CBDT issues standard operating procedure of operational vehicle

At last CBDT acted upon misuse of operational vehicle. We have described earlier in this blog how the operational vehicles in this department are actually being used. If any one has missed it, please Click Here for the earlier post.
As per the recent communication to all Pr. CCITs it is clarified that
"The operation vehicles are only for operational needs of the department and are to be used for discharging the various functions under the I.T. Act"
"The operational vehicles are not allocated for individual officer. It is for the operational requirement for the entire Range/Unit"
"It is a duty of Pr CIT/CIT to ensure the pool of such operational vehicle is optimally utilized for the aforesaid purposes."
"The Pr CIT/CIT should also ensure that the logbooks of use of operational vehicles are properly maintained and certified"
Click here for the full communication dated 16.03.2015
Now the question is will there be an end of using these vehicles for personal purpose ? Will the Range / Unit will be able to use them on actual official purpose ? The answer lies with the activity of unions and common employees as now the responsibility of misuse is fixed on specific person.

Advance Increment for passing Inspectors' Exam : Present Status

Confusion is spreading regarding advance passing increment to Sr T.As and Stg Gr I. The present status of the same is described below.

CBDT vide it's order dated 5th March 2015 to all cadre controlling Pr CCITs , stated that as per the recommendation from DOLA, two advance increments to Sr T.A and Stg Gr I may be granted as per various court's order. 

The Board has decided to issue general instruction in this matter soon.

It is implied in the order that till the issuance of any general instruction in this matter, only the cases under litigation and armed with favourable court judgement for the employees concerned, may be disposed with granting advance increments.

Click here for the order.

ITGOA seeks exemption from bio metric attendance

ITGOA, in a recent letter to Chairperson, CBDT requested to keep them outside the ambit of bio metric attendance system. To strengthen their cause, they have taken together the Inspectors also.
"The officers in the cadres of Income Tax authority i.e. Income Tax Inspectors and above, are bound to carry out out-door duties, almost on regular basis. Adherence to Bio-metric attendance system will affect adversely the mobility of such officers and so, will adversely affect frequent out-door activities."
Among other reasons they referred to time barring assessments, late working hours in office, occasionally working in saturdays, sundays etc.
Except search and survey duties, that too are also performed by non executive employees (though unofficially) all other hazards are common phenomenon for every employee's posted in assessment charges but the promotee officers are silent on this issue. They sought relief only for themselves, the executive cadres.
Click here to view the letter.

Budget brings little cheer for taxpayers

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his first full-year Budget did not hike income tax exemption limits, as he did last year. However, he hiked the tax exemption limits of some allowances.

Here are the tax proposals in the Union Budget:

1) Limit in deduction on health insurance has been hiked from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 to encourage people to take health insurance.

ITEF elected new executive committee

ITEF elected it's new All India Executive Committee in Guwahati conference. As expected and hinted in this blog by the viewers, Mr Ashok Kanojia from Delhi has been elected as President and Mr Rupak Sarkar from West Bengal has been elected as Secretary.
Congratulation to all newly elected executive committee members !
Now secretaries of both the service association, ITGOA and ITEF belong to West Bengal charge. West Bengal , the worst sufferer in cadre restructuring but gallant winner in the union number game ! Is it the reward of unconditional surrender before the other regions ?