POSTAL APPRAISING DEPARTMENT

HISTORY

The origin of the Postal Appraising Department dates back to 1970, when it was started in a small way within the office of the General Post Office to cater to the needs of the people of Karnataka who hither to had to depend on Chennai and Mumbai postal hubs for the clearance of their foreign mail / parcels. This office is now headed by an Assistant Commissioner and has two Superintendents, two Inspectors and supporting staff. The PAD caters to the Customs clearance of foreign mail / parcels in- coming and out – going of Karnataka.

LOCATION

The office of the Postal Appraising Department is located at Shoolay Complex, III Floor, Museum Road, Bangalore-560025. The Phone Number of PAD is 080-25589992.

JURISDICTION

This office has jurisdiction over the entire state of Karnataka. All the incoming (import) foreign post articles/parcels destined to the state and all the out going foreign post articles/parcels from the state (export) are custom cleared through this office.

PROCEDURE FOLLOWED IN CLEARING THE INCOMING FOREIGN ARTICLES / PARCELS (IMPORT)

On arrival in the sub foreign post office, from the 4 metros, the parcels are same presented to Customs Officers for separation of elimination of dutiable and non-dutiable articles/parcels. The eliminated parcels (Non-dutiable) are cleared by the postal authorities to the respective addressees. The detained parcels will be assigned a particular number according to the mode of shipment of the articles like Air/Air Insured/ Sea/ Sea Insured/ Speed/Letter Mail Article etc. by the postal authorities. A ‘Way Bill’ similar to ‘Bill of Entry’ is prepared by the foreign post office and the parcels are presented for customs examination along with the waybills. The parcels are opened by the postal staff in the presence of the Customs officers, and the content of each parcel is noted against the parcel number by the Customs Officers. After the examination the parcels are repacked and are kept in the custody of Postal Authorities until further notice. The goods/ items contained in the parcels are then assessed to Customs duties by the Superintendents. In r/o assessment of goods/items of value more than Rs.5000/- such assessment is countersigned by the Asst. Commissioner. The details of assessment including the duty payable are noted against each parcel in the waybill. The Way bill is then handed over back to the Postal Authorities who deliver the parcels to the addressees and also collect the duties payable, from the addressees.

In cases where Indian or foreign currency is received of value over and above Rs.5,000/- the same will be cleared after the addressee obtains/produces NOC from RBI.

In cases where the details available with the parcels are not sufficient for assessment, a call memo is sent to the addressee requesting them to produce necessary documents for assessment of the goods. The assessment is completed after the necessary documents are submitted by the addressees. If no reply is received from the addresses within the stipulated time, the goods will be assessed by appraising the value of the goods. If the goods require a valid import license and the same is not produced, the officer will adjudicate the case by giving an opportunity of personal hearing. If the case is adjudicated and the goods are not redeemed within the stipulated period as mentioned in the OIO’s such parcels will be confiscated and handed over to the customs godown. Further in case the goods are not accepted the addressee, the same will be returned to sender as per the instructions of the supplier on the Dispatch note or by the importer.

If the addressee is not satisfied by the assessment of the goods, there is a provision of re-assessment where in the addressee can produce necessary documents in support of their claim for reassessment and the same will be considered on merits.

MAJOR CUSTOMS NOTIFICATIONS FREQUENTLY EXTENDED (as amended)

Sl. No.	NOTIFICATION NO.	BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTIFICATION
1	51/96	Imports by Research Institutes at concessional rate of duty.
2	39/96	Duty free imports by Defence.
3	148/94	Duty free imports of food / medicine, clothes by charitable institutions.
4	171/93	Duty free imports of bonafide gifts upto Rs.10,000/- under Customs Tariff Heading 98.04.
5	154/94	Duty free imports for samples upto Rs.10,000/-.

PROCEDURE FOLLOWED IN CLEARING OUT GOING PARCELS (EXPORTS)

All export parcels booked for foreign countries from the various post offices throughout the state are presented for customs examination in the sub foreign post office by postal authorities. Such parcels are subjected to random examination by the customs Inspector and allowed for export as per the provisions of the EXIM policy. If any parcel found to contain prohibited/restricted goods such parcels are detained and the case is adjudicated for any violations.

THE OFFICERS TO BE CONTACTED

Sl. No.	NAME & DESIGNATION OF THE OFFICER (S/Shri/Smt./Kum.)	Phone No.
1	KUM. RASHMI MISHRA, Assistant Commissioner of Customs	080- 22261326/ 080-25589992 Fax No. 080-22380627
2	V.RAMDAS, Superintendent of Customs	080—25589992
3	SHAJI JOHN, Superintendent of Customs	080—25589992
4	Inspector of Customs	080—25589992

	Sub-Postmaster, HSG-1 Foreign Post Office, Bangalore	080-25589993

PROCEDURE IN DISPOSING THE ASSESSED BUT UNCLAIMED PARCELS

If the addressee fails/refuses to take delivery of the parcel addressed to her after its release from the customs, such parcels are returned to the sub foreign post office. Such of those unclaimed parcels are handed over to the Customs Godown after serving a show cause notice on the party for its confiscation so that the same disposed off at the earliest.

REVENUE REALIZED FROM PAD

Sl. No.	YEAR	REVENUE (Rs. In Lakhs)
1	2007-08	148
2	2008-09	140
3	2009-10	150
4	2010-11	228
5	2011-12 (upto December 2011)	124.16