New Delhi/Mumbai, 26 July (H.S.): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday urged income tax officials to ensure that ordinary citizens are not forced to make repeated visits to government offices and that they receive timely and sensitive services without unnecessary delays.

The Finance Minister made these remarks while addressing officials of the Income Tax Department at the inauguration of the 13-storey ‘Income Tax Sindhu’ building at Nariman Point in Mumbai. Appealing to officials to work in the interest of the common people, Sitharaman said citizens should not be compelled to run from pillar to post for their legitimate work. She urged officers to resolve public grievances and official matters in a time-bound and sensitive manner while operating within the framework of existing rules.

Sitharaman said that even Income Tax Department officials had faced several difficulties while obtaining the necessary approvals required for the construction of the new building. She said that if departmental officers themselves could experience such challenges, they should be able to better understand the difficulties faced by ordinary citizens.

Expressing concern over the slow functioning of government departments, the Finance Minister said such delays often lead to issues like illegal occupation and encroachment on government land. She pointed out that the land on which the new building has been constructed had been with the Income Tax Department since 1973, yet it witnessed illegal encroachments, which reflected administrative negligence.

In her address, Sitharaman also highlighted the shortage of government accommodation for Income Tax officials in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. She assured that necessary steps would be taken to address the issue. She also expressed confidence that the process of land transfers and other approvals between government departments would be expedited to ensure timely completion of office infrastructure projects in the future.

The Finance Minister suggested that officials explore the possibility of utilising available land owned by BSNL and said she would discuss the matter with the concerned minister.

Concluding her address, Sitharaman said integrity is the most important foundation of tax administration. She called upon all officials to perform their responsibilities with fairness, transparency, and honesty.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar