New Delhi, Nov.22 Senior officials of the Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax Department (Delhi unit) staged a mass protest at the Jantar-Mantar here on Sunday, demanding better pay scale and improved working conditions.

The officials also submitted a memorandum of their demands to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, on the occasion.

Ravi Malik, General Secretary, All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers (Delhi unit) complained that officers were being paid much below their counterparts in other departments.

Malik criticised the Central Pay Commission for neglecting the department.

" Gross injustice has been done to us by the Pay Commission as higher scales have been granted to other equivalent cadres ignoring us," he said.

Malik pointed out that superintendents are forced to work without sufficient staff and proper working conditions.

"The equivalent officers belonging to the agencies like the CBI, IB and the Police Department are given higher scales, extra one month salary and special pay alongwith other facilities by the government, while we are being totally ignored despite the fact we perform more hazardous and arduous duties," he added.

The charter of demands submitted by the officials included promotion of the Superintendents of Central Excise to a post carrying a grade pay of 6600 rupees per month and better working conditions.

It also included demands for making the process of transfer/posting transparent, besides other necessary changes. (ANI)