Good Governance at Work - Wednesdays are ‘Public Meeting Days' in Income Tax Department
AS a part of Prime Minister's 'Good Governance Day' promise to provide an "open and accountable administration" CBDT has decided that all field offices of the Income Tax Department will observe 'Public Meeting Day' during 10.00 AM to 1.00 PM every Wednesday to listen to and try to resolve the grievances of the members of the public.
Heads of local income tax offices will not fix any official meeting on Wednesdays during the hours prescribed for interaction with the public and will ensure that their staff including staff at the reception and security personnel, are suitably instructed to allow the members of the public to meet the officers without prior appointment.
This is with effect from 7 January, 2015 - today!
A suitable feedback mechanism is to be put in place by each cadre controlling Principal Chief Commissioner / Director General of Income Tax for offices under his control to record the number of grievances attended to and solved on every 'public meeting day', and to identify the deficiencies with a view to suggesting systemic changes required to avoid recurrence of delays in redressal of grievances.
A report in this regard shall henceforth also be incorporated in their Monthly DO letters submitted to the Zonal Members concerned.
Board expects that the above instructions will be adhered to without fail.
Most probably CBEC will soon follow suit.