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ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday imposed penalty upon two officers of Inland Revenue Service (IRS) for inefficiency and misconduct.

In two different notices issued by the FBR the penalty has been imposed on the officers of BS-18.

Case 01:

Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Asad Munir Malik (IRS/BS-18), on recommendations of CCIR, LTU, Lahore vide letter dated 30.03.2016 on account of his unauthorized absence from duty w.e.f. 07.08.2015.

In the meanwhile, Asad Munir Malik (IRS/BS-18) was transferred from LTU, Lahore to RTO-II, Lahore vide Board’s Notification No.0056-IR-I/2016 dated 08.01.2016.

Vide Board’s letter dated 28.04.2016, CCIR, RTO-II, Lahore was requested to inform whether the officer joined his new place of posting or otherwise. CCIR, RTO-II, Lahore vide letter dated 26.04.2016 informed that the officer has not joined duty at RTO-II, Lahore and requested for initiation of disciplinary action against the officer.

The officer was issued Charge Sheet and Statement of Allegations vide letter dated 20.05.2016 and Jehangir Ahmad, the then Commissioner-IR, RTO-II, Lahore was appointed as Inquiry Officer to conduct inquiry on account of acts of omission and commission by the accused officer constituting “Misconduct”.

Whereas, the inquiry officer submitted inquiry report on 18.09.2018, according to which the charge of “Misconduct” was established against the accused officer.

On the basis of inquiry report, the accused officer was issued Show Cause Notice on 26.02.2019. In response to Show Cause Notice, the accused officer vide letter dated 13.03.2019 requested for opportunity of personal hearing before the Authorized Officer i.e. Member (Admn) which was granted for personal hearing on 23.04.2019.

Having gone through the relevant record, report of inquiry officer and verbal explanation during the course of personal hearing of the accused officer, the Authorized Officer opined that although the charges of “Misconduct” leveled against Asad Munir Malik (IRS/BS-18) stood established and found the officer guilty of the said charge.

However, taking into consideration the domestic issues that officer was facing due to illness of his son and could not attend office and because of indecision by LTU, Lahore on the leave application of the officer, the Authorized Officer, therefore, imposed minor penalty of “Withholding of One (01) Annual Increment without cumulative effect falling on December, 2019” as laid down in Rule 4(1)(a)(ii) of the Government Servant (E&D) Rules, 1973 upon Asad Munir Malik (IRS/BS-18), DCIR, RTO-II, Lahore.

Performance Allowance in respect of Asad Munir Malik (IRS/BS-18) shall be stopped for six months from the date of award of the above minor penalty as provided in Para 7(ii) of the Performance Allowance Guidelines, 2015 and he shall have to appear afresh for restoration of the same.

On conclusion of the proceedings, period of unauthorized absence from duty w.e.f. 07.08.2015 to 02.05.2019 shall be treated as leave of kind due as admissible under the rules.

Asad Munir Malik (IRS/BS-18), Deputy Commissioner-IR, Regional Tax Office-II, Lahore shall have the right to appeal to the Appellate Authority under Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977 as provided under the relevant Rules.

Case 02:

Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Muhammad Faisal Chaudhary (IRS/BS-18) on account of “Inefficiency”, “Misconduct” and “Corruption” vide Charge Sheet and Statement of Allegations dated 22.04.2016 and Naveed Ahmed Nawab, the then Commissioner-IR, CRTO, Lahore was appointed as Inquiry Officer to conduct inquiry on account of acts of omission and commission by the accused officer constituting “Inefficiency”, “Misconduct” and “Corruption”.

Whereas, the inquiry officer submitted inquiry report on 20.10.2016. Later on fresh allegations against the officer, on account of unauthorized absence from duty w.e.f 01.10.2016 to 31.10.2016, were raised by the then Chief Commissioner-IR, RTO, Faisalabad vide letter dated 03.11.2016. Therefore, Denovo Inquiry was initiated vide Charge Sheet and Statement of Allegations dated 06.02.2017 and Mr. Muhammad Akram Khan, the then, Chief Commissioner-IR, RTO, Faisalabad was appointed as Inquiry Officer. The inquiry officer submitted inquiry report on 20.09.2017.

Member (Administration), being Authorized Officer perused the record and found that Inquiry Officer placed reliance upon the first inquiry dated 16.02.2015 and notification dated 15.07.2015 and ignored the fact that in first inquiry period of absence was different than the period of absence mentioned in Inquiry dated 22.04.2016 and Denovo Inquiry dated 06.02.2017.

Therefore, the accused officer was issued Show Cause Notice on 14.03.2019. In response, the accused officer submitted his reply to the Show Cause Notice vide letter dated 27.03.2019.

The opportunity of personal hearing before the Authorized Officer i.e. Member (Admn) was granted to the accused officer on 29.04.2019.

Having gone through the relevant record, report of inquiry officer and verbal explanation during the course of personal hearing of the accused officer, the Authorized Officer opined that the charges of “Inefficiency” & “Misconduct” leveled against Muhammad Faisal Chaudhary (IRS/BS-18) stand established on account of unauthorized absence w.e.f 01.10.2016 to 31.10.2016 whereas, the charge of corruption was not proved vide inquiry report dated 20.10.2016 and Denovo inquiry report taking a lenient view of the situation, the Authorized Officer imposed minor penalty of “Censure” as laid down in Rule 4(1)(a)(i) of the Government Servant (E&D) Rules, 1973 upon Muhammad Faisal Chaudhary (IRS/BS-18), Deputy Commissioner-IR, Regional Tax Office-II, Lahore.

Performance Allowance in respect of Muhammad Faisal Chaudhary (IRS/BS-18), shall be stopped for six months from the date of award of the above minor penalty as provided in Para 7(ii) of the Performance Allowance Guidelines, 2015 and he shall have to appear afresh for restoration of the same. On conclusion of the proceedings, period of unauthorized absence from duty w.e.f 01.10.2016 to 31.10.2016 shall be treated as leave of kind due as admissible under the rules.

Muhammad Faisal Chaudhary (IRS/BS-18), Deputy Commissioner-IR, Regional Tax Office-II, Lahore shall have the right to appeal to the Appellate Authority under Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977 as provided under the relevant Rules.