Principal Chief Commissioner?
ONCE upon a time Collectors of Customs and Central Excise were very senior officers reporting directly to the Board. Then the senior-most Collectors in Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were designated as Principal Collectors – they were also Collectors. Later they became Chief Commissioners – they were supposed to be mini Boards, but they actually became post offices between the Board and Commissioners. But why should a senior officer simply act like a post office? So they started usurping the powers of the Commissioners including the mighty power to transfer subordinates – slowly they became little princes with all the powers and absolutely no responsibility. Now there is a proposal to create a new post of Principal Chief Commissioner who will perhaps be a new bridge between the Chief Commissioners and the Board. For more details please see our TIOL TOP today.