Circular No. 42 dated 18^th July 2002

I am directed to invite your attention to the above-mentioned subject and to state that the existing mechanism for inspection of the systems and services provided to the Customs and Anti-smuggling formations has been reviewed by the Board. Pursuant to this review, it has been decided that the entire range of systems and services being provided to the field formations would be inspected regularly and necessary follow up action taken as per the findings. The systems and services identified for inspection are:

(a)    Visadex system at International Airports

(b)    Systems at other entry/exit points for proper indexing and monitoring of Alerts issued by DRI

(c)    Computerisation and EDI system

(d)    Wireless network

(e)    Baggage X-ray machines, IONSCAN, hand held metal detectors, hand held search lights, door frame metal detectors, binoculars including night vision binoculars, fire arms and ammunition, etc.

(f)     Customs Marine Fleet force such as CPC, CPL.

(g)    Vehicles

(h)    Drug test kits

2.     As regards the officers required to inspect the above-mentioned systems and services and the frequency of such inspections, the Board has decided the following:

(i)     The jurisdictional Commissionerates will continue to be responsible for ensuring proper and effective functioning of the systems and services in their charge.

(ii)    The systems and services will be inspected on monthly basis by the jurisdictional Deputy/ Assistant Commissioners or by an officer of the same rank as nominated by the jurisdictional Commissioner. The inspection results will be communicated by the concerned Deputy/ Assistant Commissioners to their respective Commissioners on monthly basis.

(iii)   In the Monthly Technical Reports (MTR) submitted to the Board and Directorate General of Inspection by the Commissionerates, a separate section may be introduced under the heading "Inspection of the Systems and Services". Under this heading, the inspection results in respect of each of the systems and services as mentioned above will be reported.

(iv)    In the event of any failure noticed in respect of the functioning of any systems or services during the month, the same will be specifically mentioned in the MTR indicating also the action taken to correct such failures. Immediate action will be taken by the jurisdictional Commissionerate to rectify such failure expeditiously. The time taken to correct the failure should also be mentioned in the report for the subsequent month.

(v)    In addition to monthly inspections by the concerned Deputy/ Assistant Commissioners, the proper and effective functioning of the systems and services provided to the Commissionerates will also be verified on quarterly basis by the concerned Additional/ Joint Commissioners and on half yearly basis by the jurisdictional Commissioners. The details of quarterly/ half yearly verification will be duly reflected in the MTR of the relevant month.

(vi)    Extracts of MTR relating to "Inspection of Systems and Services:" shall be sent to DGRI, Commissioner (Preventive Operations) and Commissioner (Systems).

(vii)     The Directorate General of Inspection will consolidate the reports and submit monthly report on the MTRs to the Board.

(viii)  The relevant and important aspects of proper, smooth and effective functioning of the systems and services reported by the Commissionerates in their MTRs will be highlighted by the Directorate General of Inspection in its report to the Board.

(ix)    As and when the inspection teams of the Directorate General of Inspection visit any formation for conducting inspection as per the existing prescribed frequency/ guidelines, they will also check the functioning of the systems and services provided to the said formations and comment on their working and maintenance.

(x)    In the event of any failure in respect of any system or services noticed by the Directorate General of Inspection through the MTRs submitted by the Commissionerates or during the visit of the inspection teams, the same will be brought to the notice of the Board immediately. The matter will also be concurrently taken up with the concerned Commissionerates on priority basis so that such failure could be rectified within a reasonable period of time.

(xi)    As regards Alerts issued by the DRI, the jurisdictional Additional DG of DRI will depute his Additional Director/ Joint Director /Deputy Director/Assistant Director to visit major Airports/ Seaports/ LCSs on quarterly basis to find out if the Alerts are being properly entered in the Visadex system/register for necessary action. A report of such visits will be furnished to DGRI. Minor entry/exit points may be visited on six monthly basis for the purpose. As regards the Visadex system, since it is loaded in the system of the immigration authorities, close liaison should be maintained with them by the Commissioner of Customs, in-charge of the Airport. At the time of inspection it should be ensured that obsolete or expired alerts are deleted from the system.

(xiii)  As regards telecommunication and wireless network, the revised schedule of inspection by Director (Communication) in DPO and his field officers will be as shown in the Annexure A appended hereto.

(xiv)  With regard to weapons and other anti-smuggling equipment such as baggage X-ray machines, HHMD, DFMD etc. the Directorate of Preventive Operations will monitor and supervise the proper functioning of the same. The DPO may also depute its officers to visit major and important formations regularly to verify the functioning of these systems and services.

(xv)   Similarly, the Commissioner of Customs (Systems) shall regularly depute his officers to visit major and important formations for verification of proper functioning of the EDI and computer network.

(xvi)  The verification by Directorates like DRI, DPO, DoS etc. as mentioned above will be in addition to periodical inspection conducted by the jurisdictional Commissionerates, and the primary responsibility to ensure proper functioning of the systems and services will lie with the concerned Commissionerates.

3.     The above inspection schedule may be brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance. Difficulties, if any, faced in the implementation of above instructions may be brought to the Notice of the Board.

Annexure -A

Minimum Inspection Programme Telecommunication set up Customs & Central Excise Commissionerates