The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), in an order dated March 31 promoted 110 officers to the grade of assistant commissioners. The order, signed by deputy secretary to the Government of India, Amarjit Singh, reached all of its offices across the country within a couple of days.
A whistleblower from within the department in Karnataka has leaked the said circular along with the list of officers who have been promoted, arguing that the order was passed more than three weeks after the Election Commission (EC) brought into effect the model code of conduct.
He also questions the urgency to promote officers on the last day of the financial year, as formation of a new government is on the cards.
The order, a copy of which is with TOI reads: "The President is pleased to promote the officers mentioned in Annexure-I to the grade of assistant commissioner of CBEC in Pay Band 3 with Grade Pay of Rs 5,400 on purely ad-hoc basis with immediate effect and until further orders."
NR Madhav Prasad Reddy, an activist from Anekal near Bangalore, late on Saturday has filed a complaint with the EC, demanding a probe and further action, if the order violates the code.
The whistleblower's note along with the leaked document reads: (sic) "The order of promotion of 110 Asst. Commissioners of Central Excise all same place (till transfers are decided as per their own policy) signed on 31-03-2014 last day of year end, when election process is underway (not known when proper clearances from the Election Commission has been obtained, even has been obtained what was the urgency in clearing the list when new govt. could have formed and taken a justified decision over the matter)."
While the whistleblower has requested anonymity, Reddy told TOI that there could be "connivance among officers and their higher-ups. As of today I am not aware of such a thing, so I have filed a complaint requesting the EC to see if it violates the code of conduct. But once the elections are over, I will take the matter up with departments concerned, or go ahead legally."Sources in the EC, while confirming that the complaint has been filed, said, the commission will refer the matter to Delhi.
Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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