I-T chief who worked from home gets official car

Income Tax (I-T) Commissioner Ruby Srivastava was finally provided an official Ambassador with a staff driver on Thursday.

Income Tax (I-T) Commissioner Ruby Srivastava was finally provided an official Ambassador with a staff driver on Thursday.

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On September 18, Hindustan Times had reported about Srivastava’s protest and her decision to work from home as the hired vehicle given by the department was not allowed to enter the premises of the I-T department’s head office.

The department had prohibited entry of all hired vehicles given to 100 commissioners and other junior officials on security grounds through a notice issued on September 14.

After Srivastava stopped coming to work from September 18, the department gave her a hired Maruti SX4 that ferried files for her signature to her Malabar Hill home.

The decision has raised eyebrows. “All of us with hired vehicles must start working from home to get official cars,” said a commissioner on anonymity.

But another commissioner said Srivastava’s demand was justified, as one of the grounds to stop entry of vehicles is that the contractor does not conduct verification of the drivers.

“If drivers are a threat to the building, we are also not safe travelling with them,” he said.

Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai, R.K. Singh said Srivastava has withdrawn the letter. He added that private vehicles will still not be allowed in the premises.

“Things will be sorted out,” he said, adding the department will try to get the verification of the drivers done.