The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has directed its field formations that they should avoid corresponding directly with other ministries/departments on matters having policy implication.

Observing that its field formations including the Commissionerates often correspond on sensitive and policy related issues directly with the Commerce Ministry/Directorate General of Foreign Trade without keeping it posted, the CBEC said if at all its officers contact other Ministries, it also should be informed about the same.

The CBEC pointed out that one of the instances where its field formations did not inform it about approaching other departments was when sensitive war material was found in a consignment despite a certificate to the contrary from an authorised inspection agency listed in the DGFT Hand Book of Procedures.

On that occasion, the Commissionerate of Customs referred the matter to the DGFT for appropriate action without informing it, the CBEC said.

“In the referred case of detection of war material, it would have been appropriate to alert all field formations to subject similar imports covered by certificate issued by the identified authorised inspection agency to greater scrutiny. However, this could not be done since the Board (CBEC) was not kept informed,” the CBEC rued.

The CBEC directed all its Commissioners, Chief Commissioners and Director Generals that, “It may be appreciated that matters of policy that have all India ramifications need to be treated with seriousness by being referred to the Board.”

“Examination of such matters by the Board would ensure appropriate action as well as a uniform approach across field formations,” it added.

Related Topics