19 June 2019
Embolden by the recent election victory, Narendra Modi administration is trying to clean up the bureaucracy of corruption. Modi promised to rid corruption during his election campaign.
Embolden by the recent election victory, Narendra Modi administration is trying to clean up the bureaucracy of corruption. Modi promised to rid corruption during his election campaign.
Bureaucratic procedures and complex legal system have delayed the prosecution and conviction of errant officers. Now the administration is short-circuiting the process by retiring errant officials under the existing rules.
The central and state government officials are also gradually tightening the enforcement of GST compliance to shore up revenue.
Last week the government dismissed 12 senior income tax officers in the direct taxes department, on charges of corruption and professional misconduct. One officer was accused of sexual harassment, while another had acquired movable and immovable assets worth over Rs 3.17 crore in the name of self and his family members.
This week 15 more senior officers in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes, accused of corruption, have been compulsorily made to retire. The 15 officials include one principal commissioner, four commissioners, one joint commissioner, three additional commissioners, two deputy commissioners, and four assistant commissioners. Hindustan Times reported.
After sacking errant income tax officers, the government Tuesday dismissed from service 15 senior customs and central excise officials, including one holding the rank of principal commissioner, on charges of corruption and bribery.
Finance Ministry sources said that these officers either had corruption cases registered against them by the CBI or were involved in bribery, extortion and disproportionate assets cases.
Among those dismissed include a Principal Commissioner and a Joint Commissioner.
Among those dismissed include a Principal Commissioner and a Joint Commissioner.
The main difference is that if these officers were prosecuted, they would be sent to jail and it would be possible to recover or seize the ill-gotten gains. This would take a long time and enormous expenditure to collect required evidence to prosecute them. Hence this retirement scheme.
Now they become retired officers without any bad record. Economic Times reported.
