AD have also been granted the same Grade pay but placed in PB3.Thus the present scales have disturbed the well established vertical relativity by placing the Sr. DAO above the AO in an equal position with the SAO of IA&AD ignoring the fact that the department’s recruitment rules place the Divisional Accounts Officer in the scales equal to the AAO of this department. Further when a person is promoted as AO, from AO to SrAO and then when he is conferred IAAS with the same Grade Pay of Rs.5400 after granting just one increment. After introduction of MACP Scheme, the supervised and supervisor has been offered and placed in the same grade pay. We insisted that the C&AG must take up this issue with Finance Ministry at his level. Further, we demanded that, the department should explore the possibility of projecting the issue of Grade Pay of AOs and Sr.AOs as an anomaly before the anomaly committee since the Group B officers have no representative forum in the JCM set up to ventilate their grievances before the Government. The DAI explained the Department’s position in this regard. He was of the opinion that the CAG, being a part of the administration of Government, was a party to the decision of the pay scale offered to AOs and Sr.AOs. Hence, the DAI stated, approaching the Finance Ministry by the CAG was not feasible. The DAI was also of the opinion that categorising this issue under the anomaly was very difficult. However he stated that the department was sympathetic with our demand. He opined that the number of cases in each office drawing the same grade pay would be assessed and based on this data the department might take up the issue with the Government in order to resolve this issue in an amicable manner. He further opined that the association might explore its own sources to achieve this demand within the parameter limits. At our behest he agreed to keep this issue open to enable exploring further avenues to clinch this demand.
2. Conferment of Group ‘A’ Status to Sr.AOs: The conferment of ‘Group A’ Status to Sr.AOs of this Department as per the Notification of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of personnel and training) Order dated 9th April 2009 facilitates the further promotional opportunities to AOs/SAOs cadre. It is imperative that the notification is formally implemented in IA&AD without any delay. The DAI stated that If the Sr.AO post is conferred with Group ‘A’ status, the process of promotion of AO to Sr.AO would not only take longer time than at present but also involves all India transfer liability as promotion to Group ‘A’ services requires consultation with UPSC. We explained that as majority of the members desired for conferment of Group ‘A’ status as per the notification of the DOPT, there was no need for the Association to reconsider its demand. The DAI agreed to pursue this case for conferment of Group A status to Sr.AOs.
3.Increasing Promotion Quota to I.A &A.S. to 50% from the existing 33 1/3%: There are nearly 5000 AOs/SAOs working in the I.A. & A.D. The number of IA&AS Officers working in the Department is nearly 900. Out of this, only 33 1/3 % (i.e.) 300 posts are available for promotion to nearly 5000 officers. This is totally inadequate and not in consonance with the number of AOs/SAOs working in the Department. Hence promotion quota needs to be increased to 50% of the total strength of IA&AS cadre. In the Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other Central Government Departments, the promotion quota to Group ‘A’ posts has already been increased to 50%. When these were pointed out, The DAI has assured the delegation that this demand would be taken care of after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General.
4.Removal of age limit for promotion to I.A. & A.S: At present, Sr.Audit/Accounts Officers are promoted to the IA&AS Cadre, according to the All India Seniority List maintained by the C & AG’s Office. But only those who have not completed 53 years of age, on the 1st July of the Panel Year are considered for empanelment. Others are not considered, even if they are otherwise qualified. This is a great injustice done to the Sr.AOs working in the Department who stagnate for more than 15 years in the same cadre. In no other Department of the Central Government this kind of discrimination is shown to Group B Gazetted Officers. Even though the C&AG had, in the informal meetings, accepted that this was an injustice, nothing has been done in practice to remove this grave injustice. When these were highlighted, the DAI responded positively and he explained that the department had taken adequate care to remove the backlog vacancies in the promotion quota in the IAAS cadre and it would be cleared by the end of the month of July 2010 when the situation would be current. He also assured that steps would be taken to ensure that 55 years of age would be the age limit for considering the promotion to IAAS Cadre commencing from the Panel year 2011 for empanelment.
5. Extension of MACP benefit to AOs & Sr.AOs: The Government of India vide DOPT. OM. No.35034/3/2008-Estt. (D) Dated, 19th May, 2009 has introduced Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme to the Central Government employees from 1st September 2008. The important feature of the scheme is that every employee shall get three financial upgradations in his career at an interval of ten years between each upgradation. Ten year interval is counted from the date of recruitment in the directly recruited post. The scheme also makes a provision for granting such upgradation to the employees who is recruited in another post by counting the resting period of ten years from the date of recruitment to that post for each financial upgradation. The scheme has also been implemented in IA&AD benefiting the cadres’ upto Sr Auditor/Sr Accountant. However the scheme has not been extended to AOs/SAOs on the ground that they have already got three promotions. The C&R rules of the MSO (Admn), Vol. I, Chapter 5 provides that “Section Officer’s (re-designated as Assistant Accounts/Audit Officers) service is an appointment and no person who has not passed Section Officers’ Grade Examination is eligible for appointment as Assistant Accounts/Audit Officer and thus the appointment to the post of AAO is not regular line of promotion …” . The fact that only the service rendered in the cadre of Assistant Accounts/Audit Officers is counted for future promotions confirms the above position. In case of LDCs who negotiate the departmental examination and become Stenographers it has been clarified, Vide circular dated 31/07/08, that they are to be treated as “Appointed to the cadre of Stenographers” The case of the Assistant Accounts/Audit Officers (Section Officers) who have negotiated the Section Officer (Grade) examination from the cadre of Clerks, Accountants/Auditors, Sr.Accountants/Sr.Auditors is analogous and they also have to be treated as “appointed” to the post on their successful negotiation of the Examination. Thus the consideration under the MACP scheme has to reckon the existing AOs/SAOs treating the AAO cadre as the entry cadre in all fairness. Consequently AO/SAOs are entitled for benefits under MACP scheme treating them as having been appointed in the cadre of Assistant Accounts/Audit Officers and have been granted only one or two promotions thereafter as the case may be and granted progression accordingly. On hearing our above views the DAI agreed that there was logic and point in the submission of staff side views. He agreed to pursue this issue favourably.
6.Cadre Review: The cadre of SAOs has no promotional prospects in the department except for induction to IA & AS cadre. The induction is also a very small percentage with the conditionality of age restriction etc. This has resulted in their stagnating in the same cadre for more than 10 to 12 years resulting in frustration and de-motivation. To remove this acute stagnation and also to meet the functional needs of the department there is an urgent need to have fresh review of the cadre providing more promotional opportunities to the SAOs in the department. On hearing us the DAI responded that there was a proposal for a cadre review in this department. He assured the delegation, a “win win” situation would be created in this department to the Cadre of AOs and Sr.AOs through cadre review shortly.
7. Proposed Amendments to the Constitution of the Association of the Federation: As the federated units being spread all over India it is being found to be difficult and very expensive to hold its Conference biennially. It has already been brought to the notice of the C&AG administration with a request to re-examine this clause of the Constitution of the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association and to facilitate the Federation in holding its Conference once in three years. Further in the case of Observance of uniform quorum by all the Service Associations recognized under the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993, the field level Associations as well as Federation has been directed to amend the clauses relating to the quorum. The quorum prescribed is 1/3rd of the total strength of the primary members for General Body meetings/Special meetings/Conference/Special conference and 1/3rd of the elected members of the decision making bodies of working committee and Central head quarters(CHQ)/Executive committees for the meetings of those bodies. This direction is stated to have been issued to ensure uniformity among all Associations/Federations in the IA&AD recognized under the CCS (RSA) rules 1993. It is our considered view that the instructions would result in paralysing the functioning of the Associations as they would find it difficult to hold timely meetings for taking decisions for carrying out their objectives to achieve the goals. This would result in defeating spirit of formation and recognition of service Associations and contradicts the stated objectives of the Government of India of giving at most importance to recognized service Associations and enabling their effective functioning. It is our request that the Association/Federation be allowed to retain the existing clause regarding quorum for its meetings and be allowed to function for the welfare of its members. On hearing these views of the Association the DAI has agreed to accept the proposed amendments by the federation.
Informal Meeting with AC (N): Certain issues like, creation of redressal forum to the officers in the North Eastern States, regularisation of days as duty for the leaders involved in the departmental talks from the central Associations such as Association of AO (Comml) /Sr.AO (Comml), P&T Audit Officers Sr.Audit Officers Association, Payment of HRA to staff& Officers posted at workshop audit office, S.C.Railway, Guntapalli at rates applicable to Vijayawada were also discussed with AC(N) informally on the next day(03.03.10). The response of the AC (N) was very positive in respect of the above said Demands.

PREPARE FOR MASS CASUAL LEAVE ON 8TH APRIL 2010: It is to be noted that for the first time, after a lapse of nearly two decades in our history, it has been possible for us to negotiate our issues on a confident and equal footing with the authorities who obviously were under pressure to recognise our demands as worthy of their time and to candidly come up with agreements or disagreements and to express the support for our cause. This sudden shift to the equality and openness is on account of our successful and unambiguous demonstration of the commitment to, and the will to fight for, our genuine demands through the massive support to the day long Dharna programme. The emphatic and open participation of the units has signalled to the administration that we cannot be ignored or denied anymore. Such, comrades, is the power of concerted and united action. It has earned the Association a seat of respect while negotiating our demand with the C&AG’s Administration. But, comrades, it is not enough that the Association is heard only by those who run the IA&AD. This is hardly the end, in fact this is only a beginning towards the final ascend to the peak. We can hardly rest. It is urgent and imperative that those who run this country should also feel the heat and reconcile themselves to the fact that the AOs/SAOs of IA&AD have to be heard and that their thirst for justice has to be quenched. Only when we achieve such a position shall our demand be achieved. WE ALL need to put our shoulders to the wheel in earning this position of strength to the Association. The Mass casual leave programme has, therefore become a crucial step for us all in demonstrating to the GOI that we mean business and shall not rest till our demands are met. The Association fervently appeals to its one and all for making the programme an indisputable success and reinforce the position of strength that you have enabled the Association in achieving.

