Historical Background
- Anupam Majumdar
The Superintendent of Customs (P) and the Preventive Officers of Customs were the members of the erstwhile All India Customs Preventive Service Federation.
It was in the year 1993 when the Central Civil Service (Recognition of Service Association) Rules came into existence and all the Associations/Federations were asked by the Department to apply for fresh recognition under the said rules.
Accordingly, the then General Secretary Shri A. K. Dasgupta, from Kolkata, applied on 07.03.1994 for recognition under the said CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993. The application was rejected and only in 1997 the CBEC wrote back to Shri Sunil Dole, the then Secretary General of All India Customs Preventive Service Federation vide letter F.No.12014/4/93/Ad. IV A dated 13.03.1997 directing the Federation to apply afresh on the basis of distinct category of Government servants according to rule 5c of the said rules. CBEC also enclosed a list of 23 Associations/Federations of distinct category of Government servants in which the All India Federation of Superintendents of Customs was shown at Sr. no. 02 and All India Associations of Customs Preventive Officers was shown at Sr. no. 07.
During the years from 1994 to 1996 the All India Preventive Service Federation along with other Associations of CBEC and CBDT under the umbrella organization of COC was engaged in the aggressive agitation including the strike action on the demand of pay parity with CBI and other organizations.
The issue of recognition remained dormant during this period, though the in-house deliberations continued on the question of feasibility of forming separate Association for Superintendent of Customs and Preventive Officers of Customs.
In the years 1996 and 1997 the cadre strength of Superintendents took a giant leap and an increase of about 1000 Superintendents on all India basis was effected through the two phases of cadre restructuring. As a result the average age of a Superintendent drastically reduced from 55 years to 45 years thereby increasing the availability of young and active Superintendents.
In such circumstances the consideration for forming the service organization of the Superintendents of Customs gained much ground and it was realized by a large number of Superintendents all over India that the time was ripe to start working independently for the welfare of the cadre of Superintendents of customs instead of idly depending on the Preventive officers.
Finally, an All India convention was convened at Mumbai on 30th September, 2000 and in presence of Superintendents of Customs from all over India, the ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF SUPERINDENTS OF CUSTOMS was formed and its Constitution & Rules was unanimously adopted.
(to be continued)