Give due importance and respect to CBDT: IRS to Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: A delegation of revenue officers on Sunday asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to ensure that Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) gets it "due importance and respect" even as it advised its Mumbai unit to suspend the ongoing agitation over alleged interference by Central Revenue Department in "operational matters".

The delegation discussed various issues with the Finance Minister and conveyed the deep sense of "deprivation and injustice" amongst IRS officers leading to severe discontent and demoralisation, the association said in a press statement. The association highlighted the operational difficulties of the IRS officers including role and authority of CBDT, it said.

"The FM may kindly ensure that the CBDT, whose powers and functions emanate from Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963 and Income Tax Act, 1961, be allowed to administer direct tax policies of the government, strictly as per the said Acts," the statement said. New CBDT Chairperson Senior IRS officer Rani Singh Nair is set to be appointed as the new CBDT Chairperson with incumbent Atulesh Jindal retiring on Sunday. Nair, a 1979-batch Indian Revenue Service officer of the income tax cadre, is presently working as member (legislation and computerisation) in the CBDT.

Officials said the government has issued orders for her to take over as the "acting" chief of CBDT until ACC issues fresh order for her to take charge in a full capacity.