Pullela Nageswara Rao, Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Retires

KOCHI:
Pullela Nageswara Rao, the Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Central Tax and Central Excise, Thiruvanathapuram Zone, retired on superannuation on 31.01.2020.

A native of Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh, he joined Indian Revenue Service in 1985. He has worked in various Central and State formations throughout India. He was awarded Certificate of Merit in 2013 by world Customs Organisation (WCO).

Pullela Nageswara Rao was at the helm of affairs of state of Kerala when the Goods and Service Tax was rolled out nationally on 1st July 2017. As a part of this mandate and its role as facilitator of trade and industry, he was instrumental in conducting a series of outreach programs throughout the State of Kerala to raise awareness about GST among various stakeholders including Trade, Commerce and Industry, Tax Practitioners and Officers of the department. Setting up of new GST Offices throughout Kerala, to bring services closer to the Taxpayers at his behest, was fruitful.

Much of the credit for smooth transition to GST in Kerala owes to his constant guidance and pro active measures. Recent initiatives for online training for stakeholders about the upcoming new return system have been widely appreciated by the trade and industry. Under his spectacular leadership, the Kerala Zone holds third position in duty collection on all over India basis with GST revenue of Rs.7760 Crore and Central Excise duty of Rs 21,364 Crore.

“Rao not only had years of outstanding service to the Central Tax Department, but has provided strategic leadership throughout his career and provided valuable counsel to the Taxpayers and staff.”

The Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019, the onetime measure for liquidation of past disputes of Central Excise and Service Tax introduced by the Govt of India, was a grand success under his able and strategic leadership in Thiruvanathapuram Zone. As a result, revenue of Rs 429 Crore is expected to collect out of the Scheme in Kerala.

Under his skillful and able leadership, anti smuggling activities of Customs department are tightened in all the four international Airports in Kerala, which resulted in booking of 1236 cases involving Customs Duty of Rs 30 Crores during the year 2019. Gold worth Rs 152 Crore was seized and disposal of the confiscated gold fetched Rs 43.20 Crore in 2017-18 and Rs 77.99 Cr in 2018-19, which is highest in the country.

The Customs revenue for the Zone for the year 2018-19 was Rs 5098 Crore. To facilitate speedy clearance of cargo in the Customs Stations, facilities like Drive Through Container Scanning system, Single Window Clearance System, Less Paper Clearance procedures etc. are implemented successfully under his guidance.

The World Customs Organisation (WCO) International Conference held in May 2019 is an example for his splendid organizational skills, where representative from 33 Member Countries attended the conference.

Rao was a guiding spirit in reclaiming lost and encroached lands of the Customs Department in various places in Kerala and the Ownership of the land of Customs Headquarters in Wellington Island in favour of the department is an example for his constant efforts.

A farewell function in honour of Pullela Nageswara Rao, Principal Chief Commissioner was held on 31.01.2020 at Auditorium, 5th Floor, Central Revenue Building, and I.S. Press Road, Kochi.