Crackdown on corruption continues: Modi government fires 15 more Senior Income Tax officers

Continuing ‘war against corruption and inefficiency’ Modi government on Friday fired 15 more officials belonging to Central Board of Direct Taxes. This is the fourth instance in last many months, that the government has ousted senior officers the door for their alleged involvement in corruption or other malpractices.

These officials were serving at very senior posts, such as Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Commissioner of Income Tax, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax And Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax. Most of these officers had corruption cases worth crores of rupees against them.

"Some black sheep in the tax administration may have misused their powers and harassed taxpayers, either by targeting honest assesses or by taking excessive action for minor or procedural violations," Prime Minister Modi had said from the Red Fort in his independence day speech this year.

These officers were forced to retire under fundamental rule 56 (J). Let’s look at this rule further

What is Fundamental Rule 56(J)

Rule 56 of Fundamental Rules states that the appropriate authority has the absolute right to retire, if it is necessary to do so in public interest, a government servant under Fundamental Rules 56 (j), (i) or Rule 48 (1) (b) of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

In the case of officers who have entered the government service before the age of 35 years and attained the age of 50 years and in other cases where the officers have attained the age of 55 years or have completed 30 years of service, the government begins periodic review three to six months in advance and takes a decision on the basis of effectiveness of an officer.

Even Supreme Court has upheld validity of this rule, thereby strengthening Modi government.

Complete list of 15 Indian Revenue Service Officers fired by the government

1. OP Meena, Principal Commissioner of Income Tax,
2. Sailendra Mamidi , Commissioner of Income Tax,
3. PK Bajaj, Commissioner of Income Tax,
4. Sanjeev Ghei, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax,
5. K Jayaprakash, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax,
6. V Appala Raju, Addditional Commissioner of Income Tax,
7. Rakesh H Sharma, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax,
8. Nitin Garg, Deputy Commisioner of Income Tax,
9. SA Fazululla, Deputy Commisioner of Income Tax,
10. Kripa Sagar Das, Deputy Commisioner of Income Tax,
11. P Jose Kunjippalu, Assistant Commisioner of Income Tax (OSD),
12. CJ Vincent, Assistant Commisioner of Income Tax (OSD),
13. TK Bhattacharya, Deputy Commisioner of Income Tax, Ludhiana,
14. Kamlesh Kumar Tripathi, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax,
15. SR Senapati, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax.