Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)

Vivek Johri, IRS (C&IT:1985), a 1985-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officer, has been a member of the board. He has succeeded M Ajit Kumar, who completed his tenure on November 30.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had last month approved the appointment of Johri as the Chairman of the CBIC, which is the apex body related to customs and other indirect taxes.

The decision is made by the appointments committee of the cabinet. Johri, a senior civil servant, is currently a member of the CBIC, handling GST and tax policy.

The CBIC chairman has the challenge to boost Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues, which have refused to show any significant jump.

M Ajit Kumar, a 1984 batch IRS officer hailing from Kozhikode, kerala has been appointed as Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). He was earlier a Member (Administration and Vigilance) in the CBIC.

In his 36-year career, he has worked in many capacities in the department including Directorate of Vigilance in New Delhi; Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Mumbai; Commissioner of Customs in Mumbai; Principal Chief Commissioner of GST Zone for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs zones in Chennai.

Ajit Kumar is a recipient of the World Customs Organisation certificate of merit for the year 2019, says a release from Chennai Customs.

The CBIC chairman has the challenge to boost Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues, which have refused to show any significant jump.

Dr John Joseph (Held Additional Charge as Chairman from 01.01.2020 to 02.02.2020), a 1983 batch officer of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) has been appointed as the Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. He has assumed charge as Chairman on 01.01.2020.

He has handled various assignments in the Finance Ministry, including Member (Tax Policy, GST & Investigation), Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Director General, Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGSTI), Principal Commissioner (Customs), etc.

He hails from Kozhikode, Kerala. He has one son and one daughter. His Daughter Chaitra Teresa John is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Kerala Cadre.

Shri. Pranab Kumar Das took over as chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the apex policy-making body for indirect taxes, to succeed S. Ramesh, who superannuated on December 31, 2018.

Shri Das, a 1983-batch IRS officer of Customs and Central Excise Cadre was appointed as member in the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in 2017.

"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Pranab Kumar Das, IRS, as Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on superannuation of S. Ramesh, IRS, on December 31, 2018," the Department of Personnel and Training said in a statement.

Shri. S. Ramesh, IRS (C&CE:1981) took over as Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), on superannuation of Smt. Vanaja N. Sarna on 30.06.2018.

Prior to his elevation, he was Member (Administration) in the Board. Shri S. Ramesh began his career in Mumbai as Asst Commissioner, Central Excise and thereafter in Mumbai Customs. He has worked in various capacities in Hyderabad, Nagpur, Chennai, Trichy etc.

He was the Chief Commissioner, Chennai Customs Zone from 2013 to 2016. Thereafter, he took over as Director General, Systems & Data Management. He joined the Board in September, 2016 as Member (IT, Central Excise & Service Tax).

Shri. Smt. Vanaja N. Sarna, IRS (C&CE:1980) took over charge of the Chairman, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC now CBIC) on superannuation of Shri Najib Shah, (IRS C&CE:1979) on 31.03.2017. She was holding the charge as Member (Administration) while being elevated as Chairman.

Smt. Vanaja N. Sarna has served Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC now CBIC) in several capacities over the last 36 years. These include postings in Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax formations in Kochi, Delhi, Chennai, Meerut, Chandigarh and Bangalore. She has also worked as Additional Director General, National Academy of Customs, Excise & Narcotics (NACEN), in Chennai. She was also Additional Director General in the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence, New Delhi. She also served on deputation as Under Secretary, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and as Director/ Joint Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

Prior to becoming Member, Central Board of Excise and Customs, she held the charge of Director General of Vigilance and Chief Vigilance Officer of the Department.

Shri. Najib Shah (IRS C&CE:1979), appointed as Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), took over the position from Kaushal Srivastava (IRS C&CE:1978) who retired on June 30, 2015 (was acting chairman till October end).

A 1979 batch IRS officer and former Director General of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), he had joined CBEC in May, 2015 as a member. Shri. Shah is the senior most among the six members of the CBEC.

Shri. Shah is famous for his honesty and integrity and also for his fearlessness. He will have a tenure as Chairman till March 2017, probably the longest tenure as Chairman in recent past.

Shri. Kaushal Srivastava, an officer of the Indian Customs and Central Excise Service (IC&CES), is appointed as the chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Custom (CBEC), since Ms. J M Shanti Sundharam retired.

Shri Kaushal Srivastava, a 1978-batch Indian Customs and Central Excise Service (IC&CES) officer, has been serving as a Member (Budget) with additional charge of computerisation and vigilance.

Shri Srivastava, held the post of Chief Commissioner, Central Excise, Delhi before joining as a member in CBEC on October 22, last year. A law graduate, Srivastava, will have a tenure of eight months as he will retire on June 30, next year, on his attaining the age of superannuation.

