CBDT comes up with committee to check I-T dept officers in dissertion

The CBDT has formed a committee to point out those IRS and other junior-rank officers of the Income Tax department who are not rendering their services or have gone on unauthorised leave, so that strict disciplinary action could be initiated against them. 

The three-member committee, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in an order, will carry out a "one-time count" of all the officers working in the department and identify those Group 'A' officers (Indian Revenue Service) who are presently on unauthorised leave or are absconding.

The committee is headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General (ADG). A senior official said the step was being taken by the policy-making body of the tax department after it was noticed that over a dozen such cases were investigated and officers were sacked in the last about two years.

"Once the committee quantifies the exact numbers, the Board (CBDT) will initiate strict disciplinary action as prescribed under service rules. This will also send a message that officers and staff cannot take rules and laws for granted," the officer said.

The CBDT order said the committee "will analyse the records of all the IRS officers currently in service and identify the IRS officers who are absconding or are on unauthorised leave."

"The Committee is authorised to obtain information or certificate from controlling officers regarding any IRS officer prima facie found to be absconding or on unauthorised leave to ascertain whether such officers are still in service and/or on authorised leave and what action has been initiated against these officers," it said.

The committee, which was formed on March 20, has been asked to submit its report within two months. "All field formations and other functionaries of the Income Tax organisation are requested to extend their full cooperation to this Committee so as to facilitate completion of their work within the allocated time," it said.

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The CBDT has also asked all the regional chiefs to conduct a similar exercise in respect of the Group 'B' and 'C' officials of the tax department. "The Committee shall obtain information from all the cadre-controlling authorities and submit it to the Board," it said.