Weekly newsletter from Chairman, CBIC dated 21/12/2020

M. Ajit Kumar
Chairman

Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi-110 001
Tel. No. +91-11-23092849, Fax No. : +91-11-23092890
E-mail : ajit.m@gov.in

D.O. No. 46/CH(IC)/2020

Date: 21st December 2020

Dear Colleague

Strengthening infrastructure has been an area of priority of the Board. Recently, in the backdrop of budgetary constraints, a review was conducted by the Board of the infrastructure projects for which funds have been sanctioned or revalidated in the current Financial Year. While certain projects are progressing at the expected pace, others require a firm push and close monitoring at the supervisory level. Both aspects – physical progress and expenditure – are to be kept on track. DGHRD has already called for data regarding expected utilisation of funds of the ongoing projects, so that proposals can be moved at the earliest for their reallocation to ensure optimal utilisation by March, 2021. DG, DGHRD, has also taken up the matter with the DG, CPWD. They have in turn, identified projects where additional funds are required and also those where allocated funds may not be fully spent. It should be appreciated that our partners executing our infrastructure projects also have competing priorities. To ensure that our projects are given due importance and kept on track, I would strongly advise senior officers to maintain liaison with CPWD at a senior level and review progress regularly, including monitoring on-site progress as per schedule.

I am told that for better management and planning of CBIC infrastructure assets, DGHRD has initiated a project for mapping the existing assets. A letter has been issued on 9^th December, 2020 to all formations seeking details of CBIC’s office buildings, residences, guesthouses, etc. across respective jurisdictions in map form with standardised colour/ numerical coding. I believe that each formation maintains its Asset Register up to date – hence compiling the data on a physical map and submitting it to DGHRD within this month is doable.

On the cadre front, DSC for grant of NFSG for Joint Commissioners of the 2008 batch has been completed. The DGHRD team and officers in the Ministry headed by Commissioner Coordination were able to iron out all issues and impediments to ensure a successful meeting. Board is looking forward to complete all DPCs/DSCs on time.

I would like to congratulate the officers concerned for some good results achieved by the smaller Customs formations. I am told that on 18^th December, 2020, the officers of CPC, Vijayawada, based on specific intelligence, intercepted and seized smuggled foreign-origin gold biscuits weighing 4.78 Kgs valued at Rs. 2.47 crore and 1.97 Kgs of jewellery valued at Rs. 0.92 crore, concealed in two vehicles headed to Rayalaseema region from Chennai. Similarly, in multiple seizures done by the officers of Patna Zone (customs), the Customs team of Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga intercepted and seized a truck carrying smuggled 35.5 MT Dry Green Peas of foreign origin valued at Rs. 25.60 lakh whereas the Customs Lucknow team seized 5,96,299 sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes valued at Rs. 97 lakh approximately on 17^th December, 2020. It is good to see the relatively smaller Customs formations being equally alert in intelligence collection and enforcing the law.

The professional training course of 70^th Batch (2018) of IRS (C&CE) officers culminated with the Passing Out Ceremony held at NACIN, Faridabad on 16^th December, 2020. I congratulate the officers who attended the course, for showing courage in times of COVID by turning up and for successfully completing their training. It was a matter of pride to preside over the ceremony and interact with the smart young officers. I also congratulate Ms. Namrata Singh, AC, who received the Finance Minister’s Gold Medal for the best overall performance during the training and the other four meritorious officers who were awarded medals for their exceptional achievements in different areas of training. The Zonal Chiefs must nurture and groom these young entrants to apply the tax laws correctly, without fear or favour, affection or ill will. They should also be mentored to uphold integrity and work ethics in their professional conduct and to lead by personal example. A cyber lab for training officers of CBIC in the area of cyber forensics at NACIN, Faridabad was also inaugurated during the ceremony.

I also came across a novel ‘Go Green Initiative’ of the CGST, Guwahati Zone, scheduled to commence on 22^nd December, 2020, wherein officers will be encouraged to cycle/car pool/use public transport for commuting to office at least once a week for reducing carbon emissions and promoting green urban mobility. This thoughtful initiative is appreciable. I extend my best wishes to the Zone for its success and hopes that the officers and staff make it a part of their daily life.

With the month coming nearer to a close, all eyes will now be on revenue. I am sure you would have, after my last letter or as per the going practices of the Commissionerate’s, nudged the tax payers to pay their taxes and file their returns on time. Deemed registration should now have become a thing of the past with data support by GSTN and the Directorate of Systems. Do keep the dialogue live with the compliant tax payer while our anti-evasion teams ferret out large tax evaders.

Wishing you all good health and happiness during the week of Christmas festivities ahead.

With Best Wishes

Your Sincerely
(M. Ajit Kumar)

To,

All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs