The Single Member Board?

By Vijay Kumar

THE CBEC is supposed to consist of a Chairman and six Members. At present there is a Chairman and just one Member. This is the last week of service for that lone Member. She will retire on 31st May. So far, the Government has not appointed any Member. When this lone Member retires effectively this Friday, there will be no Member. This will be a unique Board with only a Chairman and no members. Even this Chairman will retire on 31 st July. If the Government does not appoint Members till then, this will be a chairman-less, member-less Board. If a Member is appointed now, he will become Chairman in two months and if they wait for two more months, the next person to join the Board can join directly as Chairman.

What will happen if the Board is without a Chairman? Will they abolish the Board? Can the Revenue Secretary take over? Only an officer with at least 20 years of experience in administering and running the indirect tax administration in the Central Government is eligible to be appointed as Chairman. The IRS officers want more powers and status for the Board. Now the Board's existence itself is in jeopardy.