After IAS and IPS officers, the government has now turned its heat on Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) officers asking them to mandatorily furnish their immovable property returns by this month-end failing which they would be denied promotions. Citing a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order in this regard, the Central Board of Direct Taxes has said those officers who fail to submit their IPRs within the prescribed time "would be denied vigilance clearance and will not be considered for promotion and empanelment for senior level posts and deputation, among others (service benefits).

"The DoPT had earlier issued similar instructions to be followed by the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in the country. "Although the IRS officials were filing their property details, there was no uniformity. As the heat increased on civil servants from IAS and IPS for filing their IPRs with their nodal ministries, how can IRS be left behind? The CBDT order is hence for strict compliance," a senior I-T officer said.

The CBDT has recently issued an official order to all the Chief Commissioners (cadre controlling) of the department to ensure strict compliance of its order by January 31. The Central board has also expressed its displeasure that in few cases I-T officials have not furnished their IPRs for the year 2010 while in several cases the officials have just mentioned 'same as previous year' or 'no change' on the IPR forms. "It has been decided that such IPRs will not be treated as accepted," the CBDT said in its order. "The I-T officials, this year, will have to file fresh IPRs with complete and latest details as the CBDT is compiling the data for all future references," the official said. PTI