Call to Members to maintain COVID protocols strictly

Dear all,

Since the second wave of the pandemic is on the rise in very many parts of the Country and many of our members and/or family members are getting infected and deaths are also reportedly increasing, there is an urgent need to maintain the COVID protocols strictly in the interest of all.

Hence a circular issued as per the resolution of the CEC is give below:

                                                                              Date:  28.04.2021

  

CIRCULAR 3/2021

Dear friends,

           We are in the midst of an unprecedented crisis that our nation has ever met in the recent known past.  The second wave of COVID 19 is so virulent that even youngsters are not being spared.  The Government has been issuing instructions for taking safeguards.  Saving one self and ones’ own family from being affected by the virus and to keep the work place safe is the primary duty that we will be doing to the nation in the present time. Hence we urge upon each one of you to take vaccinations as soon as possible, ensure proper social distancing, wear masks (double masks as prescribed now) while on duty or in public places, frequently wash hands with liquid soaps or sanitizers, not be part of any crowd in public places, etc.  Those who have any fever or health discomforts (of any nature) should get tested for COVID and until negative results are received quarantine themselves by not attending office so that others are not put to risks.  This Association requests each one of you to kindly follow these protocols until our Nation comes out of the crisis.

           Towards easing the situation on the work front, we have addressed letters to the Chairman and the Secretary DOPT on 19.04.2021.  Subsequently the roster attendance system has been started.  However one area where no instructions have yet been issued is regarding doing away with Physical Verification for grant of new Registration Certificates, in the present situation.  In this regard, many members have been bringing the urgency of this issue to our attention since there is heavy risk involved to the Officers and office environment as well as the trade in conducting this PV.  Since many officers have aged parents at home, the fear of transmitting the virus as asymptomatic career to the aged ones has also been expressed.  We have pointed out to the Board repeatedly that there is no established correlation between PV for registration and the misuse of ITC and issue of false invoices.  Hence, it has been submitted that this is an area of work that can be postponed considering the powers that are available with the department to revoke the deemed registration even later, if it is found that there have been any wrong submissions. However since no directive has been issued by the Board yet on this matter and the pandemic is reported to be increasing in its virulence in many parts of the Country, the Central Executive Committee of this Association, in the interest of the health and wellbeing of our members passed the following resolution:

“The CEC of the AIASCT by this online resolution on 28.04.2021 unanimously resolves to give a call to all the members of the AIASCT to maintain all norms of COVID protocol to protect themselves, their family members and work place from the virulent virus and until any relaxations are notified by the Board regarding PV for fresh Registrations, to grant the Registration after conducting PV only subject to satisfaction of the following parameters:

    i)   That an official vehicle, which is sanitized after use by every other Officer           is  made available and the driver is also tested as safe and necessary                  PPE kits          are supplied to the Officers and driver by the office;

ii) That a mobile phone is made available to those officers who do not have one (since in the present situation most of our members have pointed out that their personal mobiles are required at their homes in the present circumstances, for their children for their online classes, etc) for purposes of taking longitude and latitude of the premises seeking registration.

iii)  That the unit does not fall under any containment zone or it need not be reached crossing any containment zone;

iv) That neither the applicant nor any of the members of their family are affected by COVID

v)  And any other factor which will have a bearing upon the safety of the officers and the trade.

 This CEC urges upon the members of the AIASCT to reject the application for registration, if any of the above factors are not satisfied to enable PV and mention it in their remarks for rejection.  The applicants may be informed over phone, if their number is available and may be requested to make fresh application after the situation causing the reason for rejection has changed. The CEC also resolved to request all our members to maintain/adhere to similar protective and proactive measures while indulging in any field activity like Audit or Anti-evasion work. Further resolved to communicate this resolution to the members of our Association by way of a circular and also to inform the CBIC regarding the same”.

           All members are therefore requested to take all safeguards as denoted above and help the Nation in the present unprecedented crisis by keeping themselves, their family members and work place safe.

 

          With best wishes,

Yours fraternally,

(R.Manimohan)

Secretary General

TO

ALL MEMBERS OF AIASCT

Kindly circulate it widely. Please take care and be safe.

with regards,

R. Manimohan
Secretary General.