CBDT Expresses “Extreme Concern” After Supreme Court’s Criticism of Delay

Pursuant to the scathing criticism of the Supreme Court in DIT vs. Citibank N.A. on the “peculiar phenomenon” of delay in filing high stakes appeals and the directive that the concerned officials be hauled up, the CBDT has issued a letter dated 19.09.2012 expressing “extreme concern” and directing the CCITs & DGITs to impress upon the field formation to strictly adhere to the timelines laid down in Instruction No. 4 of 2011 & Instruction No. 7 of 2011. It has been made clear that excuses like heavy workload and leave are not acceptable. It has also been threatened that delay in filing appeals/ SLPs may attract administrative action.