Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi – 110 001
Tel. : +91-11-23092849, Fax : +91-11-23092890
E-mail : [email protected]
S. Ramesh , Chairman
D.O.No.3/CH(IC)/2018
13th July, 2018
Dear Colleagues
CBIC has done it again! India has taken over as Vice Chair of the World Customs Organization (WCO) for the Asia Pacific Region for 2018-20. This provides a great occasion for the CBIC to provide leadership role in steering the WCO’s flagship programmes in the region. India would also host the WCO Policy Commission, which is the apex policy making body of WCO in Mumbai from 3rd to 5th December, 2018. The Secretary General of WCO and many Directors General of Customs from other countries are attending the Inaugural Ceremony of the assumption of Vice Chair on 16th July, 2018. Kudos to Member (Customs) and his team of officers and staff who have relentlessly strived to achieve this unique accomplishment.
I am glad to share the news that two of our colleagues, Shri Avinash Kiran Rongali and Shri Siddhartha Maddikunta, Assistant Commissioners (2016 batch) have been selected to participate in the rigorous International Climate Force Arctic Expedition, 2019. Congratulations to them on this remarkable achievement! As you are aware, CBIC was represented for the first time by Shri Rishab Gupta (2013 batch) and Shri Afaaq Giri (2015 batch) on the 2018 Expedition. CBIC is proud of their active involvement in battling climate change and spreading awareness on environmental issues.
The digital initiative of Chennai Customs deserves a special mention wherein as a trade facilitation measure a SMS service has been launched through which AEO/DPD importers are being intimated, once consignments get customs clearance at the DPD cell. I urge all the field formations to emulate such trade friendly measures.
As a measure of Tax payer facilitation and to reduce tax litigations, the threshold monetary limits for filing Departmental Appeals in Central Excise and Service Tax cases have been enhanced vide letter F.No.390/Misc./116/2017-JC dated 11th July, 2018. It also applies to cases pending in various fora. I would urge all officers to take prompt action to file withdrawal applications, wherever needed, to ensure that pending litigations below the new threshold limits get closed expeditiously.
As informed in my last newsletter, Cadre-restructuring exercise for the CBIC has been initiated. That being so, valuable inputs/suggestions are invited from all serving officers/staff of the CBIC so as to contribute to the structure and functioning of our organisation. Letter F.No.32012/17/2018-Ad.II dated 12th July, 2018 has already been issued by the Board in this regard.
All officers and staff are urged to ensure that the grievances of the trade and industry are attended to on top priority. Principal Chief Commissioners and Chief Commissioners should conduct weekly review so that issues raised, especially by SMEs and Exporters, in their Zones are followed up and redressed suitably.
With warm wishes,
Yours sincerely,
(S. Ramesh)
To,
All officers and staff of the Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs
