Share your password and get dismissed from service - Frauds resulting from failure to maintain password security – CBEC Instructions
CBEC sadly notes that on a number of occasions, there have been frauds reported in the various Customs EDI locations involving compromise of password by officers. Such frauds have led to revenue loss of Crores of rupees.
Board sadly states:-
1. It is dismaying to notice that instances of password compromise continue to recur with unfailing regularity. It is evident that officers are not taking these instructions seriously, and there is also a failure on part of supervisory officers to effectively monitor the performance of their subordinates.
2. The biggest threat to security of an electronic system comes from password compromise and sharing of password.
3. In effect, when an officer shares his password with anybody, he has to, without doubt, be regarded as being in collusion in the fraud that results.
4. The fact that only a few officers have been punished, and that too, not adequately, for password breach may be an important reason why such breaches continue to recur.
So the Board wants the Chief Commissioners and Commissioners to ensure that all the security related instructions issued by the Directorate of Systems are complied with by all officers including supervising officers, and those violating them are brought to account without loss of time. Further, whenever any case of password compromise comes to the notice, it has to be thoroughly investigated and proceedings for inflicting exemplary punishment under Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 [CCS (CCA) )Rules] should be undertaken and concluded expeditiously.
Board wants it to be made clear that maintenance of password security is the sole and individual responsibility of each officer and any breach will make them liable to disciplinary action resulting even in dismissal from the Government service.
CBEC Instructions in F.No.401 /77/2009-Cus.III Dated May 15 2009