The CBDT is known to be a law unto itself. No amount of strictures from the Courts has any impact on it. Now, it has come into the bad books of the Election Commission with the latter expressing “deep sense of anguish” about the “casual and trivial” approach of the CBDT. The EC has expressed its “extreme displeasure” at the “Stark violation of established protocol“.
Text of letter issued by the Election Commission of India
“NIRVACHAN SADAN
ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI 110 001
No. 76/Instructions/2019
Date: 10 April, 2019
To,
Secretary (Revenue, 128A North Block,
New Delhi
Sublect- Advisory dated 7.04.2019 – impartial conduct of enforcement actions – reg
Sir,
The Election Commission of India expresses its deep sense of anguish about the casual and trivial manner in which the advisory to be absolutely neutral, impartial and non, discriminatory has been responded to by Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance vide letter F. No. A.50050/15/2019-Ad. I dated 08.04.19.
In pare 3 of aforementioned letter, instead of detailing the modalities of implementing the advisory, Department insolently chose to issue a counter advisory.
The Commission has noted with extreme displeasure, the tone and tenor used for addressing a Constitutional Authority in stark violation of the established Protocol.
Therefore, the Commission reprimands the Department of Revenue for making unwarranted remarks and expects that the directions issued by the Commission m the said advisory are followed in letter as well as in spirit.
Yours Faithfully,
(Avinash Kumar)
Secretary”
The provocation for the outburst was the counter advisory from the Department of Revenue which said:
“Since it is the responsibility of the Election Commission as also of the revenue agencies to check and eventually eliminate the use of unaccounted money in election, we would also like to urge EC to advise its field officers involved in the enforcement of the model code of conduct to take immediate enforcement action at their end under the election and other appropriate laws, if they come across any specific information about use of illicit money in electoral process …
EC’s field officers may also, if they deem fit, pass on the information confidentially’ to I-T department for ‘taking further necessary action’.”
Election Commission expresses extreme displeasure against Department of Revenue on its conduct, comes down hard on the department issuing a counter advisory#Elections2019 pic.twitter.com/nbjGmEeEjB
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) April 11, 2019
(Image Credit: ET)
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley dismisses allegations of political vendetta, says tax raids based on material evidence.
Read more: https://t.co/OmxViABM0H pic.twitter.com/5waMumR0wd
— BloombergQuint (@BloombergQuint) April 10, 2019
The recent Election Commission and IT raids have shown that it is taxpayers/ Government’s money, which through PWD and other Departments of the Government, is being siphoned out and round-tripping into politics.
— Chowkidar Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) April 7, 2019
Rs. 280 crore of cash recovered from CM Kamal Nath’s OSD?
Plz imagine if the amount of Rupees has recovered from the personal secretary of CM, Kamal Nath, than how much money has been looted by the CM & his ministers in only 3 months tenure. Esiliye Rahul Gandhi is hungry for getting power in the centre…. shame on you Pappu led congr pic.twitter.com/27w2SoveIa
— Chowkidar Bivash Prasad sinha (@PrasadBivash) April 8, 2019
IT found 280+ cr in raids on Kamalnath. That's nothing.
Deepak Puri, founder of Moser Baer is Jijaji of Kamalnath.
He got loans worth 2200+ cr during Cong rule. NPA now.
He even got a Padam Shri.
Micheal told ED, "Augusta Westland bribes were routed through Moser Baer"
— Nitin Gupta (@Nitin_Rivaldo) April 9, 2019
Dear @RahulGandhi
Why are you quiet on income tax raids? Who is the politician from Delhi Tughlaq Road? Why is Congress worried? https://t.co/6G8K6XB8vZ— Chowkidar Ashu (@muglikar_) April 9, 2019
Brother-in-law of Congress leader Kamal Nath converted nearly Rs. 242 crores to dollars using bogus bills: Reportshttps://t.co/v6y2A9CHkY
— OpIndia.com (@OpIndia_com) April 8, 2019
IT raids seized up to ₹281 crores from Kamal Nath's OSD. ??? https://t.co/KQ4Kp5mBoQ
— Vikas Pandey Chowkidar (@MODIfiedVikas) April 8, 2019
. @Narendramodi ji trying to take credit of Biggest Surgical Strike against Corruption in Madhya Pradesh but it was Nehru who founded Income Tax Department. Only Nehru ji should get credit for exposing Kamal nath Curruption
— Chowkidar Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) April 8, 2019
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's son has assets worth over Rs. 660 crore https://t.co/qwTErqnOCT #ElectionsWithNDTV #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/BYWvxv0p9G
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 9, 2019
The term ‘Tax Terrorism’ was first coined by the PM and then reiterated by Jaitley as FM.
Another feather in the cap of CBDT. If Mr.Modi is chowkidar of nation CBDT is chowkidar of BJP. HOW come not even single case of ruling party politician being raided.Earlier Chairman is given a coveted post.Present Chairman is in ‘Q’ for it.
It is a one way street. Every ruling party appears to be doing this.
When the set-up changes, it will be the other way round.
Make hay while the sun shines. Ultimate beneficiary is the citizen of India.
One should not pretend to be honest but be honest to one’s own self.