Over 100 ent tax inspectors in UP await absorption in commercial tax dept

Over 100 entertainment tax inspectors in Uttar Pradesh are awaiting absorption in the commercial tax department since April this year.

The entertainment tax department and the commercial tax department were merged in April as part of the GST roll-out.

"A cabinet decision was taken in February this year to merge the two departments. Entertainment tax inspectors were to be absorbed in the commercial tax department as assistant commercial tax officers," Brij Bihari Singh Tomar, the General Secretary of the Entertainment Tax Inspectors Association, told PTI today.

The state government had sought a report from the commercial tax department commissioner in this regard. He informed that "no such provision (post of tax inspector) exists in the commercial tax department, and it may create discrepancies", Tomar said.

Barring the 104 entertainment tax inspectors, all other employees of the entertainment tax department were absorbed in the commercial tax department, he said.

He added, "The department of entertainment tax ceased to exist on April 24, while the entertainment tax inspectors were not absorbed... We want to perform our duties, but we are helpless," he said.

Uttarakhand also faced a similar problem but it was resolved within three months after the GST was rolled out, he said.

When contacted, Alok Sinha, the additional chief secretary (commercial tax), told PTI, "The proposal to absorb the entire staff of the entertainment tax department was approved in February. Under this, entertainment tax inspectors were to be absorbed as commercial tax inspectors.

"The personnel department observed that posts of commercial tax inspectors do not exist in the commercial tax department. So, these posts will have to be created. The process is on. The are likely to be absorbed July end.