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Regarding sale of books from shipping vessels in port
Circular No. 23 dated
21st March 1995
I am directed to
say that the Board has been receiving requests on an annual basis from certain
foreign shipping vessels for permission for sale of books on broad the vessels
while the same is docked at an Indian port. This permission has hitherto been
given by the Board subject to the vessel obtaining the required no objection
from the concerned authorities such as the Ministry of Surface Transport,
Ministry of Home Affairs, Reserve Bank of India etc.
2. The
matter has been examined by the Board and it is noticed that the foreign vessels
applying for permission to sell books on board the vessel to the visiting public
at each port of call in India are essentially floating bookshops. In contrast to
the normal procedure where the books are first cleared for home consumption and
then sold in the local market, the books are proposed to be sold direct to the
public on board the vessel itself. Therefore, the books will be cleared for home
consumption on a day-to-day basis by individual public members. As this facility
has been sought on year-to-year basis at various ports in India, it is
considered appropriate to evolve a uniform procedure in this regard.
3. In
this context I am directed to say that the Board has decided that the grant
of permission for sale of books on board foreign vessel in the port is a matter
within the competence of jurisdictional Collector of Customs. Hence, a
reference to the Board is not required any more. This permission will however,
be given by the Collector subject to the understanding that the master of the
vessel obtains the requisite statutory clearances from other concerned
Department/ Bodies.
4. The
procedures to be followed once the permission of sale of books on board the
vessel has been granted by the Collector of Customs is that upon completion of
the other formalities such as filing import general manifest, the Preventive
officer concerned will board the vessel for examination of the books in stock.
Such books which are found objectionable or contrary to the provisions of law
regarding their importability (including books showing incorrect external
boundaries of India) will be segregated and sealed. These shall not be permitted
for display or sale.
5. All
other books cleared for sale may be displayed on board the vessel to the
visiting public. On a daily basis the details of the looks sold to the public
will be submitted to the customs and at the end of the sale period, before the
vessel sails for the next destination, a consolidated Bill of entry will be
filed for the sum total of the books sold during the period of stay of the
vessel. This Bill of Entry will be assessed on merits keeping in mind the ITC
formalities also.
6. Where
it is proposed to obtain local books from India for sale on board the vessel, a
similar procedure as detailed above will be followed, and before the vessel
sails for the next destination a shipping bill will be filed for the number of
books on board the vessel indicating specifically the books sold at the
particular port.
7. It
is requested that the aforesaid decision of the Board with reference to sale of
books on board foreign vessels may be implemented with immediate effect by issue
of suitable Departmental Order/ Standing Order No. doubt, it will be ensured
that the activities relating to movement of books in and out of the port and its
sale on board the vessel will be under the general supervision of the officers
of the Customs. Suitable Public Notice/ Trade Notice may also be issued for
information of Trading Public.
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