New Delhi: In a move that would reassert centre's zero tolerance for non-performing officials, Modi government has for the first time ordered 33 senior officials of the revenue department to take premature retirement.
Though, 72 officials have been axed in the last two years, since Modi government came to power, this was the first time that action was taken against such a large group.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Finance Ministry said 72 officers have been dismissed including six Group ‘A’ officers in other departmental/disciplinary actions in the last two years.
"There is a general perception that no action is taken against the defaulting tax officials for their non-performance as well as in case of harassing the tax assesses among others. The present government has taken various steps to change this perception," a Finance Ministry’s statement said.
Action against the revenue officials was part of several measures to change the officials' perception that poor performance or harassing the public would not impact their job, a senior personnel ministry official told a leading News Channel.
PM Modi had been regularly receiving complaints from various departments about officials who were either indifferent or harassed the public.
Last year, The prime Minsiter had made it loud and clear on Wednesday that his government won’t tolerate non-performing and corrupt officials.
He had said my government has taken several steps to make the bureaucracy more efficient, performance-oriented and accountable. The government is committed to ensuring probity among public servants and to protect them from frivolous allegations. Equally, the government is unsparing when it comes to punishing the corrupt.
For the first time, 33 officers/officials of the Revenue Services, including seven Group ‘A’ officers, have been prematurely retired for non-performance under Rule 56(j) of CCS (Pension) Rules, the statement read.
