Taxation Dept: Juniors discharging duties of seniors
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 30 2018: With the State Government yet to publish gazette notification for the class of officers starting from Commissioner of State Tax to Joint Commissioner of State Tax, subordinate officers have been doing the work of superior officers in the Taxation Department.

For the class of officers starting from Deputy Commissioner of State Taxes to the Superintendent of Taxes, the Taxation Department has issued a gazette notification under the Manipur Goods and Services Tax Act 2017 (3 of 2017).However, no such gazette notification has been issued for the class of officers starting from Commissioner of State Tax to Joint Commissioner of State Tax.

On account of the pending gazette notification, there have been many lapses in the administration of the department and allocation of works, sources informed.

The post of the Commissioner of State Tax should be held by an IAS officer as per the GST Act but the same post is being held by an MCS officer.

Even though it has been over one year since the GST Act was enforced in the State, the post of Special Commissioner of State Tax has not been created yet, said the sources.

The post of Additional Commissioner of State Tax which is just below the rank of Special Commissioner of State Tax is being held by an IRS officer.

The GST Act allows IRS officers to hold the post of Additional Commissioner of State Tax but there should be a gazette notification.

Without publication of any gazette notification, an IRS officer has been given charge of the post of Additional Commissioner of State Tax.

Interestingly, the post of the Commissioner of State Tax is being held by an MCS officer.

This is a gross mistake on the part of the Government.

Moreover, two MFS officers have been in charge of the pgst of Joint Commissioner of State Tax without issuing any gazette notification, said the sources.

Even though the State has recorded quantum leap in revenue collection since the GST Act was enforced, necessary gazette notifications for different classes of officers of Taxation Department have not been issued yet.

Following the replacement of VAT with GST, there are so many irregularities in Taxation Department such as offering of higher posts to subordinate officers, giving charge of different posts to officers without publication of gazette notification and inordinate delay in creation of necessary posts.

All these irregularities must be streamlined at the earliest, said the sources adding that the Government should take up necessary measures so that Taxation Department officials who have received training under GST Council are not transferred to other departments/offices at least for two years.

As the number of officials who have received training under GST Council is quite limited, their transfer would seriously hinder implementation of the GST Act, the sources added.

Comment