The issue highlighted is absolutely true. The genesis is pointed out to be unfair ‘unwanted posting’ being awarded to some officers! Does it mean that if all officers were given so called ‘wanted’ posting by keeping a roster system all would have been good with the system? If that is the logic everything should have been rosy within these ‘wanted’ locations where officers posted were so content that they would be doing their jobs without revenue bias! Author talks of illegal show cause notices, biased adjudications, irrelevant appeals; but fails to reveal that, of late, even these are not the actual output of the IRS. Adjudication and Appeals where they, in their quasi-judicial capacity cum supervisory capacity, should have discharged their tasks themselves, most of them have abdicated the duties and get these tasks done by their subordinate officers and pass it off under their authorship (perhaps even regular Judges lack this sort of support paraphernalia….check the staffing of any adjudication section). Board is aware of the fact and did not do anything but issue a warning that vigilance action would be taken for negligent work. Making a mockery of the Board’s effort, the very warning was passed on down to their subordinates as if it was their responsibility to look after the safety of their learnt supervisory officers! Abdication of the duty of verification of high value returns by IRS needs to be added to this list, and the list does not stop there. Wonder why there is no mention of the excruciatingly-wonderful crippling-automation called ACES that is foisted upon the hapless assesses and field staff!!!! IAS touch at the helm of cadre management and process management may be the solution. Diversion of excess strength and new designations (principle chief commissioner, Mumbai-I… nonsensical!!) are absolutely necessary or else the service is doomed to come down crashing due to ego-power clashes.

Sangeeth M 25/09/2016