Yours Fraternally,


(S.Mohan)
Secretary General.

All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association

Salutes 130 Officers

who participated in Day Long Mass Dharna &

30 Officers who participated during lunch Hour

on Feb 5th in front of C&AG Office.

It seeks united support of all to achieve our Goal

“A Big Victory for

our sustained Efforts!”

Our Stand Vindicated!!

For Claiming of Travel Charges and Food Bills

Self certification is accepted. Clarification issued
– Unity is the Strength.

Circular No 9

Success of the Day Long Mass Dharna on Feb 5th ----Long Live!

Dear Comrades,
It is a very good and momentous response from the Cadre of AOs and Sr.AOs to the call given by the All India Audit and Accounts Officers Association for the Day Long Mass Dharna on Feb 5th to insist the Comptroller and Auditor General for immediate settlement of the following Demands.

1. Up Gradation of Grade pay Rs.6,600/- to Audit officers/Accounts Officers and Rs.7,600/- to Sr.Audit/Sr.Accounts Officers in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
2. Conferment of Group ‘A’ Status to Sr.Accounts Officer/Sr.Audit Officer.
3. Removal of Age restriction for the promotion to I.A.A.S
4. Extension of benefit of Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme to Audit/Accounts Officers and Sr.Audit/Sr.Accounts Officers
5. Cadre Review.

Nearly 130 Officers from all over India sat on Dharna in front of the C&AG Office at the Kotla Road Entrance, and more than 30 Officers also joined the Dharna during the Lunch Hour. Com S.RadhaKrishna, our former President, inaugurated the Dharna. He explained that how the Cadre of AOs and Sr.AOs continuously lose its original position they enjoyed and what was the major hurdle in restoring the original position. The Day long Mass Dharna was presided over by our President Com.S.V.Deshpande, and was addressed by Com. Hans Raj Gupta, president Assn of Sr.AO (Comml) and AO (Comml). Solidarity support speech was given by C.L.Shastry, Former Secretary General, Pay and Accounts Officers Association, and Com.D.P.Sharma, Secretary General, All India Pay and Accounts Officers Association followed by Com.A.K.Mehta, Convenor, Delhi unit of Joint action Committee of audit and accounts Employees and Officers’ Organsations, and Com.Virugu Bhattacharjee Convenor of Apex Level JAC. During Lunch Hour Mass Gathering the Secretary General S.Mohan, proposed a Resolution which was unanimously adopted by the meeting. Com.M.G.Venketesh, Vice President, P&T Audit officers’ and Sr.Audit Officers’ Association concluded the Dharna.

The Spirit of the Dharna and the morale of the Participants in the Dharna were very high and they took solemn pledge to continue the fight to achieve our genuine demand by raising continuous slogans. Participants were from Accounts, Civil Audit, Commercial Audit, Railway Audit and Postal Audit representing various states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, & Delhi. The Participants from Delhi units were very significant.

This programme is a modest, but valiant beginning of a movement that aims at restoring the past glory and the relative superiority of the cadres of AOs/SAOs of IA&AD. The unprecedented mass participation by the Officers from all over the country etches in the annals of the history of IA&AD the first and is a significant step towards the goal. The courageous and participative spirit exuded by the Officers is a demonstration of the unity and the will to move towards and to achieve our goal. The show of unity and participative sprit guarantee our success.

Recently, restructuring of Member Audit Board offices and reallocation of audit resources, using the capital employed by the auditee as the basis, have been proposed by the administration of Commercial audit wing of Indian audit and accounts Department. The proposal is riddled with various anomalies and has to be opposed forthwith. Further the unilateral implementation of transfer guidelines, with out consulting the staff side has resulted in confusion and demoralisation of the employees working in the Commercial Audit wing. The Participants in the Dharna unanimously adopted a resolution opposing restructuring of Member Audit Board Offices, the unscientific and anti-staff reallocation of man power and the unilateral implementation of transfer policy in the commercial audit wing and directed the Secretary General to forward the same to the C&AG of India.

Day Long Mass Dharna Endorses JAC call for Mass casual leave On 8th April 2010
The Apex Level Joint Action Committee of Audit and Accounts Employees and Officers’ Organisations met on 1st Feb 2010 at Jaipur on the eve of 45th Conference of All India Audit and Accounts Association and had a very detailed deliberations about our long pending charter of demands which affects the audit and accounts cadre from auditor/ accountant level to Sr.Accounts/Sr.Audit Officer in entirety and unanimously decided to go for one day Mass Casual Leave on 8th April 2010 on those Charter of Demands.

As per the decision of our Extended National Executive Committee Meeting at Mumbai, the participants of the Day Long Mass Dharna, after detailed discussion on various issues and circumstances came to the conclusion that, considering the intransigent attitude of the government and the CAG administration, the Audit/Sr.Audit and Accounts/Sr.Accounts officers have no other option but to join the Mass Casual Leave on 8th April 2010. It was further decided that the campaign for the Mass Casual Leave on 8th April 2010 should start now itself not only to organise its own cadres but to involve entirety of audit and accounts Employees and Officers together in this struggle to achieve its demand.

Hence the Day Long Mass Dharna on Feb 5th called upon the employees and officers in IA&AD to start vigorous campaign and mobilisation on the basis of its Charter of Demands along with JAC Charter to ensure total success of the Mass Casual Leave on 8th April 2010. (JAC circular would follow).

Yours Fraternally,


(S.Mohan)
Secretary General

RESOLUTION

The meeting of the members of the Affiliates of The All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association held on 5th February 2010 in front of the O/o The Comptroller & Auditor General of India New Delhi reviewed the latest developments on their Charter of Demands presented to the C & AG of India. In spite of making several representations by the entirety of membership no substantial progress has taken place in settlement of their demands. The meeting noted that on the issue of upgradation of Grade Pay of Rs.6600/- to Audit/Accounts Officers & Rs.7600/- to Sr.Audit / Sr.Accounts Officers final settlement has not taken place mainly because of intransigent and adamant stand of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. The meeting also noted that in spite of Government of India issuing orders for reclassification of posts on the Grade Pay and as per that orders the cadre of Sr.Audit/Sr.Accounts Officers satisfy the criteria laid down for conferment of Group ‘A’ status the same has not been conferred as enabling orders have not been issued by the C&AG’s Administration. The meeting noted that on all other demands also there is a dilly dallying attitude on the part of authorities resulting in non settlement. The meeting after the review noted that if the demands are not settled at the earliest satisfactorily, the morale of the members of the cadre who are already frustrated by the sense of the deprivation may get adversely affected and have an impact on their output and efficiency. This meeting therefore urges upon the C & AG of India and the Honourable Minister for Finance, Government of India to take immediate steps to address the grievance of the cadre of Audit/Accounts Officers and Senior Audit/Accounts Officers by settling the following demands by holding a meaningful negotiations with the representatives of the Federation.

Charter of Demands:
1. Up Gradation of Grade pay Rs.6,600/- to Audit officers/Accounts Officers and Rs.7,600/- to Sr.Audit/Sr.Accounts Officers in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
2. Conferment of Group ‘A’ Status to Sr.Accounts Officer/Sr.Audit Officer.
3. Removal of Age restriction for the promotion to I.A.A.S
4. Extension of benefit of Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme to Audit/Accounts Officers and Sr.Audit/Sr.Accounts Officers
5. Cadre Review.

The meeting further resolves that the copy of this resolution be forwarded to The Honourable Finance Minister, Government of India & the C &AG of India with a request to take immediate action in the matter.

SD........

President