Mulling action against erring members of I-T tribunal: Govt

“Appropriate action” is being considered against some members of the country’s top income tax tribunal, who had allegedly outsourced writing of judgments to private parties in return for financial favours, the government said on Monday.

“Appropriate action” is being considered against some members of the country’s top income tax tribunal, who had allegedly outsourced writing of judgments to private parties in return for financial favours, the government said on Monday.

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Law minister Salman Khurshid, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha to Communist Party of India (CPI) members D Raja and MP Achuthan, confirmed receiving a letter on the issue from Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia.

On January 23, HT had reported about CJI SH Kapadia’s letter to Khurshid, in which he expressed displeasure over government inaction on the issue since 2008. “The CJI had written to the government in February 2011 about taking action against some members of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT)...” Khurshid said.

“The matter is under consideration,” the minister said in response to the CPI MPs’ query on the action taken by the government against certain members of the tribunal, who had formed an alleged nexus with private parties and were issuing orders in favour of their clients — possibly causing losses to the government.

On several occasions since 2008, the CBI had repeatedly sought the ministry's sanction for registering a preliminary inquiry against at least 20 ITAT members across India.

Court names

The government on Monday said that it has received proposals for changing the names of the Bombay, Calcutta and Madras high courts, and was considering them. Law Minister Salman Khurshid told Rajya Sabha that “the proposals to change the names” of Bombay high court to Mumbai high court, Calcutta high court to Kolkata high court and Madras high court to Chennai high court, have been received.