TaxTMI Updates e-Newsletter
Jan 11,2012

Summary: The New Telecom Policy, 2011 establishes a framework to expand affordable, high quality converged telecommunications and broadband, promote domestic R&D and manufacturing, streamline financing and taxes, and increase rural tele density. It proposes abolition of roaming charges, authorization of unrestricted internet telephony, unified licensing, spectrum trading and sharing, periodic spectrum audits, and enactment of a Spectrum Act creating a Spectrum Management Commission with pricing and dispute resolution powers. The policy also contemplates infrastructure status for telecom and strengthened consumer protections, while remaining silent on specific implementation timelines.

Summary: The Prime Minister's message stresses deepening bilateral relations between India and South Africa, citing recent economic engagement and coordinated positions on global forums. The Indian delegation delivered messages from national leaders and highlighted enduring party-to-party relations between the Indian National Congress and the ANC as a special facet of state-level ties, recalling shared historical solidarity and mutual struggles for freedom and justice.

Summary: The address urges harnessing the diaspora's brain gain, networks and entrepreneurial skills to advance an inclusive growth model that pairs economic liberalisation with rights-based entitlements and rural-sustainable development. It calls for diaspora engagement beyond large formal investments toward social entrepreneurship, technology transfer, financial inclusion, skill development and sectoral collaboration (e.g., solar energy, water) to reduce disparities and strengthen access to education, employment, information and food under a consensus-driven reform approach.

Summary: The Commerce Minister and his counterpart reviewed bilateral commercial relations, noted continued growth in trade and investment, and agreed to maintain momentum through commercial delegations and facilitative measures while intensifying efforts to conclude a Preferential Trade Agreement with SACU and finalise a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement to deepen market access and secure investment flows.

Summary: Extension of anti-dumping duty on imports of Caustic Soda from specified origins is effected by amendment to the original customs notification; the Central Government, under powers conferred by the Customs Tariff Act and following a review by the designated authority, has added an express proviso that the earlier notification imposing the anti-dumping measure remains in force for an additional period unless revoked earlier.

Summary: The Central Board of Excise and Customs, under sections 4(1) and 5(1) of the Customs Act, appoints the Joint Commissioner or Additional Commissioner of Customs (Imports), Air Cargo Complex, Sahar, Mumbai as the common adjudicating authority empowered to exercise the functions of the Additional Commissioner of Customs (Imports) and Additional Commissioner of Customs (Export) for adjudicating specified show cause notices issued to two named trading entities by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence dated 10.08.2011.

Summary: The Board assigns specified show cause notices issued by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to the Commissioner of Customs (Import & General), New Custom House, New Delhi as the Common Adjudicating Authority, directing that those notices listed in the annexure be adjudicated by the assignee under the statutory notification made under the Customs Act.

Summary: Pursuant to Notification No. 15/2002-Customs (N.T.), the Show Cause Notice F.No.DRI/MZU/D/INV-05(II)/2008-2009 dated 01.08.2011 issued by the Additional Director, DRI, Mumbai Zonal Unit in the case of M/s SNS Enterprises and others is assigned to the Commissioner of Customs (Import), New Custom House, Ballard Estate, Mumbai, who is thereby designated to adjudicate that notice, reflecting an administrative reallocation of adjudicatory jurisdiction.

Summary: A Show Cause Notice issued by the Additional Director General, DRI, Delhi Zonal Unit in the matter of M/s Shivam Overseas and others is assigned to the Commissioner of Customs (Export Promotion), New Custom House, Mumbai, for adjudication under a central customs notification issued under the Customs Act, with copies served on relevant DRI and customs offices.

Summary: A Show Cause Notice issued by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) (F.No.856(41)LDH/2005 dated 06.08.2007 concerning M/s Jagraon Exports and others) is assigned to the Commissioner of Customs (Export Promotion), New Custom House, Mumbai, for adjudication under Notification No.15/2002-Customs (N.T.) issued under subsection (1) of section 4 of the Customs Act, 1962.

Summary: The Board assigns Show Cause Notice F.No. DRI/AZU/INT-38/2008 (COAL) dated 19.11.2010 and corrigendum dated 03.01.2011, issued by the Additional Director General, DRI Zonal Unit, Ahmedabad in the case of M/s Sanghi Industries Ltd. and others, to the Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Jamnagar, for the purpose of adjudication under Notification No. 15/2002-Customs (N.T.) as amended.