With insufficient staff and no proper infrastructure facilities in the I-T department, which is dealing with a huge volume of black money cases post-demonetisation, two of its employees’ associations have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking adequate manpower and infrastructure facilities to probe into several instances of tax evasion in the country.
Income Tax Employees Federation (ITEF) and the Income Tax Gazetted Officers’ Association (ITGOA) - the two associations that represent almost 97 per cent of the workforce of the Income Tax department, said in a joint memorandum that they should be provided with proper infrastructure facilities and sufficient manpower so that the workforce stays motivated. The associations said they have written a communication in this regard to the Prime Minister on November 17 suggesting several measures to effectively fight the battle against black money.
“It is evident from post-demonetisation developments that various other stringent measures will also be needed to fight the menace of black money and corruption and in such measures, the Income Tax department will have to play a pivotal role. The total number of information of such deposits may figure up to several crores of rupees. In order to achieve the above objectives, the department must have adequate manpower, especially at key positions, be provided with proper infrastructure facilities so that the workforce stays motivated, committed and highly spirited,” the memorandum said.
The associations claimed that after the November 8 declaration by the Government scrapping `500/1000 notes, the demonetised currencies are coming back into banking channels in much higher proportion than what was initially expected, indicating the black money hoarders are trying to circumvent the process of demonetisation by resorting to illegitimate means.
“The lower rungs of the department are facing almost 30-35 per cent of vacancies at cutting-edge positions like Additional Commissioner of I-T and Deputy Commissioner of I-T, their junior ranks and others,” they said in the memorandum, flagging the issue of severe space problems being faced by Assessing Officers (AOs) as they have to take hearings in cases on a rotational basis.
The associations also said in this time of e-governance, the internet and intranet connectivity of the department stands very poor, thus hindering the e-governance as well as internet-based enquiries/assessments as well as knowledge sharing.
The memorandum also said the promotions in their ranks are getting abnormally delayed due to flimsy bureaucratic hurdles, creating huge vacancy at several grades. “We have already made the request to the PM and the Finance Minister to equip the I-T department with sufficient manpower and proper infrastructure so that the officers/officials of the department can deliver their best. We, therefore, once again request the government to address these issues on priority basis,” the memorandum said.