Ms. J.M. Shanti Sundharam, a 1977 batch officer of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) joined C.B.E. & C. as Chairman on 25-02-2014. Earlier she was officiating as Chairman from 01-02-2014 consequent upon the superannuation of Ms. Praveen Mahajan, the first lady head of C.B.E. & C.

Born in Madurai on 20-10-1954, she did her M.A. from Delhi University and M. Phil. from Punjab University. She comes from an academic family as her father was Sr. Lecturer in Sriram College of Commerce, New Delhi.

She joined the Revenue services on 14-07-1977 and has vast experience of working in various capacities under the Central Board of Excise & Customs. She has also served on deputation in the Ministry of Food and CEIB.

During her tenure in the CDR's Office CESTAT, New Delhi, she strongly and effectively defended Revenue's cases on technical and legal aspects. Her experience in the CDR office was duly reflected in her orders passed as Commissioner, Central Excise (Appeals). She was also Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), New Delhi and became Chief Commissioner, Tuticorin in December 2009 with additional charge of Chennai.

Smt. Shanti Sundharam joined the Board as a Member on 29-11-2011 and had been Member (Budget), Member (Legal and Judicial), Member (Service Tax) and Member (Central Excise and Computerization). Her vivid experience in all the branches of taxation, i.e. Central Excise, Customs & Service Tax coupled with computerisation of the Department is likely to be of immense use in formulating policies and procedures in relation to the Indirect Taxes. (Based on ELT 31-03-2014)

CAD is under control: Interview with Chairperson

Ms. Praveen Mahajan, the first lady to head the CBEC, joined Indian Revenue Service in 1976 and has held many important assignments in the department including Member (P & V) from 1st August, 2011, before the present assignment. She has also worked in Customs Cooperation Council at Brussels, Director General (Export Promotion), Additional Director General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, New Delhi, Commissioner, Customs & Central Excise, Jaipur & Bhopal, et al. For her distinguished record of service she has been conferred with the Presidential Award.

She did her Masters in History from Punjab University in April, 1975 and Masters in English from Punjab University in April, 1978. She holds a Diploma in 'International Economic Relations' from the International Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Paris.

Her interests include literature and music. She is a keen sportsperson and plays Tennis, Badminton and loves Horse riding. She won the bronze medal in shooting at the National Level. She represented her college & university in Tennis and Badminton. She has travelled many parts of the world and loves to find new places to experience and explore

Shri Satish Kumar Goel, who has taken over as the Chairman of the Central Board of Excise & Customs on the 1st of November, 2011, a Member of the CBEC from 30th September 2009, is an officer of the 1975 Batch of Indian Revenue Service Customs & Central Excise. Born on the 24th July, 1952, he has a masters (MA) and an LLB degree. He has worked in various capacities in the Department and shouldered responsibility in important and sensitive places. He was Director General, Vigilance and Chief Vigilance Officer, CBEC, before his selection as Member, CBEC in 2009. He was conferred with President's Award for Specially Distinguished Services in 1991.

Message immediately after taking over

Message on the eve of his retirement

Shri Sumit Dutt Majumder joined Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) in 1974. He has held various posts in the Department and received 'Presidential Award' in 1991. He has been a Member of various Expert Groups and Committees which submitted five Reports on subjects like Handling of Customs & Excise Appeals, Service Tax Commissionerates & Cadre Reogranisation, Trade Facilitation etc. As Chairman of a Sub-Committee on Job-work Valuation (Central Excise), he recommended legislative changes which were accepted by the government. He represented India in WCO Commercial Frauds Working Group in December, 2007 and also represented India in the WCO Enforcement Committee Meeting in February, 2008. He was nominated by WCO as Chairman of Study Group on "Use of National Database for targeting Commercial Fraud" in December, 2007. He has authored the book "Customs Valuation, Law and Practice". He has worked for about six years in three outside organizations viz. the 1982 Asian Games Organising Committee, the 1983 Non Alignment Meet (NAM) Secretariat and the Middle East Office of Spices Board at Bahrain during 1983-87. He has received 'Asiad Jyoti' award from the President of India for exceptional service in organizing 1982 Asian Games. He took over as Member, CBEC on 31st July 2009 and as an acting Chairman on 01.12.2010.

Shri V. Sridhar joined the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) in 1973 after doing M.Sc. (Physics) from Delhi University. He has held various posts in the department both in the field and in the Department of Revenue. He has served in the North, South, East and West Zones. While in the department he also acquired the degrees of LLB and M.Sc. (Fiscal Studies from University of Bath-U.K.) He also completed an advanced course on Tax Analysis and Revenue Forecasting from the Harvard University. He was associated with the Tax Reforms Committee headed by Professor Raja J. Chellaiah. He is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Distinguished Record of Service in the Department. He became a Member of the Central Board of Excise and Customs in 2008 and took over as chairman on 31st July, 2009.

