They are also planning an indefinite countrywide strike from December 3, if there is no positive response from the Government. The `no work-no pay' rule is likely to be applicable for the three-day strike and also in case of indefinite strike.

While the work in all three departments is back to normal, the success of the strike is a much debated issue. While striking officials allege that the last three days have seen rampant smuggling, those on duty claim that they have managed well without them.

``Everyone was being cleared through the green channel,'' says Ravi Malik, General Secretary of the Customs and Central Excise Executive Officers Association,``Moreover, the men who were manning some of the posts were not qualified to do so.''

On the other hand, officials on dutysay that everything was done by the book and claim that revenue collection has gone up. Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, the Delhi Customs Clearing Agents' Association, Customs Commissioners of Inland Container Depot (ICD) and the airports have all said that the strike did not affect the normal functioning of the organisations.

Krishna Kant, Commissioner of custom ICD says, ``All the day-to-day requirements have been met during the strike. With eight additional commissioners, we cleared all consignments on the same day. In fact, things were cleared much faster than they are on other days.'' Kant also attributed this routine functioning to the fact that this ICD is fully computerised.

Along the same lines, Vijay Zutshi, Customs Commissioner of IGI airport says, ``Our revenue collection last Tuesday was Rs 1.4 lakhs, whereas on the same day this week it was Rs 2.58 lakhs. This is a clear indication that things did not come to a standstill because of the strike. All our A group officials were onduty, and passenger clearance or revenue collection was not held up.''

The striking employees clarify that despite the fact that personnel were pulled out of other departments and put on duty, they were not aware of the correct procedures. They also claim that an indefinite strike would mean losses running into crores for the government. Countering this claim, Kant says,``If we could make arrangements for three days, we can manage things for a month also.''