Appointment of Technical Members in CESTAT - Board wants applications by 20th January - but what is the incentive?
THE Department of Revenue on 13.12.2013 had invited applications from senior IRS officers for appointment as Technical Members of CESTAT. The last date for receipt of applications is 31.01.2014. Now, the CBEC wants the Chief Commissioners to forward the applications to the Board latest by 20.01.2014.
The salary scale of a CESTAT Member is Rs. 75,500 - 80,000. Chief Commissioners and Commissioners are eligible to apply. Chief Commissioners are at present in the pay scale of 67,000 - 79,000 and senior Commissioners will be in the range of 65,000 - 67,000. Now, when these officers go to the Tribunal as Technical Members, they will have to join in in the initial pay of Rs. 75,500 and will reach the 80,000 scale in two years. But there is a catch - their pension will be on the last pay drawn as Commissioner/Chief Commissioner and not that of a Member. So, these officers will like to join the CESTAT only after they reach the maximum possible salary in the department, because that is what counts for pension and that is for life and even beyond!
Now, there is an impending cadre review in the Department and many Commissioners and Chief Commissioners are hoping for a promotion which means a higher pay (equal to CESTAT Members) - so they would like to wait for that before joining CESTAT, which means you may not get many applications - except from about-to-retire officers. Why can't they give pension to Technical Members based on their last pay in the Tribunal instead of that in the Department? This is pittance for the Government but a lot of money for the officers.
Why should a Commissioner or Chief Commissioner who enjoy a lot of perks (both official and unofficial) in the field join the CESTAT as a Member where he has to put in a lot of hard work with hardly any assistance and perks?
Small mercies please - we shall be grateful.
CBEC Letter F. No. A.35017/33/2013-Ad.II,Dated: December 26, 2013