Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
Vivek Johri, Chairman
DO No. 02/CH(IC)/2023 Dated: 12th April, 2023
Dear colleague
“All for one, and one for all, that is our motto, is it not?” said d’Artagnan.
Athos instantly agreed and added that the fight is to protect the kingdom. Porthos piped up saying that it was their good fortune to be able to serve the king.
We are the Musketeers, chimed in Aramis – all for one, and one for all!
Last week, the new CBIC E-Payment platform was rolled out. Envisaged as a platform to enable collection of Customs duties using multiple modes of payment viz. NEFT/RTGS, Internet Banking as well as the Electronic Cash Ledger (ECL) -the last being a fresh introduction.
The implementation of ECL is a trade facilitation initiative that would also enable better accounting and provide visibility to an importer about his dues outstanding as well as credits. The system is designed with best-in-class features to provide enhanced user experience coupled with real-time accounting and settlement of revenues.
Since the measure touches upon the entire payment eco-system for duties and involves almost real time communication between several computer systems such as ICEGATE, ICES, participating banks, RBI and Principal Chief Controller of Accounts, its roll-out has not glitch-free despite adequate testing prior to its launch.
Consequently, there were difficulties in generation of challans, integration of payment information in ICES as well as visibility of credits accurately in respective ECL accounts. This, in turn, delayed clearance of cargo at several locations.
Perhaps such an instance might have prompted Paul Jennings to coin the term resistentialism, a jocular play on resistance and existentialism, to describe “seemingly spiteful behavior manifested by inanimate objects”!
While the Directorate General of Systems & Data Management went in overdrive and has been working meticulously and tirelessly to set the nuts and bolts right, the Customs Wing co-ordinated with the trade and field formations to resolve issues and to issue an Order waiving interest payable on such delayed clearances. Meanwhile our outreach to taxpayers continued and individual grievances were taken up for resolution.
I would like make a special mention of our Customs field formations who literally burnt the midnight oil to ensure that clearances do not suffer. You make us all proud. I am happy to report that the system has since stabilized and we are almost back to our usual levels of processing.
“All for one, and one for all!”
Before I sign off for the week, I would like to share about the latest edition of the World Customs Organization. Asia Pacific Customs News which features submissions contributed by our officers viz. Sh. Wazim Mustafa, Dr. Sandeep Gunjal, Sh. Sunil Kumar, Sh. T. G. Kaushik and Sh. Ramakrishna Kolipaka.
The submissions ranged from Customs Control and Global Supply Chain Management; Combating smuggling of hazardous chemicals; Supply Chain Revival through the Express Cargo Clearance and the Trade Related Information and Data Exchange Network and Transmission [TRIDENT] protocol. My Congratulations to all of you. Keep it up!
Till next week!
Yours Sincerely,
(Vivek Johri)
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
