Staff crunch taxes I-T dept

More than 30,000 cases are pending as over 2,500 posts remain vacant in various branches

Rajnish Patel, a surgeon,has been waiting to get a tax re fund of Rs 60,000 since 2012.

And, in all probability, he has a long wait ahead of him. There are several Amdavadis like him who are waiting for their tax returns even as files gather dust in the Income-Tax department that is reeling under severe staff crunch.

There is more than 50 per cent vacancy in the department that includes investigation and tax assistant branches, state documents accessed by Mirror. A few months ago, the department reshuffled various job profiles, creating new posts and offices to equalise work pressure on employees. However, this seems to have helped little.

According to officers, more than 30,000 cases are pending in various branches of the department. Of the sanctioned strength of 5,777 employees, as many as 2,680 posts have been lying vacant for years.

LONG WAIT

Meanwhile, several important money-laundering cases, too, are stuck in the middle of investigation as there are fewer hands to carry out probe.“Due to lack of employees, one person is doing the job of 3-4 people. Every year, government increases our revenue and tax collection targets by 20 per cent, and reduces manpower by 20 per cent. Without people, how can we finish our work?“ asks K Madhusudan, president of Income-Tax Employees Federation.

Due to staff crunch, the department has hired people on contract.“The department has hired around 250 people under Nirav, outsourcing services,“ added Madhusudan.

REFUSING PROMOTION

Direct promotions are not made in I-T department. People rise in hierarchy through promotions. However, staff shortage in lower cadre is affecting the upper echelons too. In the Sixth Pay Commission, a new post called Principal Commissioner of Income-Tax (higher administrative grade) was created with 24 seats. Till now, no one has been recruited. Similarly, there is 43 per cent vacancy in Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax (higher administrative grade). There is shortage of inspector, who heads the investigation, by 34 per cent.

And that's the reason many officers including seniors I-T officers, are refusing promotion and opting for resignation. “Every year, the number of people resigning is surging by 5 per cent. This has been the trend for the past two years but nothing is being done about it,“ said another member of the federation.