CBDT chargesheets 3 IRS officers over 'FORCE' report on tax hike; strips them of duty

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Monday issued charge sheets to three senior IRS officers under Rule 14 of CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, for violation of CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964, and has divested m of ir current responsibilities. action against m has been taken for "disguising" young taxmen and "unauthorised" making public a report that called for a hike in taxes to fund ecomic fallout of COVID-19 pandemic, 

 'tax hike' report named FORCE was being circulated and widely covered in media since April 25, 2020. report vocated tax hike, imposition of wealth tax, inheritance tax, imposition of COVID-19 surcharge. report created panic and tax policy uncertainty in alrey stressed ecomic condition in country.

officers have been given 15 days time 

According to PTI, three IRS officers — Sanjay Bahur (Principal Director Investigation, rast region; 1989 batch),  Prakash Dubey (Director DOPT, IRS Association's Joint Secretary; 2001 batch) and Prashant Bhushan (Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi, and IRS Association's General Secretary; 1988 batch) — have been given 15 days' time to submit a written response in ir defence to charge sheets and also on wher y want to be heard in person.

News ncy ANI quoting government sources said that se senior officers, despite having more than 30 years of service, failed to exercise due care and went on to misguide 50 young officers. government would have definitely given due consideration to suggestions me by young officers.

However, in this case, reports inste of being sent to government through official channel, se senior officers of rank of Principal Commissioner misguided m and went public with report.

Bhushan unauthorisedly put report in public domain

Government sources said a preliminary inquiry by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) revealed "role and complicity" of se senior officers in preparation of report.  inquiry showed that while Dubey and Bahur got junior officers to prepare a report and unauthorisedly gave it to IRS Association which me it public, Bhushan unauthorisedly put report in public domain, sources said.

controversial report, prepared by about 50 young IRS officers, among ors things suggested raising highest tax slab rate to 40% for income above a minimum threshold of Rs 1 crore or re-introduction of wealth tax for those with a net wealth of Rs 5 crore or more to help pay for coronavirus ecomic fallout.

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income tax department on Sunday said report did t reflect official views of CBDT and Finance Ministry. It said an inquiry is being launched into why report was shared with public.

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(With ncy inputs)