Chief Commissioner's Directives
CHIEF Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai held a meeting with his Group A officers (AC and above) on 21st June 2016. He exhorted the officers to be sensible, responsive, transparent and receptive towards their sphere of work. His major directions:
1. Punctuality is a virtue which we could not forego. The trade should not have any difficulty in getting their work done merely for the reason that some officer was not available in office well within time. All the officers should reach in time and late coming needs to be avoided. The concerned DC/ACs should also ensure that their supporting staff also reach in time to the office so that there is no delay in the clearance and the trade does not suffer. Even if the officer is late on the previous day owing to some occupation, it should not be taken as ruse to come late.
2. Officers should not raise frivolous and repeated queries. The queries should be specific and justify the need of raising such queries since such queries unnecessarily raise the dwell time and create inconvenience to the trade. The documents should be thoroughly checked at the first instance and repeated queries should not be raised.
3. All attempts should be made to fasten the clearance of goods while saving the interests of Revenue and there should not be delay in the clearance of the goods.
4. There should not be fear of taxman but fear of law.
5. The image of the department which has been tarnished of late, due to bad reporting has to be revived with better reports and all the officers should thrive to improve the image of the Department with sincere and dedicated work. The DC/ACs should also ensure that the message is passed on to their subordinate staff as well to ensure better probity.
6. Dwell time should be reduced. Law and probity should be strictly adhered to.
7. We should always act as pioneer in the best practices all across the nation and set examples for others to be followed.
8. The DRI/CIU/SIIB/CSD alerts should be attended on top priority. If any alerts regarding containers on hold is received the same should be attended to immediately and such containers should be traced immediately and the concerned agencies to be informed accordingly on urgent basis.
9. Document Management System needs immediate attention as complaints are being received in this office that the documents are not being forwarded regularly from the CFSs. All DC/ACs should ensure that the dockets of the Bills of Entry are forwarded to the concerned section immediately for necessary action.
10. Longstanding and unclaimed/uncleared containers must be identified and list of all such containers should be forwarded to the Disposal Section for further necessary action.
11. The DC/ACs should ensure 100% commitment and truthfulness to the Department and it should be ensured that their subordinate staff follow the same. We should strive to continue to be meaningful and relevant in our areas of work.
12. All areas of work such as Adjudication, Audit, PCA, Revenue Recovery should be accorded due priority and all targets assigned to this zone should be met with.
13. Entry of un-authorised persons inside the officers' cabin should be restricted. Officers should be vigilant and restrict the un-authorised persons entry inside CFSs and also inside the officers cabins.
But aren't these things which the officers are employed and paid for, without the Chief Commissioner exhorting them. Should senior officers be exhorted to come to office punctually?