REGISTERED No. D. 221
The Gazette of India
EXTRAORDINARY
PART I—Section I
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 16] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1967/MAGHA 6, 1888
Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed
as a separate compilation.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
'Department of Revenue and Insurance
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 26th January 1967
No. 31/ll/66-Ad.UI-B.—The President is pleased, on the occasion of Republic Day, 1967, to award an Appreciation Certificate to the undermentioned officer of the Colleetorate of Central Excise, Bombay, for exceptionally meritorious service rendered when undertaking a task even at the risk of his life: —
Name of the officer and rank:
Shri William James Robb, Superintendent of Central Excise.
Statement of services for which the Certificate is awarded.
Shri Robb received information at 02-00 hrs. at night, on the 23th May, 1966 that contraband goods would be landed at the Training Ship Jawahar Jetty, Pilot Bunder, Bombay. He took immediate action to collect whatever staff was availa- ble at that hour of the night and proceeded to the suspected landing area. There, he kept a secret watch and then rushed into action at the proper time. At the Jetty, Shri Robb found one truck and two mechanised fishing vessels, loaded with smuggled Roods and the smugglers. With the meagre staff of only three men at his disposal, Shri Robb challenged the smugglers numbering over
( 3 9)
4o I HE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART I-SEC. 1]twenty. Shri Robb successfully intercepted the truck and the two fishing vessels which had started their engines to get away to sea. Not only did Shri Robb in- tercept the truck and the two fishing vessels, he also overpowered and detained seven of the smugglers at the riak of his life. Shortly after the vessels were intercepted in complete darkness, one of the fishing vessels which was fu.ly Joaded with contraband goods broke its moo:ings and started drifting into the open sea. Shri Robb without hesitation, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, dived into the open aea and awam to the drifting vessel. He boarded it and brought the vessel and the contraband back safely to the Jetty. Shri Robb'a quick action in the face of overwhelming odds and when he was completely out- numbered, resulted in the seizure of the two mechanised vessels, one truck and the smuggled goods valued at Rs. 3,00,660. Shri Robb, in this ope. at ion, has dis- played a keen sense of resourcefulness, leadership and conspicuous bravery of a rery high order.
In another case wherein Shri Robb's above-mentioned qualities have come to itotice very conspicuously is the Juhu Beach Watches case. Shri Robb received information at about 23.00 hra. on the night of the 4th July. 1966 that smuggled goods would be landed at Juhu Beach, Bombay during the night Snri Robb took immediate action and collected whatever staff was available at that hour of the night and proceeded to the suspected area with the Assistant Collector and maintained an unobtrusive watch. It was noticed that some per- sons were moving on the sea shore in a suspicious manner. Shri Robb went into action to intercept these persons as they were suspected to be landing the con- traband. The smugglers attacked the officers and in order to detain the smugglers the Assistant Collector and Shri Robb had to open flre with their revolvers and grapple with them. Shri Robb's indifference to personal danger and prompt action resulted in the interception and detention of five notorious smugglers and also seizure of wrist watches and other contraband on the sea shore valued at Ra. 20,00,000. All the five persons detained are known to be dare devils. During this operation, Shri Robb has displayed cool courage, a deep devotion to duty, presence oi' mind and determination to work even at the risk of his life.
Apart from the above two cases, Shri Robb has helped In the detection of several cases involving a total of over 80,000 tolas of gold.
2. The award is made under Clause (a) (i) of para l of the Scheme govern- ing the grant of awards to the officers and staff of the Customs, Central Excise and Land Customs Departments published in Part I, Section 1 of the Gazette of India Extraordinary Notification No. 12/139/59-Ad. III-B, dated the 6th Novem- ber, 1962.
Shri Robb being a gazetied officer will not be eligible for any monetary allowance alongwith the award,
D. P. ANAND, Addl. Secy.
[PART I-SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 41 42 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART I-Stc. I]