LAHORE: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) dismissed customs inspector of Anoos Robin who was performing his duties at the Collectorate of Customs Appraisement-East, Lahore due to prolonged unauthorized absence from duty.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced the decision on Monday, following disciplinary proceedings initiated against the official.
The sequence of events leading to the major penalty reveals a breach of rules and repeated negligence on the part of Anoos Robin. The FBR revealed that disciplinary actions were triggered by the officer’s unauthorized absence from duty since September 30, 2020.
The process unfolded with the issuance of a direct Show Cause Notice dated August 31, 2023, under Rule 6, read with Rule 7 of the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020. This notice marked the commencement of disciplinary proceedings against Anoos Robin. However, the proceedings took an unexpected turn when the Collectorate of Customs Appraisement-East, Lahore, reported difficulty in serving the Show Cause Notice to the accused officer. The letter, dated November 3, 2023, stated that Anoos Robin’s whereabouts were unknown, and despite extensive efforts, he remained untraceable.
In a bid to provide another opportunity for the accused to respond, a Final Show Cause Notice dated December 15, 2023, was published in two leading national newspapers on December 19, 2023. Regrettably, even after a reasonable timeframe, Anoos Robin failed to furnish any reply to the Final Show Cause Notice.
Consequently, the charge of unauthorized absence from duty since September 30, 2020, has been firmly established against Anoos Robin, leaving no room for doubt. Following a thorough examination of the available records and facts of the case, the Member (Admn/HR)/Authority decided to impose a major penalty of “Dismissal from Service” upon Mr. Anoos Robin, Inspector Customs (BS-16). This decision is in line with Rule-7(c), read with Rule-16(7)(b)(ii) of the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020.
As part of due process, Anoos Robin has the right to appeal against this order. The appeal can be filed with the Appellate Authority under the Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977, within a period of 30 days from the date of communication of this notification.
The case of Anoos Robin highlights the FBR’s commitment to maintaining discipline within its ranks and ensuring accountability for violations of duty and service rules. The decision to dismiss an officer from service reflects the gravity of the offense and underscores the importance of adhering to professional responsibilities within the civil service.
