Weekly newsletter from Chairman, CBIC dated 21/03/2022
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]
DO No. 16/CH(IC)/2021
21st March, 2022
Dear Colleague,
This week, I begin with a story. In the late 1950s, at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA worked two young physicists – William Guier and George Weiffenbach. Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth, had just been launched. Guier and Weiffenbach starting picking up radio transmission sent out by Sputnik – a simple staccato pulse of electronic beeps.
Just for historical records, they started taping the transmissions. They soon realized that they could use the Doppler Effect to calculate the speed at which the satellite was travelling. Shortly afterwards they theorized that since they were stationary and the satellite is moving at a predictable speed, they could analyze the Doppler Shift to map the movement of the satellite.
Subsequently, they successfully inverted the process i.e. given the position of the satellite, they could pinpoint a location on the ground. This was the beginning of the technology we now call, the Global Positioning System. Guier and Weiffenbach credited the environment at the Johns Hopkins University as the key driver for their success. We need to foster such an environment within our organization so as to enable the leap from “good” to “great”!
The Central Vigilance Commission held a review meeting with CVO, CBIC on pending disciplinary matters during the week. In the course of the meeting, the Commission appreciated the various proactive systemic improvement initiatives taken by CBIC over the last year which have resulted in a high rate of disposal of pending disciplinary cases.
Further, CVC has also advised a graded timeline for completion of pending disciplinary matters, with all pending cases initiated up to 2021, to be completed by 31.12.2022. This is an important area of work for ensuring organizational efficiency. It is said that, in diem vivere in lege sunt detestabilis – delays in the judicial process are detestable. This is perhaps nowhere truer than in Vigilance Matters, where the process itself often becomes the punishment.
This would require coordinated and concerted efforts at multiple levels. Zonal Chiefs may like to review the status of pending inquiries, especially those pertaining to CVC monitored cases and ensure that they are completed within timelines. Similarly, all Disciplinary Authorities may be directed to adhere to the prescribed timelines and complete pending disciplinary proceedings.
Last week saw the launch of 3//8/T – a portal for monitoring progress of HRD related priorities and timelines by Zonal/Directorate Heads. By making available updated information/data on different aspects of HR related work such as recording of APARs; progress of infrastructure and Swachhta Projects; expenditure monitoring etc., the dashboard would enable effective oversight and monitoring of these functions. The portal is extremely easy to navigate and is user-friendly.
On the occasion, the Departmental Civil List, 2022 was also released. My sincere Congratulations to DG, Directorate General of Human Resource Development and her entire team for delivering on both these projects in record time – a good example of….
On the Anti-Evasion side, officers of Air Cargo Complex, Bengaluru intercepted an Antique Bronze Vishnu Idol attempted to be exported overseas. Prompt action by the officers, led to the interdiction of the idol which was subsequently certified as being an Antique by the Archaeological Survey of India. No monetary value can be ascribed to such cultural and ethnographic treasures. Such seizures underscore our role in national security. My congratulations to Pr. Chief Commissioner, Customs, Bengaluru and his team of officers for their efforts.
As I sign off this week, I am happy to share that one of our officers, Varun Kaundinya, Senior Technical Officer in the Customs Wing, has been selected for an expedition to Antarctica. He has since already set out. Keep our flag flying high, Varun!
Till next week!
Yours Sincerely,
(Vivek Johri)
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
