Regarding deduction from salary as per Revenue Secretary's directions

To
(1) The Secretary for Revenue to the Government of India, North Block, New Delhi.
(2) The Chairman, CBIC, North Block, New Delhi.

Sirs,

Sub: Donation of salary to PM CARES – appeal by Department of Revenue – reg.

We are given to understand that the Department of Revenue has vide F.No.A.50050/42/2020-Cash dated 17th April 2020 issued an appeal calling for donation of One day’s salary from the staff for each month for one year up to the salary of March 2021 towards the PM CARES and that those who are not willing to donate as per the above requirement have been asked to intimate the same before 20.04.2020. In this regard, the following points are brought to your kind notice as per the advice of our All India Executive Committee:

1) Our Association and its members have already committed to donate one day’s salary from the salary of April 2020 to the PM CARES in the cause of fighting COVID 19. This was as per an appeal made by the Chairman, CBIC, after detailed consultations with the Staff Associations in the CBIC. Accordingly, almost all pay bills for the month of April 2020 in the formations of CBIC have been prepared with the above deductions. Many have contributed more than one day’s salary also.

2) Further, our members have contributed more than one day’s salary to the PM CARES/PM Relief Fund, separately also, as well as to CM Relief Funds of their states, considering the gravity of the situation and considering that the States are also put greater strain at this hour, to fight the pandemic at the ground level.

3) In addition, our members are also contributing generously, as money or materials, through various social groups and/or service organisations (even without any expectation for Income Tax exemption) towards COVID 19 relief work and are also actively participating physically in such relief work where ever possible, within the constraints of the lock down.

4) In earlier instances of national calamities, the Government used to make an appeal to the Central Government Staff in consultation with the JCM Staff side. In this case, neither JCM Staff side nor the Departmental Staff side appears to have been consulted before issue of appeal. The Cabinet Secretary vide his D.O. letter vide A-60011/05/2020-Ad.I dated 16th April 2020 addressed to the Secretaries also is seen to have suggested only to seek willingness for voluntary donations for the above cause. Hence, it is feared that the trend to seek non willingness and otherwise presume willingness as set out in the letter of the Department of Revenue would set wrong precedents.

Hence, it is requested that any deduction from the salary of our members, as per the call of the Department of Revenue vide letter dated 17.04.2020, may kindly be made ONLY AS PER THE POSITIVE WILLINGNESS and NOT ON THE BASIS OF NON WILLINGNESS.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,

(R. Manimohan)
Secretary General
AIACEGEO

Copy submitted for information to:

The Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India, New Delhi.

(R. Manimohan)
Secretary General
AIACEGEO

Copy to:
The Principal /Chief Commissioners and Principal/Commissioners of CGST/Customs.
(Through respective Units of AIACEGEO, requesting for necessary directions to all DDOs)

(R. Manimohan)
Secretary General
AIACEGEO