CBDT asks I-T dept to act on public grievances after prime minister's rap

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has called for a “top priority” action to address taxpayers’ grievances by the Income Tax (I-T) department after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his disappointment about delays in corrective action and harassment of the assesses by tax officials.

Taking a stern view of the PM’s rap on the knuckles to the department, CBDT  Chairperson Anita Kapur has asked all Principal Chief Commissioners and Directors General of Income Tax department in the country to pull up their socks and put the house in order before the next review of the subject by Modi.

“The status of pending public grievances with the Income Tax department was reviewed by the PM on March 25 through video-conferencing.....During the meeting, he expressed dissatisfaction about delays in responding to public grievances by our officers as well as about the harassment meted out to the taxpayers and officious behaviour of our officers,” Kapur wrote in her recent communication to the field offices of the I-T department.

The CBDT boss told the officers that the deadlines set for this task earlier should be scrupulously followed.

According to stipulated guidelines, grievances pending for more than one year have to be resolved by April 30 while those pending for more than two months should be addressed by June 7.

The apex policy making body of the I-T department, during the PRAGATI public grievance redressal initiative of the PM, has assured that it will fix the issue before the PM takes the next review on the said subject.