The Chandigarh zone of All-India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers (AACEGEO) would participate in the protest to be held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, against alleged stagnation and pay erosion in their departments on November 30.

Association president AK Sharma said a majority of those who joined as inspectors in Central Excise retire as superintendents after only one promotion during their entire service of 33-35 years, which is in sharp contrast to the promotion system followed for ministerial cadre and IRS officers, where four to five promotions are given in the same department. Even the preventive officers and examining officers in customs get at least three promotions.

More than 100 officers from Chandigarh zone, comprising Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh besides the city, would proceed from Ludhiana and Chandigarh centres in the protest. The agitators would also submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister at the Parliament.

Though, the government has liberalized the taxation statute, due to lack of proper administrative support, the collection of revenue suffers. Moreover, bonafide tax-payers face problems to discharge their obligation because of improper implementation of the said liberalized statute that notifies separate service rules for Group B (gazetted and non-gazetted) executive officers, said Sharma.