Smt. Chitra Gouri Lal joined the Indian Revenue Service (C&CE) in the year 1974. Having passed the ICSC Examination (previously known as Senior Cambridge) from the Lawrence School, Sanawar, she joined the B.Sc. (Hons) course in Jiwaji University, Gwalior and went on to get her M.Sc. degree in Physics from the University of Sagar. She has also acquired a second M.Sc. degree in Fiscal Studies from the University of Bath, apart from obtaining an M.Phil. degree in Social Science from Punjab University and Masters' Diploma in Public Administration from the Indian Institute of Public Administration. She has a wide and varied experience, having worked at various levels in the field as well as in different Directorates under the Central Board of Excise and Customs. As Commissioner, Directorate of Data Management, she headed the Expert Group for Streamlining the Reporting formats. The Group brought down the number of reports sent by the field formations from around 130 to just 7 major reports. She worked as Chief Commissioner, Jaipur Zone before moving to Delhi as Chief Commissioner of Central Excise and Service Tax, from where she moved to the CBEC after a stint of 2 years and seven months. Smt. Lal has also worked on Central Deputation basis in three different Ministries of the Government of India. As Director in the Ministry of Commerce, she was associated with the establishment of 4 new EPZs at Noida, Chennai, Cochin and Falta, apart from handling export promotion of electronics and computer software.

Shri Y.G. Parande joined the Indian Customs and Central Excise Service in 1975 and has held various assignments in the Customs and Central Excise Department as well as outside. In the early part of his career he was also posted as Under Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai and subsequently as Director in the Department of Personal & Training. While posted in the Department of Personnel & Training he was closely involved with the Government's initiatives for implementation of Citizen's Charter and Right to Information. While posted as Commissioner of Customs, Sahar International Air cargo Complex in Mumbai, Shri Parande led the team which implemented the Risk Management System for Customs. The Risk Management System won the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration for the year 2007-08. He took over as Member CBEC with Additional charge of Director General (Systems) on 31st July 2009.
Source: www.cbec.gov.in & ICE Quarterly June 2009.

Mrs Lalitha John, who has taken over charge as the Member of the Central Board of Excise & Customs on the 29th October 2010, is an officer of the 1974 Batch of Indian Revenue Service, Customs & Central Excise. Born in Delhi, on the 25th July, 1951, she has a Post Graduate Degree in English from the University of Kerala. Prior to joining the Indian Customs & Central Excise Service (in 1974), she worked as a Lecturer in English at Teresian College, Mysore and St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam (Kochi). In 1994, she obtained a Post Graduate Degree in Fiscal Studies from the School of Social Sciences, University of Bath, England (UK). She has attended the Management Development Programme at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie.

Mrs Lalitha John has worked in various capacities in the Department and shouldered responsibility in important and sensitive places. She worked as Commissioner from 10.07.2000 and was promoted as Chief Commissioner on 25.01.2006 and posted to Vishakapatnam. She was the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Bangalore Zone from 15.04.2009, before her elevation to the present post. She also served as the Registrar of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore for about 2 years.

Shri Rajesh Dhingra, who has taken over charge as the Member of the Central Board of Excise & Customs on the 1st December 2010, is an officer of the 1975 Batch of Indian Revenue Service, Customs & Central Excise. Born on the 5th November, 1951, he has a Post Graduate Degree in Arts (M.A.) and a degree in Law (L.L.B.). Shri Dhingra has worked in various capacities in the Department and shouldered responsibility in important and sensitive places including Goa Customs. He was promoted as Chief Commissioner on 26.07.2007. He was the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, Jaipur Zone from 12.05.2008, before his elevation to the present post.

Shri P.N. Vittal Dass joined the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) in 1974. He is M.A. (Economics) and LLB. He attended Bilateral Anti-Smuggling meetings between officers of Customs & other Enforcement Agencies of India & Sri Lanka five times. He attended the Enforcement Committee Meeting of the WCO at Brussels as India's Representative and visited Canada as Team Leader on RMS project, which was successfully implemented at Chennai Air Cargo Complex. He received Presidential Award for specially distinguished record of service on the eve of Republic Day 1991. He has worked in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, where he was responsible for detecting a large number of cases of smuggling, Customs Duty Evasion and other Commercial Frauds. He has varied experience in Customs Appraising, Anti-Smuggling, Intelligence and Investigation fields. He has served in Gujarat Customs, Bombay Customs and Chennai Airport and Air Cargo, besides in Directorate of Revenue Intelligence as Additional Director General, South Zone. Also held charge as Chief Commissioner, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh and Orissa. He took over as Member CBEC on 31st July 2009.