No direct correspondence on Policy Issues by Ministries with Customs Commissionerates - Customs - 080/98

Circular No. 80/98- Customs dated 26/10/1998 F.No. 434/38/96 - Cus. IV Government of India Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Central Board of Excise Customs, New Delhi Subject : Development of infrastructure - Correspondence by Custom Houses, Central Excise Commissionerates directly with other Ministries. The proposal for establishment of new ICD, CFS and Air Cargo Complexes are presently being examined by Inter-ministerial Committee consisting of representatives from the various Ministries. The said committee is functioning in the Ministry of Commerce. It has been observed that the commissioners of Customs/ Central Excise have been sending letters to the Ministry of Commerce directly, occasionally with copies through Board. The view of the Commissioners are often at variance and are not in the line with the approach adopted by the Board. In addition, Board may take a different view in some cases from administrative angle on such matters and in all mattes which involve policy decisions and need a uniform approach at the Board's level. 2. Board therefore desires that whenever a reference is received from any Ministry on any matter having policy implication, even though received directly by the Field Formations the report for the same may be sent to the Board for formulating its response and replying to the concerned Ministry appropriately. In case the concerned Ministry is required to be intimated by the Commissionerates they may be intimated that the necessary information has been sent to the Board for onward transmission to the said Ministry. Direct correspondence with other MInistries on policy matters may be avoided. Sd/- (Vijay Kumar) Under Secretary to the Government of India.