ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday set up a new section for dealing with disciplinary cases of tax officials.
The FBR in an official memo said that in order to ensure proper follow up of all disciplinary cases/Inquiries of Officers (BS-16 and above) of FBR (Hqrs) and IR field formations with a view to ensure timely disposal of such cases, a new Section with the nomenclature of “Discipline/Inquiries” has been created in Admn/HR Wing, FBR (HQ), Islamabad with immediate effect.
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The mentioned Section shall be headed by a Secretary/Second Secretary, who shall report to the Chief (HRM-IR), FBR.
The establishment of the new section is a continuation of the initiatives of the federal government for early disposal of disciplinary cases against the tax officials.
The FBR on August 16, 2022 issued directives of the Prime Minister and circulated the same to the field formation for the compliance.
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According to the instructions, the FBR chairman advised that as per the directions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Revenue Division / FBR shall strictly comply with the following instructions in all disciplinary proceedings and inquiries initiated against the officer(s)/official(s):-
The appointed Inquiry Officer shall conduct the inquiry proceedings in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 10 read with Rule 12 of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020. The same shall be completed within sixty (60) days from the date of issuance of the Inquiry Order or within such extended period which the Authority may allow.
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For ensuring safe custody of record in an inquiry, all Heads of field offices (Directors General / Chief Commissioners / Chief Collectors / Commissioners / Collectors, etc.) of FBR shall retain the relevant case record in safe custody while forwarding the recommendation to initiate disciplinary proceedings against any officer(s)/official(s).
All Heads of field offices will also ensure that relevant record of the case and other related documents are timely provided to the Inquiry Officer or the Inquiry Committee, as the case may be, through the designated Departmental Representative (DR) within seven days from the date of Inquiry Order or within such an extended period which Authority may allow in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 8 of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020.
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Any officer of IRS or PCS (as the case may be) who is given record of the case under intimation to the Board shall be designated as Departmental Representative (DR) who shall perform functions mentioned in Rule 15 of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020.
After receipt of reply to the Show Cause Notice from the accused or in case where no reply is received and affording an opportunity of personal hearing to the accused, the designated Authority notified vide Board’s Notification No. 2788-1R-II/2020 dated 05.01.2021 (copy enclosed) shall decide the case within a period of thirty days as per Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020.
The directions contained in Board’s Circular entitled “Incentive and Punitive Regime for the Inquiry Officers/Authorized Officers/Authority” circulated vide letter No. 7(6)S.HRM.IR-1/2021/E-dox#186726-R dated 08.11.2021 (copy enclosed) may be complied with in letter and spirit.
