Custom House Agent’s license – Application form to be modified – Draft Circular – but what’s the change?
The CBEC proposes to modify the Application From for Custom House Agent’s licence, apparently based on the recommendations of a parliamentary committee, and wants views, comments and suggestions on the proposed changes. But pray, what are the changes? The revised form does not seek any additional information or delete any information sought in the earlier form. Instead of eleven fields in the existing form there are ten fields in the proposed form. This is because item numbers (1) & (2) have been merged into item number (1). Why these changes at all? Waste paper and time?
But what did the Parliamentary Committee suggest?
Here are the excerpts from the COMMITTEE ON SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION - HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVENTH REPORT
Point referred
Regulation 5 deals with the application for licences, the format of which has been appended to the regulations as form ‘A’.Further, regulation 5 lays down certain information, which is required to be furnished by the applicant.
What is the justification for prescribing the information desired in the main regulations when a format of application has been appended to the regulations; It is seen that the conditions mentioned in regulation 5 have been briefly summarized in the form of the application also and to this extent, there is duplication.Whether Government have any objection in putting these conditions in the form itself so as to (a) avoid duplication and (b) facilitate the applicant in finding the conditions at one place which will also reduce the chances of anybody missing to take note of them?Lastly the application form appended to the regulation as form ‘A’ is not in the format of an application form.It only lists desired information.It is not possible to put it in the format of an application?
Ministry's reply
The application contains a number of columns whereas Regulation 5 merely indicates the names of persons, which should appear in the application form. If the Committee recommends the format of Form-A could be amended to make it in a letter form.However, the practice is that form-A is forwarded with a covering letter from the applicant.
Committee's Observations (25/10/2004)
The Committee noted with satisfaction that the representatives were agreeable to revise the format of form ‘A’ into a letter form in order to avoid duplication.The Committee hoped that this would not only avoid duplication but also facilitate applicants in laying their hand at all the conditions at one place.
Committee's Observations (9/11/2005)
The Committee noted that Regulation 5 has been amended based upon its suggestion but it felt that FORM A was still not in the appropriate form.The Committee desired the Ministry to look into this aspect
The Ministry looked into this and merged Item 1 and 2 in the form and the Parliamentary Committee will be informed that their suggestion has been implemented.
Now you know where the taxes you pay go to?
Send in your suggestions before 30th June.
Draft Circular F.No.-VI