NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday retired 15 senior indirect tax officials from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), continuing the crackdown on corruption and improper conduct.
Last week, in a similar purge, the government had retired 12 officials from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on charges of corruption, among others.
ET had earlier reported that more action was likely against errant officials as part of the government’s drive to stop corruption, improve the image of the tax department and stop harassment of taxpayers.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (j) of rule 56 of the Fundamental Rules, the President of India has retired 15 officers of Indian Revenue Service (C&CE) in public interest with immediate effect on completing 50 years of age,” a finance ministry statement said.
All officers are of commissioner level and include one principal commissioner.
According to finance ministry sources, various cases of bribery, money laundering, criminal conspiracy, extortion and disproportionate assets were registered against these officials and some cases were already being pursued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Some of them are already under suspension pending these investigations, one of the source said.
Rule 56(j) of the Fundamental Rules allows the appropriate authority to retire any government servant, in public interest, by giving notice of three months.
“All these 15 officers shall be paid a sum equivalent to the amount of pay & allowances for a period of three months calculated at the same rate at which they were supposed to be withdrawing them (pay & allowances) immediately before their retirement,” the finance ministry tweeted.