Lok Sabha Question No. 1435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Corruption Cases
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Khagen Murmu, Sukanta Majumdar

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1435 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, JULY 01,2019 ASHADHA 10, 1941 (SAKA)

## CORRUPTION CASES

1435: SHRI KHAGEN MURMU: DR: SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a)whether cases of corruption against revenue officers have been regularly reported anc if the details thereof the last three years; SO, during
- (b)whether  there have also been cases of Public   Sector banks, Enforcement Directorate and other subordinate offices under the Ministry and if so, the details thereof during the last three years;
- (c) whether the Government has received any communication from the Central Vigilance Commission urging strict action against such officers but no action has been taken so far and if he details thereof; and SO,
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure corruption free tax administration in the country?

## ANSWER FINANCE MINISTER (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) Yes The complainant against the officers under the Department of Revenue received through CVC, individuals and other sources are dealt as per the existing guidelines of CVC and DOPT . Sir.
- The details of complaints received in Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) are as under: -
- The details cf prosecution launched by Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Custom (CEIC) under Prevention of Corruption Act; 1988 are as under: -
- (iii) Vigilance Branch of Revenue Headquarters is dealing with three disciplinary cases ajainst IRS officers\_
- (b) The details of prosecution cases under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in Public Seetor Banks are as under -

| Sr. No   |      |   No. of complaints received |
|----------|------|------------------------------|
|          | 2016 |                         1715 |
| 2        | 2017 |                         1508 |
| 3        | 2018 |                         1441 |

| Sl. No.   |   F.Y |   No of prosecution cases |
|-----------|-------|---------------------------|
| 1         |  2016 |                        29 |
| 2         |  2017 |                        15 |
| 3_        |  2018 |                        40 |

|    |   Year |   No. of Cases |
|----|--------|----------------|
|  1 |   2015 |             11 |
|  2 |   2016 |              9 |
|  3 |   2017 |             10 |

Departmental Proceedings have been initiated by Directorate of Enforcement(ED) in 6 cases,

There are 15 cases pending in Department of Economic Affairs against the officers of Sec urities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI) , Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India LimitecI(SPMCIL) under various charges.

- (c) Yes; it is &n ongoing process Communication is received from Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) from tirne to time recommending strict action against such officers. However; there are no such cases in which no action have been taken:
- (d) The following steps, inter-alia have been taken by the Government to ensure corrupticn free tax administration in the country:
- Online   system for internal whistle-blower has been put in place to get the vital feerlback and complaints through department's portal.
- Reduction in human interface with tax payer with the introduction of higher digitization such as e e- assessment; e-appeal, e-nivaran filing,
- investigation in Limited Scrutiny cases without following due procedure.
- (iv) Guidelines nave been issued laying down specific responsibilities during conduct of survays and in post survey operations to obviate the possibilities of any wrongdoing:
- (v) AIl field formations have been asked to install CCTV cameras in corridors and public spaces.
- and Standard   Operating Procedures have   been laid down for  Inquiry   (fficers to minimize instances of defective Inquiry Reports.
- (vii) System studies are being conducted by Zonal ADsG to identify potential areas of corruiption and suggest systemic improvements.

Further; The government has taken a gamut of steps to comprehensively ensure corruption tax administration in the country which includes preventive vigilance, systemic and administrative reforms; streamlining process to reduce employee trade interface and robust preventive vigilance mec nanism. In order to have & corruption tax administration, all-out effort is made by taking reguler action in the areas of Punitive, Preventive and Participative vigilance. free free being