TIOL-DDT 449 · the untouched capture
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<p> <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#663399" size="3">TIOL-DDT
449</font><br>
14 09 2006<br>
Thursday</b></font></p>
<p align=center><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong><font color="#006600">Anti
dumping duty on </font></strong><font color="#006600"><b>Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic
Soda) – sunset review.</b></span></font></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Government
had initiated a sunset review in the matter of continuation of anti-dumping
on imports of Sodium Hydroxide commonly known as Caustic Soda, falling under
sub-headings 2815 11 and 2815 12 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff
Act, 1975 originating in, or exported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Japan, USA and
France, imposed <i>vide </i>notification No.69/2001- Customs, dated the 26 th
June, 2001. And the Government had extended the anti-dumping duty on the goods
originating in, or exported from the countries <i>vide </i>notification No.
39/2006 -Customs dated the 28th April, 2006 up to and inclusive of 25th day
of September, 2006; </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Now
being convinced that the anti dumping duty has to be continued, the government
has decided to impose anti dumping duty on the goods. This is to be effective
for a period of five years from 13<sup>th</sup> September 2006 unless revoked
earlier. And consequently the notification No.69/2001 is rescinded. </font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.taxindiaonline.com/RC2/subCatDesc.php3?subCatDisp_Id=23&filename=notification/custom/2006/ctariff06_098.htm">NOTIFICATION
NO. 98</a><b> and</b><a href="http://www.taxindiaonline.com/RC2/subCatDesc.php3?subCatDisp_Id=23&filename=notification/custom/2006/ctariff06_099.htm">
99 /2006-Cus., Dated: September 13, 2006 </a></font></p>
<p align=center><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong><font color="#006600">Expeditious
Adjudication- Board’s Action plan</font></strong></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">“Board
is concerned with heavy pendency of Central Excise demand cases considering
that delay in adjudication of such cases has a direct bearing on revenue
collection efforts of the government.” CBEC Chairman VP Singh has written
to all the Commissioners to speed up the adjudication process. Board has
analysed the pendency position and observed that 13941cases involving central
excise duty of Rs. 9851.49 crore are reported pending as on 31.3.2006. The
Chairman wants all these cases to be adjudicated by 31.3.2007. Actually
the Chairman desires that these cases
are adjudicated before 31.10.2006, so that field officers are left with some
time to pursue with the assessees for recovery preferably within the current
financial year Itself.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Board’s
analysis of the pendency has revealed:-</font></p>
<blockquote>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">++
cases involving 89.33% of revenue are pending at the level of commissioners</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">++
In terms of number of cases the corresponding figure is only 13.18%</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">++
the top 20 CCEs, account for 73.30% of the revenue blocked in adjudication
on an all India basis.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">++
No. of cases - 13941</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">++
Revenue Involved - Rs. 9851.19 crore</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Chairman wants</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">1.
All demand cases pending adjudication as on 31.3.2006 be targeted for disposals
latest by 31.3.2007.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2.
Maximum possible disposals be done by 31.10.2006 so that the field officers
have time to effect recoveries in accordance with the law within the current
financial year itself, after the normal appeal period is over.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">3.
89.33% of total blocked up revenue is in the cases pending at the level of commissioners-
As such, disposals at the Commissioners' level should be the main area of focus.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">4.
Top 10 CCEs (in terms of revenue blocked in adjudications) accounting for
59.55% (i.e., Rs.5786.23 crore) of total blocked up revenue be subjected
to special adjudication-focused audit by the Inspection Directorate.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5.
Next 10 CCEs having another Rs.1336.29 crore, i.e., 13.75% of the blocked
up revenue, be specially inspected by the respective Zonal Chief Commissioners.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">6.
For the remaining 73 commissionerates, similar self-Inspections by the respective
commissioners-in-charge of the commissionerates be carried out.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">7.
The Inspections by the Inspection Directorates, Chief CCEs and CCEs may be carried
out, with advance notices in the first fortnight of September 2006 so that the
concerned officers in the field formations have sufficient time to put their
respective houses in order before the inspection takes place and are also left
with sufficient time for rectifying deficiencies and taking corrective action
as may be brought out / suggested on inspection. The inspecting teams/officers
should focus their attention exclusively on pending adjudications and submit
the inspection notes at most within one week of the actual date of Inspection.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">8.
Demand Notices Issued during the current financial year too be given due attention
for timely action and conclusion of proceedings. This is necessary to ensure
that such fresh demand cases don't pile up to a big pendency and block substantial
revenue at the end of the year.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Obeying
the Board is not exactly a favourite pastime in the field and the Chairman’s
D.O letters are at best considered a nuisance, but now as reports on figures
of adjudication have to be given, Commissioners are sure to get hyperactive.
Tough days ahead for the assessees.</strong></font></p>
<p align=center><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong><font color="#006600">Customs
offices – go for canteen, crèche and gym – there is money available</font>.</strong></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A
motorised tread mill at the Commissionerate headquarters would cost Rs. 80,000
while the same at any other place would be Rs.40,000/-. At least that is the
kind of financial assistance the Commissionerate and other offices can get from
the Customs and Central Excise Performance Award Fund. The Commissioner in the
Directorate of Logistics has communicated the guidelines / norms for Canteen
/ Creche / Gym, recreation, sports centre for grant of financial assistance.
Even small offices having more than 6 employees can have a <st1:City>Tiffin</st1:City>
room with a fridge and oven etc,.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Have
good food in the office, get plenty exercise in the office gym and let the office
creche take care of your children. Coming to office should really be a tempting
option. These employee welfare measures which hardly cost any thing will go
a long way in boosting the morale. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
guidelines for a canteen are</font></p>
<blockquote>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
The minimum staff strength requiring a canteen facility should be 50 (including
all categories of staff). </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
Office requiring canteen facility should own the building i.e. building should
be departmental or it should be on a long term lease. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
No funds will be sanctioned for Canteens in make shift buildings or buildings
on short term rental basis. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
Cases where other central govt. offices not having any canteen are housed
in the same building will be given priority to ensure running of a canteen
and its profitability. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
Proposal shall be accompanied with a sketch layout plan of the accommodation
where proposed canteen is to be set up. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
No post shall be sanctioned for running the Canteen. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
No funds shall be sanctioned either from the Welfare Fund or in the regular
budget for meeting recurring expenditure such as consumables or wages salary
of manpower/staff for running the canteen. The Canteen should be self supporting.
</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
Complete details as to how canteen will be run (i.e. whether by outsourcing
or run by the Commissionerate's existing canteen staff) should be provided
along with the proposal. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">•
A Committee consisting of Commissionerate's staff/officials representing different
categories should be formed to supervise/monitor running of canteens for their
smooth/efficient/profitable functioning. </font></p>
</blockquote>
<p><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.taxindiaonline.com/RC2/inside2.php3?filename=wnew/logistics.htm">F.
No.712/366/200-DPO(WF)/2006 Dated: September 7, 2006 of the Directorate of Logistics.</a></font></p>
<p align=center><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#006600">13
customs officers in Romania detained on extortion charges</font></b></font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Associated Press today reported that 13 customs officers in Romania have been
detained on charges bribery. They allegedly demanded money and special unauthorized
fees to speed up import and export formalities. The European Union, which Romania
wants to join in 2007, has told Romania to work to eradicate endemic graft.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font color="#FF6666" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Until
tomorrow with more DDT </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font color="#FF6666" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Have
a nice day. </font></p>
<p align="justify"><font color="#FF6666" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Mail
your comments to </font><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:vijaywrite@taxindiaonline.com">vijaywrite@taxindiaonline.com</a></span></font></p>
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