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Customs dept's bid to educate assessees

Our Bureau

MANGALORE, Aug. 1

IN an attempt to make its ``presence'' felt, the Settlement Commission of Customs and Central Excise has sent a team of its officials here to ``educate'' assessees about the functioning of the Settlement Commission.

Among the Commission's officials, who visited Mangalore were the Vice-Chairman of the Mumbai Bench, Mr. G.N. Sarangi, members of the Chennai and Delhi benches Mr. N. Rajagopalan and Mr. N. Obhrai, and the Commissioner of the Chennai bench, Mr. K.C. Singh .

The Customs and Central Excise Settlement Commission for the settlement of duty disputes relating to customs and Central excise duties was constituted in response to the demand of ``apex bodies of trade and industry''. The principal Bench of the Commissi on is at New Delhi, with two additional benches in Mumbai and Chennai. One more additional bench is likely to be started in Calcutta.

The officials also addressed an open house session at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in which they said the Commission was designed to provide a channel whereby indirect tax disputes could be settled expeditiously rather than through prolon ged litigation.

The Settlement Commission provides ``quick and easy settlement of tax disputes involving high revenue stakes'' and has the power to grant immunity from prosecution for any offence under the Central Excise Act, the Customs Act or any other Central Act in respect of the case covered by the settlement.

The Commission also has the power to grant immunity from the imposition of any penalty, fine or interest under the Central Excise Act or the Customs Act.