COMMISSIONER'S CIRCULAR — INSPECTION TARGETS AND FREQUENCY
Type: Administrative Circular (Not a Gazette Notification)
Reference: Daily Diary No. 1014/1462/14/Three, Mumbai, dated 7 January 2016
Issued By: Commissioner, State Excise, Maharashtra State, Mumbai
Authority: Administrative powers under the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949
SUMMARY
This is an internal administrative circular establishing mandatory inspection frequencies and performance targets for State Excise Department officers across all ranks (from Sub-Inspector to Divisional Deputy Commissioner). It supersedes three previous circulars from 1974, 1986, and 2003.
The circular addresses concerns about inadequate control over field operations and revenue leakage by prescribing detailed monthly inspection quotas for different license categories, mandatory tour requirements, vehicle squad duties, and diary submission protocols.
This is NOT a statutory amendment to the Bombay Prohibition Act or Maharashtra Excise Rules — it is an internal departmental directive on operational procedures.
KEY PROVISIONS
1. LICENSE INSPECTION FREQUENCIES (Form 'A')
Officers must conduct inspections per the following mandatory monthly targets:
| Officer Rank |
License Category |
Monthly Inspection Target |
| Divisional Deputy Commissioner |
Principal Licenses (PLL, CL-I, FL-I/II/III/IV, >5 lakh litre quota) |
20 licenses/month |
| Superintendent |
Principal Licenses (same categories) |
25 licenses/month |
| Superintendent |
Secondary Licenses (RS-VII, DS-V, TD-I, etc.) |
35 licenses/month |
| Inspector |
Secondary Licenses |
30% of total licenses/month |
| Sub-Inspector |
Secondary Licenses |
50% of total licenses/month |
| Inspector/Sub-Inspector |
Tertiary Licenses (M-II, M-III, Poppy, Industrial Use, etc.) |
100% every 3 months (minimum 30%/month) |
Special Requirements:
- Manufacturing units (distilleries, breweries, large-scale IML consumers using >5 lakh litres annually): Divisional Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent must conduct one comprehensive annual inspection alternately, plus quarterly surprise checks.
- Comprehensive inspection reports must be submitted to Commissioner's office with officer's diary.
2. TRANSPORT PERMIT VERIFICATION
-
Superintendents must organize monthly campaigns to cross-verify:
- Import/export permits (focus on high-value consignments)
- Transport passes (coordinate with other districts to verify receipts/dispatches)
-
Sub-Inspectors/Inspectors must record in their diaries:
- Number of transport permits verified (with serial numbers)
- Discrepancies between register entries and actual stock
-
Superintendents must inspect subordinate officers' inspection registers monthly.
3. FLYING SQUAD DUTIES
-
Primary role: Intelligence gathering on illicit trade, not routine patrol.
-
Squads must maintain confidential intelligence registers recording:
- Illegal operations
- Habitual offenders
- Actionable leads
-
Superintendents must:
- Review intelligence registers monthly
- Provide adequate manpower for planned raids
- Deploy squads for inter-district permit verification every 6 months (for high-volume import/export districts)
- Authorize any license inspections by squads
-
Divisional Deputy Commissioners must ensure squads are deployed exclusively for excise enforcement (no extraneous duties).
4. FIELD PRESENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Superintendents (except Mumbai City/Suburban): Minimum 7 days/month on tour (rural/remote areas)
- Superintendents responsible for ensuring:
- Subordinate officers present in their jurisdictions
- Supervisory units (checkposts, depots) are staffed
- Random physical/telephonic verification (record frequency and absentees in diary)
5. ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES
- All corruption complaints against subordinate officers must be investigated thoroughly by Superintendents/Divisional Deputy Commissioners.
- Office inspections by Commissioner will include consolidated review of:
- Corruption complaints received
- Actions taken
- Effectiveness of control measures
- Performance on anti-corruption will affect annual confidential reports.
6. DIARY SUBMISSION (Form 'B')
Monthly Deadlines:
- Superintendents: Submit by 5th of following month to:
- Divisional Deputy Commissioner (1 copy)
- Commissioner's office (1 copy)
- Divisional Deputy Commissioners: Submit by 5th to Commissioner
Required Content:
- Form 'B' (detailed work summary matching inspection targets in Form 'A')
- Remarks by controlling officer on diary
- Divisional Deputy Commissioners: Submit quarterly consolidated review of all Superintendents' last 3 months' diaries
Consequence: Diary performance will form basis of annual confidential reports (ACRs) and performance reviews.
7. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION STANDARDS
When submitting applications/proposals (e.g., quota increase, new license approvals), Superintendents must:
- Provide their opinion with reference to specific rule provisions and standing orders
- Detail any additional inquiries conducted
- Avoid mere forwarding of subordinate office reports
SUPERSEDED CIRCULARS
- Circular No. DIR 1074-Av-B-Four, dated 05/09/1974
- Circular No. DIR 1086/4/Fourteen, dated 09/04/1986
- Circular No. Daily Diary 1999/165/Three, dated 27/08/2003
APPLICABILITY
- All Divisional Deputy Commissioners, State Excise
- All Superintendents, State Excise
- All subordinate officers (Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors)
EFFECTIVE DATE
From date of issue: 7 January 2016
NOTE: This circular does NOT alter license fees, application procedures, or legal provisions under the Bombay Prohibition Act. It is purely an internal operational directive governing officer performance and accountability.