The Joint Action Council, Delhi Circle, comprising Income Tax Employees' Federation and Income Tax Gazetted Officers' Association, said on Tuesday that it had launched Protests from October 25 demanding filling up of 700 posts of assistant commissioners. 

A statement from the Joint Council of Action, Delhi, said vacancy for 2010-11 and 2011-12 have not been filled up and there was a delay of up to 17 months. It said the department was facing an acute shortage of manpower both at the staff and officer levels, which is hurting efficiency. 

"These vacant positions are being shared by the existing officers, by holding additional charge, which due to acute shortage of staff members results in unmanageable workload, causing disruption in tax payer service and revenue collection," the joint action council of Income Tax Employees Federation and Income Tax Gazetted Officers Association, Delhi said in a statement. 

The Council said it will boycott and protest in front of chairman Central Board of Direct Taxes and members on their official visits and will hold a black badge and candle light procession on November 3, and also threatened to go on strike, if demands were not met. There will be a mass walkout on November 15 as well. (Times of India)