M. Ajit Kumar
Chairman
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi-110001
Tel. No +91-11-23092849, Fax : +91-11-23092890
E-mail : [email protected]
D.O.No.75/CH(IC)/2020
Date: 28th June 2021
Dear Colleague
Last week, the department participated in two virtual International Events organised by the World Customs Organisation – the 84th Policy Commission meeting from 21st to 23rd June, 2021, in which we were represented by Member (Customs) and the 138th Session of the WCO Council from 24th to 26th June, 2021 in which I participated. The major steps taken by the CBIC in facilitating expeditious cross-border movement of critical medicines / equipment and vaccines; innovative use of technology as in the Turant Customs’ program, an initiative of CBIC to make assessment faceless, contactless and paperless, and a proposal for pre-arrival data exchange among member nations to facilitate quick clearances and supply chain security, were highlighted. Delegates were informed about our work in the field of passenger facilitation and the use of ‘Atithi‘– a mobile application for ease of completing customs formalities by travellers arriving in our country from abroad. The importance of Gender Equality & Diversity was supported and India expressed its willingness to be part of the proposed Network on GED (Gender Equality and Diversity).
While on WCO, last week a letter was received from the Director, Compliance and Facilitation, WCO thanking the CBIC for the expertise and experience shared during the 5th WCO AEO Global conference held virtually from 25th to 27th May, 2021, which had benefited the global audience.
June 26th is celebrated as the International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking. Befittingly, there was no let-up in our vigil against this menace and which poses a major threat to the health of people across the globe. Continuing the recent string of successes in this area, the AIU unit of Delhi Customs made two huge hauls of Heroin based on passenger profiling, one of which also had additional inputs from DRI, HZU. The total seizure was of about 18 Kgs from two passengers coming from South Africa to Delhi via Doha. Field formations have also been engaged in raising awareness against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking during the week. An online talk with participation of school students was organised by Amritsar Customs, Vizag Customs organised a webinar on the theme, and Customs (Preventive) Delhi and CGST Uttarakhand undertook campaigns on freeing society from the menace of drugs. Similar efforts by CGST Noida and other field formations deserve appreciation too.
On 25th June, Board released the 26th edition (2021) of the IRS (C&IT) Civil List (updated as on 01.01.2021). This hard bound, colour edition of the Civil List has several firsts such as the incorporation of colour photographs of officers with a symbolic depiction of a medal against the names of Presidential Awardees. A picture gallery of past Chairpersons of CBIC, has been included to ensure their place in CBIC’ s institutional memory. The inclusion of the contextual portion of the Civil List of 1961, which was a unified Civil List of Customs and Central Excise as well as Income Tax officers, in the Appendix, has given this edition a unique historical perspective. This edition marks a significant departure from earlier versions and its electronic copy is being made available on the DGHRD website. Credit for this innovative edition goes to the DG, DGHRD and her team. Shri Shailesh Kumar, ADG and Shri Mohit Rathore, Superintendent in HRM-II of DGHRD deserve special mention for their hard work and efforts in collecting rare photographs and archival material for this revamped and updated edition of the Civil List.
On the Welfare front, proposals from DGHRD relating to ex-gratia financial assistance of Rs. 1.08 crore to 17 families of departmental employees who died in harness, including deaths due to Covid-19, were approved. Reimbursement of medical claims of about Rs. 25 lakh incurred by 27 officers/staff, or their family members, for medical treatment and which has not been reimbursed under CS(MA)/CGHS Rules, were also approved. All these amounts should be disbursed to the officials / claimants, by the respective formations, expeditiously.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved the empanelment of 24 officers of the 1992 batch for promotion to the grade of Principal Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes for the panel years 2020 and 2021. My congratulations to these officers on their empanelment. I extend my best wishes to them for all success in their future endeavours.
It is now time to bid farewell, on behalf of all of you and on my own personal behalf, to Shri H. R. Bheema Shankar, Principal Chief Commissioner of GST&CX, Nagpur Zone, who would be superannuating this month after a long career spanning 34 years. While appreciating his services, I also extend my best wishes to all other officers and staff of various cadres and ranks who would be superannuating this month.
Before signing off, let me suggest that we carry forward the message of the International Day against Drug Abuse by not only saying no to drugs but also adopting a healthy way of life. Be safe, be healthy.
with best wishes
Your Sincerely
(M. Ajit Kumar)
To,
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Custom
