The CBDT, responsible for administration of direct taxes, is likely to have a woman as its chairperson after six years. A Finance Ministry official said the name of Poonam Kishore Saxena, a 1974-batch Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer, has been forwarded to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for appointment as chief of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).    

MH Kherawala was the woman chief of CBDT six years ago in 2006. Saxena, a 1974-batch Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer, is likely to take charge on August 1. At present, she is Member, Legislation & Computerisation, CBDT.    

Incumbent chairman Laxman Das will retire by July-end. "Committee of Secretaries (CoS) have forwarded name of Poonam Kishore Saxena for the post of CBDT chairman to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday," a finance ministry official told PTI. (PTI)