GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
New Delhi
VIVEK JOHRI
CHAIRMAN(CBIC)
06th December, 2021
D.0 No. 01/CH(IC)/2021
It gives me great pleasure to pen my maiden weekly letter on assuming charge as Chairman CBIC. Let me begin by personally thanking you for your numerous messages of good wishes and support which are a big source of strength. To lead a team of this size, diversity, professional competence and skill is a huge privilege as well as a responsibility – in fulfilling which I seek your utmost cooperation and support.
The last few years, particularly the trying times of the two COVID waves, have established that we are not just well-coordinated and cohesive in our effort but equally effective in delivering results — whether in revenue collections, faster clearances of relief material, curbing smuggling or bringing fake dealers to book. While our good work in these and other areas has been widely acknowledged, there is a lot more to do. Every success brings with it greater responsibility, accountability and new challenges. But we shall persevere and overcome!
My colleagues in the Board and I are deeply committed to providing a clean, transparent, learning and forward-looking administration that is able to separate the grain from the chaff- pursue the wrong-doers and provide all possible assistance to the compliant taxpayer. I urge each one of you to reflect on how we can get there and to share your suggestions in this regard with me. Let us commit ourselves to professional excellence and move ahead.
DRI celebrated its 64th Foundation Day last week, on the 4th of December, in a physical mode after the Covid Pandemic. The Hon’ble Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman was our Chief Guest and Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State for Finance was the Guest of Honour. Dignitaries from foreign customs administrations had evinced keen interest and travelled to India on this occasion.
Hon’ble Finance Minister, while noting her appreciation for the exemplary work done by DRI, underscored the need for expeditious and time bound completion of investigations. She also identified the prevention of illicit imports of hazardous wastes and other environmentally sensitive items as a priority area.
On the occasion, the ‘Smuggling in India Report 2020-21′ was released. The report chronicles major cases and trends pertaining to the smuggling of gold, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, wildlife, commercial frauds and international enforcement operations & cooperation.
International engagement is a key input in our enforcement efforts. Keeping that in view, the 7th Regional Customs Enforcement Meeting (RCEM) was also held on the 4th of December, 2021. The meeting engages our partner Customs Administrations and International Agencies viz., World Customs Organization, Interpol, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office — Asia Pacific (RILO AP). The meeting was attended by delegates from 18 countries and international organizations.
Turning our focus on to revenue, the uptick in gross GST receipts has continued and GST collections for the month of November, 2021 stood at Rs. 1,31,526 crore. This is a welcome signal of a reviving economy. It is the second highest collection for a month since the introduction of GST and is 25% higher than the corresponding period for the last year.
I would like to commend the collective efforts put in by all of us in scaling up compliance levels, nudging non-filers and late filers to file their returns promptly as well as the use of data analytics to detect those gaming the system. With four more months to go in this financial year, we need to keep our eyeballs fixed on the revenue collections and to take all possible measures for revenue augmentation on the basis of a pre-determined, systematic action plan both for Customs as well as for GST.
Coming to trade facilitation front, I am happy to note that DGTS, Mumbai Zonal Unit is conducting a webinar on ‘Advance Rulings in Customs’ on the 08th of December, 2021. Advance Ruling enhances the predictability and certainty in treatment of goods in cross border transactions and reduces the scope for litigation. I am sure that departmental officers and other stakeholders will make good use of the webinar.
On the HR front, I am happy to inform that the supplementary and regular DPC for promotion to the grade of Chief Commissioners and DGs of Indirect Taxes and Customs, for the vacancy year 2022, was held in UPSC on 02nd December, 2021.
I am happy to note that as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations, an innovative art gallery, VIRASAT, conceptualized by Commissioner Dr. Kavita Bhatnagar, was inaugurated in Office of the Commissioner, CGST & Central Excise, Gautam Buddh Nagar by Chief Commissioner, Meerut Zone, Shri P K Goel. Assimilating the spirit of the AKAM celebrations, it showcases the freedom struggle as well as the art, culture and artefacts of the districts in the jurisdiction of the Commissionerate. This serves to enhance our engagement with the areas served by us.
Before signing off, I on my personal behalf and on behalf of the entire CBIC fraternity, wish Shri M. Ajit Kumar, former Chairman, CBIC a very happy retired life.
Yours Sincerely,
(Viveri Johri)
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
