Finance Minister warns tax officials on resolution against revenue dept

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday took a strong exception to some tax officials passing a resolution against directives issued by the Revenue Department, termed it as ‘insubordination’ and warned of disciplinary action.

In a strongly worded statement, the ministry said: “Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has taken a serious view of such a resolution by officers of organised Group ‘A’ service to advise the government on what role it should play. “This is an act of insubordination. Officers indulging in acts of indiscipline would be subject to Conduct Rules.”

The statement followed reports that taxmen, including some of the senior-most officers, assembled in Mumbai last week to discuss Revenue Department’s alleged interference in “operational matters” saying it was hurting the morale of Income Tax Department officials.

In the resolution passed by them, they charged the Revenue Department of undermining the autonomy of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

The ministry said it learnt of the resolution passed by some officers of Indian Revenue Service (Income-tax) Mumbai Branch against the Department of Revenue through media reports.

“No Department of the Government has absolute autonomy.  It has to serve the larger goal of the Government. The supervisory powers of next higher authority ensures that there is no misuse of power by anyone in the Government,” it said.