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The same guidelines will be applicable for cases related to Central Excise
and Service Tax.
[Source : Business Line, New Delhi, dated 20-4-2020]
Charge-sheet Against 3 IRS Officers over Report on Tax
Increase

The Central Board of Direct Taxes on 27-4-2020 issued chargesheets
against three Senior Indian Revenue Services Officers for their role in preparation
of a report advocating hikes in income tax rates creating panic among taxpayers.
The officers were relieved of their current responsibilities as they leaked
the tax-hike report in social media - as opposed to sending it to the Board
through the official channel - and misguided younger officers, while creating
havoc in the already stressed economic conditions in the country, a government
source said. “CBDT has issued chargesheets under Rule 14 of CCS (CCA) Rules,
1965 for violation of CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964,” said a senior official aware of
the development.
The three officers that have been issued chargesheets are, Prashant
Bhushan, IRS 1988 batch, General Secretary of IRS Association, Prakash Dubey,
IRS 2001 batch, Director Department of Personnel and Training, who is the Joint
Secretary of the IRS Association and Sanjay Bahadur, IRS 1989 batch, Principal
Director Investigation, North East Region. Bhushan’s wife is the Congress MLA
from Begusarai, a Government source said. ‘This action has been taken by the
CBDT in view of their role and complicity in the preparation of the tax hike re-
port named ‘FORCE’ which was being circulated and widely covered in media
since April 25,” the official added.
The report was released through IRS Association’s twitter account and
website, suggested raising income tax rate to 40% for those who earn over ` 1
crore a year and re-introduction of wealth tax on those with net wealth over ` 5
crore.
[Source : The Economic Times, New Delhi, dated 28-4-2020]
Implement RTI Act at the earliest : CIC to Jammu & Kash-
mir, Ladakh
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the administration
in Jammu & Kashmir to set up Public Information Offices for all Government
Departments at the earliest, and facilitate the implementation of the Right to
Information Act in the newly formed Union Territory.
In a letter sent to J & K Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam on
24-4-2020 the Commission asked the administration to appoint a Central Public
Information Officer and the first Appellate Authority under the Act, and transfer
all the cases pending with the State Commission to the central body.
According to an official : “In the Commission meeting held on April 20,
it was firmly decided to proactively engage with the J & K Government to ad-
dress the concerns of citizens.” The Commission has also written a similar letter
to the Chief Secretary of Ladakh, Rigzin Samphel.
The Commission has asked for the contact details of all the Central Pub-
lic Information Officers (CPIOs) appointed by the administration in J & K “It
would be pertinent to mention that the Commission has already received 163

EXCISE LAW TIMES  1st May 2020  59