Parveen Mahajan Takes over as Acting Chairman of CBEC, S.K. Goel Retires

[Message from S.K. Goel at Retirement]

My dear brothers and sisters in the department,

I take this opportunity to thank each one of you, for the extreme cooperation given to me and to the Board in achieving some of the goals that I had set forth when I had taken charge as Chairman last year.

2. As you know, in the indirect tax administration we have been sailing through rough times as the economy was not doing well and the domestic production as well as Exim trade was affected by various factors. However, it was due to the concerted efforts by each one of you, that we could achieve the revenue collection for the last fiscal, just short of the target. There was also marked improvement in key areas such as anti-smuggling, detection of duty or tax evasion, audit, arrears collection and reduction of litigation. I express my deep gratitude to each one of you in helping the CBEC to perform its best.

3. In an effort to augment revenue, widening of tax base and increase tax-GDP ratio, concept of negative list of services has been introduced. While we face a number of problems raised by the tax payers which needed to be attended to immediately and sympathetically, I would also request that we should keep in mind that we are dealing with the tax payers who are highly educated and widely travelled and hence they have high expectations on the quality of services that we render on behalf of CBEC. There is also a need to adapt to the changing situation and forthcoming GST. Preparatory work for implementation of GST is being carried out in a time bound manner for bringing in a complete pre-GST regime, to enable smooth transition to GST at appropriate time. I hope that each one you will play your part to usher the department in new era of indirect tax reforms.

4. I am extremely grateful for the contribution made by so many officers, staff and their families for achieving an important milestone of 50 years of the enactment of the Customs Act, 1962 in which period remarkable contributions have been made by Customs department to nation building and safeguarding the economic frontiers of the country. I salute to every one of them for the great contribution they had made to this department.
5. We had also been successful in obtaining the approval from the Department of Personnel and Training for a major cadre restructuring programme. I hope the necessary sanction of the Government is given soon. I am sure that this would enable CBEC to increase its workforce for appropriate deployment to deliver the twin objectives of trade facilitation and enforcement and thus improve performance. This would also pave the way for designing a modern tax administration structure in future. I am also happy that recently we had laid foundation for a remarkable infrastructure facility at Mumbai for the welfare of the staff. Similar efforts should continue.
6. We have taken significant measures through specific programmes addressed to enhance the services rendered by the department in facilitating the trade and to encourage voluntary compliance.
7. At the end, while relinquishing my post on superannuation, let me express my greetings and best wishes to each one of you and to your family for success in all walks of life. I feel it a privilege to have been chosen to serve the departmental family from a position of leadership and I am confident that my successors shall continue to get the same support from all of you in taking the indirect tax administration further forward.