Expeditious disposal of seized goods –one time interim administrative measure
Board wants all unclaimed/uncleared goods to be disposed and has given guidelines for the same.
++ goods which have undergone auctions/tenders at least 3 times by the custodians and which are still lying unsold, are to be offered for final tender once more and the highest bid received to be accepted by the department. This process should be completed by 31st March, 2006.
++ Disposal of goods shall be done through e-auction/tender conducted regularly every month
++ Each Custom House will constitute Special Task Forces to conduct a comprehensive review of all the consignments indicated as being “detained” by the respective custodians, and reconcile the figures with their records.
++ All pending action such as investigation, adjudication, court proceedings should be referred to the concerned sections in the Custom House for being completed without delay.
++ Details of consignments not found to be detained by Customs/DRI, should be intimated to the custodians for further action by them.
++ Further, there might be considerable volume of old consignments which cannot be connected with any records. Details of such detained goods should also be intimated to the custodians who should put all such consignments for auction/tender in terms of the new procedure.
++ This action of identifying and reconciling the figures and intimating the custodians should be completed within 120 days
++ there would be a formal mechanism for interaction between the custodians and Customs to review the pendency of uncleared cargo and to reconcile the figures.
++ there should be a quarterly meeting between the Customs and Custodians at each Custom station to review the pendency of uncleared/ unclaimed cargo and to update the status of the pending consignments. Further in such review meetings, the pendency with the custodian should be matched with the figures of uncleared consignments as per Customs records.
CIRCULAR NO. , Dated: February 16, 2006