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 : vivekjohri.irs@gov.in
Vivek Johri, Chairman
DO No. 67/CH(IC)/2022 | 14th March, 2023
Through primrose tufts, in that green bower; The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower; Enjoys the air it breathes.
The budding twigs spread out their fan; To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can; That there was pleasure there.
As the cold and dreary winter days slowly give way to the warmth and vibrancy of spring, these lines from Wordsworth remind us of the magic of spring and how everything around us appears renewed.
Here in Delhi, it is that time of the year when the roads, rotundas, sidewalks erupt in a riot of colour. Petunias, poppies, salvias, verbenas, larkspurs and tulip blooms amongst myriad others catch the eye. However, the arrival of spring is not simply a passive process – it requires hard work and dedication to ensure that the growth is nurtured and primed to flourish.
Behind this rigorous resurgence of the life-force, is the tireless hard work of gardeners. The beauty of spring is also a reminder of the potential for growth. It is up to us to seize the opportunity and draw inspiration.
As we move towards the last few weeks of the financial year, we must focus more closely on our efforts to maximize revenue collections through every possible legitimate means such as expeditious clearances in Customs, recovery of arrears from ripe cases, disposal of seized/confiscated cargo, ensuring that all taxpayers that are required to file returns actually do so.
I would urge Zonal Chiefs to keep a close watch on revenue and to ensure that there are no slippages. Let us work full throttle on all fronts including completion of infrastructure projects nearing completion and full utilization of allocated funds.
The week gone by was rather eventful on the anti-smuggling front. In a series of cases booked last week, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) interdicted more than 21 kg of Heroin and more than 8 kg of Cocaine, together valued at more than Rs. 237 Crore.
Last week also saw officers of Mumbai Customs Zone III intercept about 10 lakh tablets of Tramadol, a psychotropic substance that had been entered for export out of the country. The value of the consignment is estimated to be in excess of Rs. 5 Crore. Cases like these underscore the role we play in ensuring the integrity of Global Supply Chains. Kudos to the officers for their hard work and dedication.
Destruction of seized narcotics is a natural adjunct to seizures. Last week, Delhi Customs Zone, destroyed more than 82 kg of narcotics including heroin, methamphetamines, cannabis, khat leaves.
Moving on, it was heartening to note the enthusiasm with which our formations observed International Women’s Day reminding us of how the immense strength, resilience and courage of women inspires and strengthens us all. It was in this vein that a Crêche facility was inaugurated in the Hosur Divisions of Salem CGST Commissionerate.
Before signing off for the week, I would like to share that on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi curated an exhibition of works by contemporary women photographers.
Titled, H4 the exhibition celebrated the art of photography and its power to freeze a moment in time and to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Two works of Dr. Neha Garg, an officer of the 2007 batch were selected for display in the exhibition and were very well received. Keep up the creativity, Neha!
Yours Sincerely,
(Vivek Johri)
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
