The recent analysis of the notifications issued by Federal Board of Revenue on transfers and postings clearly indicates bulk of higher grade promotions applying own pay and scale (OPS) formula. A review of the FBR notifications issued by the Admin Wing during the past few months shows that the FBR has transferred and posted junior officials on senior positions in OPS.
This trend has been clearly reflected in the Admin notifications where Grade-20 officials have been posted against Grade-21 positions in OPS. Similarly, officials of Grade-19 have been given new assignments in Grade-20 positions in OPS. The officials of Grade-18 have been transferred and posted in next Grade-19 position in OPS.
The trend continues both in the notifications of the customs and excise group as well as income tax group. A review of past few months'' admin notifications further shows that the trend of next grade promotions in OPS has been increasing during last few months.
For example, a FBR notification No 1206-MIIA/2009 has transferred and posted 27 officials of Income Tax Group (BS-18) to the post of Additional Commissioners of Income Tax (ACITs) in their own pay and scale. These Deputy Commissioners of Income Tax (DCITs) have been given new assignments as Additional Commissioners of Income Tax on OPS basis. Similar kind of many other notifications have been issued by the FBR during the last few months.
Resultantly, some senior officials of customs and excise group and income tax group have been sidelined. The positions have been taken by the junior officials in senior positions on OPS basis.
Such kinds of notifications reflect favouritism in many cases for promotions in next grade in OPS. Another notification 1060-M-IA/2009 has transferred and posted an Additional Commissioner of Income Tax to the post of Commissioner (OPS), Appeals. Similarly, some officials of customs and excise group have been transferred and posted in OPS through a notification No 0858-M-/2009.
This trend of appointments in senior positions in OPS has been witnessed in many other notifications during last many months. Another example of such kind of transfers and postings is notification 1047-MIIA/2009 where some officials of Income Tax Group (BS-19) have been given new assignments. A few Deputy Commissioners have been made Additional Commissioners of Income Tax.
Five Deputy Commissioners of Income Tax (BS-18) have been transferred and posted as Secretary at FBR House in OPS. This notification No 1003-M-IA/2009 was issued on July 24, 2009 for transfers and postings of nine officials of Income Tax Group of (BS-17-18). A notification No 1002-M-IA/2009 has transferred and posted an Additional Commissioner of Income Tax as Commissioner of Income Tax in OPS.
A FBR notification 0858-M-I/2009 had transferred and posted Grade-19-20 officials of customs and excise group. Six Collectors of Customs (OPS) have been transferred and posted as Additional Directors, departmental representatives and Secretary FBR to their original grades. The collectors of customs in OPS were again posted to their original grades. However, some of the officials got stay order from courts to continue to work as collectors of customs.
According to a notification No 0931-M-IA/2009, 16 Additional Commissioners and Secretaries at FBR have been promoted in next grade in OPS. Most of them have been promoted as commissioners of income tax. The "current charge" position could be given in next grade under the laid down procedure (service rules) of the Establishment Division.
However, the relevant department has to intimate the Accountant General office, etc. On the other hand, the FBR can give promotion in next grade under OPS on temporary basis. Interestingly, the practice of OPS has been observed in the FBR and nowhere else. It also seemed to be an administrative distortion in the system as it is becoming a widespread general practice in FBR instead of temporary arrangement.
For example, if a person is working for the last many years as collector on OPS. How he would accept to work as Additional Collector after serving 4-5 years as collector in a senior position? As compared to current charge, which is for a limited period and cannot be continued for indefinitely, the OPS position in next grade continues for many years in the FBR. One kind of OPS included those working in senior positions, who are likely to be promoted. The second kind of OPS included those officials having no likelihood of seniority and promotions, but working on senior grade without any destination.
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