ITAT Bar Association boycotts member
A meeting of the managing committee of ITAT Bar Association, Ahmedabad was held on 19th April, 2013 and the following resolution was passed unanimously:
RESOLVED THAT considering the conduct of Shri A. K. Garodia, the Accountant Member of ITAT Bench at Ahmedabad, it was found that on account of his consistent gross, rude, arbitrary and outrageous behavior with all members of the Bar appearing before him and his doubtful integrity and unethical standards, the committee decided to boycott the Bench consisting of Shri A. K. Garodia from Monday i.e 22nd April 2013 indefinitely, and information of this Resolution is given to the members of the Association through Email as well as SMS with request that all members will observe the boycott of the Bench.
Information of this resolution has been conveyed to the President of ITAT telephonically as well as to the Vice President, Ahmedabad Zone by the committee who met him personally.
The ITAT seems to be in bad shape. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, the oldest Tribunal in India established more than 70 years ago, is today without regular President for the last three years and nearly a third of the sanctioned strength of 146 Members is lying vacant. It will be difficult for an Acting President to effectively manage such a Tribunal.
The Government should bestow more attention at least on the Tax Tribunals, instead of rushing to legislate draconian arrears recovery.