FORMER CBDT chairman Sudhir Chandra has begun a not-for-profit
venture to make tax rules simpler for aam tax payers. Chandra who was a
favourite official of then finance minister and current President of
India Pranab Mukherjee, has formed a…
voluntary organisation called Centre for Tax Awareness and Research with a few other former tax sleuths.
A 1973 batch IRS-IT official, Chandra was Member (Investigation) before heading the Central Board of Direct Taxes last year.
The
new organisation is likely to be positioned as a tax think tank, the
first such major initiative in India. It will give solutions to a vast
majority of tax payers on intricate issues like setting up trusts and
getting tax refunds, just to name a few.
As CBDT chairman, Chandra
expedited the release of tax refunds, a move that was not taken kindly
by the department of economic affairs, another department in the same
finance ministry. Those who know Chandra well say his adventurous moves
in the revenue department went through, despite opposition from various
quarters, because he had enjoyed the full confidence of then FM
Mukherjee.
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Action and Appointments
a)
The ACC has approved the appointment of JS Mathur, a 1982 batch MP
cadre IAS, presently joint secretary, in the ministry of drinking water
and sanitation, as additional secretary in the ministry of information
and broadcasting in the vacancy of Rajiv Takru, a 1979 batch Gujarat
cadre IAS.
b) The government has approved the assignment of
additional charge of the post of secretary, department of chemicals and
petrochemicals to DS Kalha, a 1977 batch Punjab cadre IAS and secretary
in department of pharmaceuticals for a period of three months.