TIOL-DDT 222 · the untouched capture
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<p align="justify" ><font color="#0000FF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#663399" size="3">TIOL-DDT
222</font><br>
<font size="3">14 10 2005<br>
Friday</font></b></font></p>
<div align="center"><font color="#006633" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Who
are the members of the CBEC?</b></font><font color="#006633"><b> </b></font></div>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">1. Sh.M.K.
Zutshi Chairman</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2. Dr.
U.K. Sen Member</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">3. Sh.
Mahendra Prasad Member</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4. Sh.
A.K. Singh Member</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">You
think all these gentlemen have retired? So do I, but the CBEC has other views.
In the information published as required under Section 4(1)(b) of the THE
RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005, the CBEC has given the above information in
their web site. Certainly the CBEC is expected to know who its chairman and
members are. Knowingly giving incorrect information is punishable under Section
20 of the Act.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
CBEC has met the deadline and published the details as required under the
RTI. While that by itself is a great achievement one fondly wishes the Board
could have been a little more careful. The apparently hurried job has left
a trail of half information and misinformation and sadly these are not highly
technical matters on which one can as a matter of right get confused. Look
at a few extracts:-</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Organisation:</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(i) The
particulars of its organisation, functions and duties.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Central
Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
is responsible for formulation of policy relating to levy and collection of
Indirect taxes namely, Customs duty, Central Excise duty and Service tax.
CBEC also exercises overall supervision over Customs, Central Excise and Service
tax field formations located across the country. The organization of CBEC
and work distribution amongst various sections under CBEC, provided in Circular
No. 661/52/2002 – CX dated 11th September 2002, may kindly be referred to
(Annex A). Certain changes on the Customs side are enclosed as Annex B. Work
distribution among Administration sections working under CBEC, <font color="#FF0000">as
per the induction material,</font> is enclosed as Annex C.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">What
is the induction material? And where are Annex B and C?</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Powers
and duties of officers: If you are not aware of the department and want to
know the powers and functions of the officers, the CBEC has a simple answer
for you. Here it is</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(ii) The
powers and duties of its officers and employees.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Reference
may be had to (i) above and details mentioned under this sub-heading in Manuals
for Customs, Central Excise and Service tax field formations.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes
very simple just look for those manuals.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">CBEC
has high norms. Surprised? Here they are!</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(iv) The
norms set by it for the discharge of its functions.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
mission of CBEC is to administer central excise, service tax and customs
laws aimed at:-</font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">· realizing
the revenues in a fair, equitable & efficient manner;</font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">· administering
the Government’s economic, tariff and trade policies with a practical and
pragmatic approach;</font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">· facilitating
trade and industry by streamlining & simplifying Customs & Excise
processes and helping Indian business to enhance its competitiveness;</font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">· creating
a climate for voluntary compliance by providing guidance and building mutual
trust;</font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">· combating
revenue evasion, commercial frauds and social menace in an effective manner.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Some
of the Statutes administered by the CBEC</b>. The list has a few jokes.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Acts</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">• The
Central Excise Laws (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance, 2005 Rules</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
The Cenvat Credit Rules, 2002 </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">• The
Central Excise (No.2) Rules, 2001 </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">• The
Cenvat Credit Rules, 2001 </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">• Central
Excise Rules, 1944 </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">May
be the Board is not aware that the ordinance had lapsed without becoming law
and the rules mentioned above are all dead. Of course it is true that the
Board does post mortem of these statutes once in a while.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Doesn’t
Board have a directory of its officers? Against Column (ix) there is a dash.
</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(ix) <font color="#6633CC">A
directory of its officers and employees. </font> ---</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Board
has no facilities for giving information to citizens as this column would
show:- </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(xv)
The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information,
including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for
public use.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#6633CC" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">NIL</font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Who
are the appellate authorities for the Information officers in the CBEC?</b>
No answer. Board has given a list of Information officers mostly deputy Secretaries
in the Board but no mention is made as to who are the appellate authorities.</font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Board
has found some non-existing Chief Commissioners as per the list furnished
under Customs.</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Chief
Commissioner of Central Excise, Guwahati </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Chief
Commissioner of Central Excise, Bangalore-II </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Chief
Commissioner of Central Excise, <st1:City w:st="on">Hyderabad-I
</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Chief
Commissioner of Central Excise, Hyderabad-II </font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>And
some Chief Commissioners are missing like</b></font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shillong</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Mangalore</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Vizag</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We
thought that according to the Board, Vizag is not a port for import and with
the blessings of the Board illicit imports are going on there, but now we
are told that there is no Chief Commissioner there. </font></p>
<p align="justify" > <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>What
do Chief Commissioners do?</b></font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Under
the powers and duties of officers of Central Excise, the Chief Commissioner
is not mentioned, while those from AC to Commissioner are detailed. Does the
Board think that CCs have actually no work?</font></p>
<p align="center" ><font color="#006633" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>It’s
a great job!</b></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">But
it should be admitted it is still a great job – that the Board was able to
put all this together and upload it in their website. Let’s hope the Board
and the field is ready to furnish the information now. But the fact remains
that the Board does not have either the infrastructure or the dedicated manpower
to do this kind of job. It seems that officers are being imported from far
off places to just compile data to be uploaded to the site as nobody is available
for this job in Delhi! I know for
sure, I used to be one of the imported officers. First they used to request,
then they started ordering! It’s high time the Board seriously think of outsourcing
this work to professionals, instead of dishing out half baked m isinformation.
While on this, they should also consider outsourcing notifications and circulars
– at least the draft ones. </font></p>
<p align="center"><font color="#006633" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Wajahat
Habibullah is the Chief Information Commissioner</b></font></p>
<p align="justify" > <img src="http://www.taxindiaonline.com/RC2/image/stories/habibullah.jpg" alt="Wajahat Habibullah" width="150" height="206" hspace="3" border="1" align="left"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">With
the RTI in place, Mr. Habibullah who retired as Secretary, Panchayat Raj last
month brings in rich experience as the first Chief Information Commissioner
of India. He will hold office for five years and have the rank and status
of the Chief Election Commissioner. </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
other Commissioners are A.N. Tiwari, Secretary Department of personnel, O.P.
Kejariwal, former CEO of Prasar Bharati, M.M. Ansari, a former ambassador
to Iran and professor in Jamia Millia University, and the lone woman
Commissioner, Padma Balasubramanian, former Secretary, Posts </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">MVS
Prasd to be Chairman, Settlement Commission</font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It
is understood that Mr. MVS Prasad is to take over as Chairman of the Settlement
Commission. He is currently the vice chairman of the Commission. </font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#FF3366" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Until
Monday with more DDT</b></font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#FF3366" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Have
a nice Weekend. </b></font></p>
<p align="justify" ><font color="#FF3366" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Mail
your comments to</b></font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>
</b><a
href="mailto:vijaywrite@taxindiaonline.com">vijaywrite@taxindiaonline.com </a></font></p>
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