EMail dt 24-06-2013 to HRD - Reply to offer of SO

Dear Sir(s),

With reference to your communication Ref No ICAI/HRD/K-4/2013 dated 20-06-2013, as received by email of same date and duly acknowledged by the recipient, the hard copy of which was received at 04:35pm of 24-06-2013, the undersigned wishes to seek following information from your good office, and through it, convey the same to the concerned appropriate authority of the institute:

1) Reasons for not having any formal written communication with the applicant, since 07-03-2008, on the issue in spite of repeated communications by the aggrieved in this regard.

2) You have referred to my letter dated 23-05-2013. Has not the office received various other letters as sent by undersigned on 06-09-2010 (Speedpost:EU489318938IN); 01-05-2013(EU855242374IN); 06-06-2013(EU195924916IN) etc. Further, the aggrieved has been intimated by the office of Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal, Govt. of India, that as per the undersigned’s communication dated 06-06-2013 with his office, a letter has been issued to the office of President-ICAI on date 10-06-2013 for the matter to be considered on priority and on lawful grounds, as the contents of the application were found to be self explanatory by the hon’ble Minister himself. The undersigned wishes the office to acknowledge the receipt of this communication and action taken against it, if any.

3) Further, your above said letter states that "on evaluation of your performance and interview..."

3A) As per Approved Office Note dated 01.09.2010, arrear amount of Rs2500/-pm (for 22 months though in place of 6 months) was released to the undersigned only after receipt of due recommendation of his performance by the concerned Regional Head which was duly mentioned and certified vide applicant's Annual Performance Appraisals. Then, how can be a lower post offered to the applicant on the basis of "Performance Evaluation" as mentioned in your communication dated 20-06-2013

3B) Still, the applicant wishes to know whether any underperformance has been observed or any discrepancy reported in his performance? Has it been mentioned in my appraisals and marked to the undersigned for making requisite corrections? Whether the undersigned was informed at any time during this five-year period, in written, that his performance has shortcomings, and was offered a chance to make necessary improvements? Please refer to appropriate statutes of your offer of engagement in this regard, and the conditions governing the probation period.

3C) As regards "Interview" as mentioned in your communication dated 20-06-2013 and referred to as above, kindly comment:
3Ci) Whether any interaction between the higher authority of the organization and an employee is termed as an "Interview"?
3Cii) Whether the undersigned was informed in written that this formal interaction will form the basis of his confirmation/promotion within the organization?
3Ciii) Further, please note that as per Contract of Engagement, as offered to the undersigned vide ICAI/HRD(P)/Rectt/2008 dated 07-03-2008 by virtue of which the undersigned joined this organization only after resigning from the services of his previous employer, did not mention at any place about any such prerequisite to the confirmation after probation period is over, and neither was any such stance intimated, within sufficient period, to the applicant during his entire period of service.

4) As per your mention of "...more than 60 persons consented and had accordingly been absorbed." as mentioned in your communication dated 20-06-2013, kindly note/comment that:

4A) What are the legal grounds to justify that if 60 persons, recruited as MT for consideration as EO after end of probation period, accept the offer to the post of SO (a much lower rank to the post of EO as assured to them vide their offer letter), the applicant should also accept the same following their example.


4B) Those MTs who accepted the offer of SO, in place of EO, must have their personal problems and pressures to accept even what was legally and ethically wrong on the part of the institute and such an act by the authorities of the institute, including the hon'ble president; secretary; executive committee members etc of concerned time span reflect mass-victimization of its fresh recruits at institute's end and also conveys gross violation of humanitarian and corporate/labor laws and, in general interest of all affected parties, certainly calls for disciplinary action by external appropriate authorities/tribunals/regulators.

4C) Further, what was the basis/grounds of recommendation and confirmation of many MTs as EO who have joined the organization on a date much later to date of joining of the applicant [ e.g. Lokesh Aggarwal (DOJ:07-07-2008); Uma Suresh (DOJ:31-10-2008); Anindita Kundu (DOJ:16-10-2008) and Priyadarshini Mehta (DOJ:19-01-2009) as per Approved Office Note dated 01.09.2010 ], and so many other such cases.

