Letters: FM's direct approach

In the report "Unsustainable tax demand will only earn a bad name: FM" (November 22) Business Standard carried Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statement that "unsustainable tax demand will not get taxes but only bad name". Jaitley said this at the HT Leadership Summit. He has spoken against tax terrorism in other instances as well. This is one of the most transparent statements I have come across in so many years of my experience, having worked in the finance ministry in the Central Board of Excise and Customs.

However, the departmental officers do not act on the basis of the ministers' statement reported in newspapers or even in the Budget. They act only on the basis of orders issued as circulars by the ministry. So, the finance minister should direct the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes to issue a circular to implement his views expressed in his speeches.

Sukumar Mukhopadhyay New Delhi

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