By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, Feb 27, 2006 : IT was indeed the need of the hour and TIOL has repeatedly been writing about it for a couple of years. The selection of Chairman and Members of Revenue Boards had of late become a contentious issue. Although the MoF had begun to enforce a minimum of one-year tenure for selection of Members but no tangible improvement in policy-making could be seen by the key administrators in the Government.

And it has finally led to what we had suggested for formation of a Selection Board which should look into the contributions of the prospective candidates during their field postings apart from merit, honesty and commitment to the revenue cause.

In a surreptitious manner the MoF topbrass has done a wonderful job of notifying the Recruitment Rules of Chairmen and Members of CBEC and CBDT recently. Henceforth, the new posts of Members will be filled up only after the Selection Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary recommends a name. Other Members of this Committee are the Principal Secretary to the PM; Secretary (DoP&T); Secretary (Home) and Secretary (Revenue). Interestingly, this Committee's decision will not require even UPSC concurrence.

The criteria for Chairman-post notified is that officers of the Central Government appointed on a regular basis in the grade of Rs. 24,050-26,000/- with 2 years of qualifying service in the grade; or

(ii) Officers of the Central Government appointed on a regular basis in the grade of Rs. 24,050- 26,000/- with 2 years of combined regular service in the grades of Rs. 24,050- 26,000/- and Rs. 22,400- 24,500/;

AND possessing the following essential qualification:-

(i) Having at least 20 years of experience in administering and running the indirect tax administration in the Central Government with at least 10 years of experience in the field formations of Central Board of Excise and Customs.

(ii) Having high professional merit and excellence.

The same are the conditions for the selection of CBDT Chairman. However, the normal eligibility conditions of maximum age of 56 years on the date of closing of applications shall not be applicable in cases of absorption.

For the Members it is at least 15 years of experience in administering and running the indirect tax or direct tax administration in the Central Government with at least 10 years of experience in the field formations.

The rule also states that no person with less than 1 year residual service on the date of occurrence of vacancy for which selection is being made shall be eligible for consideration.

In the case of Members, the Cabinet Secretary may co-opt Chairman, Central Board of Excise and Customs or CBDT for Selection Committee meetings.

(See Recruitment Rules for CBEC & CBDT for Chairman & Members)

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