The re-elected NDA Government, with a view to remove corruption in the Government sector, has asked 12 senior income tax officers to resign.
Sources in the Finance Ministry have told India Today TV, “Twelve senior officers with the ranks of Chief Commissioner, Principal Commissioners and Commissioner of Income Tax Department compulsorily retired under Rule 56 by the Finance Ministry.”
The officers alleged to be asked to resign from their posts had been charged with offences like corruption, cases of illegal and disproportionate assets and sexual harassment.
The list includes a Joint Commissioner rank officer Ashok Agarwal against whom there are serious complaints of corruption and extortion filed by businessmen accused of helping self-styled godman Chandraswami.
It also includes an IRS officer posted as Commissioner (Appeal) in Noida, SK Srivastava, who was accused of sexual harassment by two women IRS officers of Commissioner rank.
Two other officers – Homi Rajvansh (IRS, 1985) who had acquired movable and immovable assets worth over Rs 3 crore in the name of self and family members and BB Rajendra Prasad on allegations of obtaining illegal gratification in lieu of passing a favourable appeal order in a case – are also among those who have been asked to resign.
Fundamental Rule 56(j) of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 provides for compulsory retirement of civil servants. It hasn’t been invoked too many times in the past but with this crackdown, it is significant.
