Immovable Property Returns by babus - 94% IRS officers are defaulters

By Vijay Kumar

ALL the babus are required to submit their property returns by 31 st January every year and the returns of the Group A officers are to be placed in the public domain by 31 st March.

The CBEC has observed that out of the current working strength of IRS (C&CE) Group 'A' officers of 3784, as per the information available with the Ad.II Section in the Board and DGHRD, so far IPRs in respect of only 206 Group 'A' officers have been received for the year ending December, 2015 which is less than 6% of the working strength as on date.

This has been viewed seriously.

Further, it has been reported by the DGHRD that a total of 640 IPRs were received by them in respect of the year 2014, out of which 555 IPRs has been uploaded on the DGHRD website and remaining 85 IPRs are in the process of uploading on Departmental website. It indicates that less than 20% IRS (C&CE) Group 'A' officers have furnished IPRs for the year 2014 and less than 6% for the year 2015.

As per the instructions of the Government,vigilance clearance shall be denied to an officer if he fails to submit his annual immovable property return of the previous year by 31st January of the following year.

Has the Board denied vigilance clearance to a single officer on the ground that he has not submitted his annual property statement?

Now the Board wants the returns to be furnished latest by 15.2.2016.

These are all senior responsible revenue officers who will at the slightest opportunity, impose penalties on the assessees for late filing of returns.

Why are they reluctant to file their property returns? Are they afraid of revealing their wealth or is it simple habitual contemptuous disregard for rules fortified by the firm conviction that they don't get punished for any misdemeanor?Aren't these senior officers setting a very bad example for their subordinates? And will this not enhance the corrupt image of the department? How long can the Board tolerate such rank indiscipline?

CBEC F. No. C-50/120/2015-Ad.II(pt)., Dated February 09, 2016