Taxpayer’s Charter – Income Tax
One of the purposes of a Charter is that a citizen can demand certain standard of service from the government body. However, anyone who has been to a government department once, will tell you what “demanding” anything from the concerned officer will get you.
The Ministry of Personnel had earlier clarified that the Citizen’s Charter is not legally enforceable and, therefore, is non-justiciable.
If the tax department does not follow the objective of the Citizen’s Charter, can one approach the court to get its grievance addressed? Absolutely not! Yes, that is correct, a Citizen’s Charter is nothing more than a wall hanging in every tax officer’s cabin that creates no pressure on the officer to follow its objectives.
Thus, what good is a document, the promises of which are not guaranteed to the citizen?
Local Circles are requested to take up the issue of a Grievance Redressal Mechanism for taxpayer with Ministry of Finance.
(Source: Taxguru) more