4D) What were the reasons for such discrimination; favoritism and biased practices being observed in process of confirmation/promotion of employees, increasing sycophancy in the organization rather than improving the work-culture, thereby enhancing the professional reputation of the institute. I understand that the organization may reward (though, through other means such as your out-of-turn scheme etc) few but the interests and rights of others shall also be equally protected, ensuring them equal opportunities of career progression and personal improvement. Therefore, such offers to below ranks stand invalid; illegal and inhumane.

4E) No organization has any right to keep an employee on probation for indefinite and unspecified period, when the same is specifically mentioned in terms of conditions of the probation to be of not more than one year. The organization must have reviewed the applicant's performance and communicated its decision to the employee within some reasonable time whether the probation has been extended and for what further period. If the management forgets to discharge its duty to review the case of the employee the employee cannot be penalized for the fault of the management and unfair labor practices.

Therefore, above points 1-4 clearly affirm that your past actions and negligence and your communication Ref No ICAI/HRD/K-4/2013 dated 20-06-2013, are a combined process of victimization of undersigned with malafide intentions of making him a scapegoat to defend the organization's unlawful decisions of past, offering and taking acceptance from the trainees, under intangible tactics, for a lower post after end of probation than assured through offer letter, and constantly delaying justice to the aggrieved applicant. Thus, terms and conditions of offer of employment as issued to the undersigned are grossly violated, denying principles of natural justice and demonstrating undemocratic; discriminatory and in-transparent practices being observed by this autonomous body, established under an act of parliament and under direct control/supervision of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, considering its employees as financial liabilities in master-servant relationship rather than human assets as per concurrent corporate tenets. Such an organization of worldwide repute, imparting professional education to aspiring CAs who will be responsible for accountability of Financial India, fails on its part to issue timely confirmation order to its employee, defying and challenging the law of the land  on account of defective terms of agreement, as against the interests of the employee, entire administrative apparatus remaining insensitive to career-growth; financial security and well being of its workers, adopting discriminatory practices and dilatory tactics.

Please note that pro-employee statutory provisions supersede contractual obligations and are based on the ‘principles of natural justice’ which are justice, equity, good conscience and fair play.  Also, the Indian Constitution, through the Directive Principles of State Policy, requires the nation to bear the primary responsibility for developing an appropriate system to protect and assist its workforce by framing of appropriate social security policy for workers, administration of all the legislations relating to social security and implementation of the various social security schemes, covering the spectrum of preventive, promotional and protective measures for labor welfare.

I am aware that, as a whistleblower, I may suffer undesired results; blasphemy; accusations; transfer; disciplinary action etc, but through this communication I seek amnesty of the hon'ble president and secretary of the organization and an assurance that my interests and records will be protected as per ethical office procedures.

Finally, I also request the appropriate authorities at the institute to review the offer of position of SO as extended to applicant, in light of above facts and under principles of natural justice, and communicate the decision, in written, to the applicant, within ten days of receipt of this communication. If the authorities so desire, they may conduct a proper/fair self-appraisal of the applicant as on date, reviewed through sectional head and recommended by concerned regional head, as per office procedure, to ensure satisfactory performance of the applicant.

Thus, my prayer for seeking long-delayed justice, as per terms offered in my appointment contract, is as summarized below:
1) Confirmation at the Post of E.O. w.e.f. 07-04-2009
2) Payment of all arrears and annual benefits (viz. Medical benefits; annual lump sum) etc. w.e.f 07-04-2009
3) Award/Payment of additional benefits, due, if any, as per prevailing HRD Policy of the institute.
4) Recovery of additional arrears paid Rs40000 [(Rs2500*22months)-(Rs2500*6months, as actual due)]
5) Credit of Annual Earned Leaves in my leave account, as per office rules, w.e.f 07-04-2008


Thanking you in anticipation of legitimate consideration of my prayer, and inform the applicant within stipulated time limit as mentioned as above.
Kindly acknowledge the receipt of this mail.

With due regards,

Atal Bajpai,
Management Trainee,
Accounts & Administration Section,
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India,
Central Region Office,
ICAI Bhawan, Post Box No.314,
16/77-B (New No.16/191), Civil Lines,
Kanpur-208001.
Email:       atal.bajpai@icai.in

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