I-T officials end month-long stir after promotion promise
The month-long countrywide protest of income tax (I-T) officials was suspended on Tuesday after an assurance that their demand for promotions will be met.
The month-long countrywide protest of income tax (I-T) officials was suspended on Tuesday after an assurance that their demand for promotions will be met.
Since December 5, when I-T officials decided not to take part in search operations and surveys, the department has not been able to collect around Rs 700 crore in tax collection in the city, and over Rs 2,000 crore across the country. The I-T officials have been agitating against promotions of income tax officers (ITOs) to assistant and deputy commissioner levels, which are pending since two years. Eighty promotions are awaiting nods at these levels in the city, 400 across the country.
The protest was suspended after the Central Board of Direct Taxes, the apex body of the department, assured that ad hoc promotions will be made by the third week of January. The board gave the assurance on Tuesday morning during a meeting attended by members of the Income Tax Gazetted Officers' Association, which represents the protesting officials.
Sources in the department said that ad hoc promotions have been assured because of the varying orders by different judicial bodies in the country in response to promotion-related litigations.
Rajesh Menon, secretary general, ITGOA, said, “If the promotions don’t take place within the stipulated time, we will reinitiate the agitation.”