Singh warns staff on VDIS secrecy

MUMBAI, Dec 18: The revenue secretary N K Singh today warned that action would be taken against any officer for any leakage of informatio...

MUMBAI, Dec 18: The revenue secretary N K Singh today warned that action would be taken against any officer 8220;for any leakage of information on the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme VDIS under the Official Secrets Act.8221;

At a meeting with industrialists, lawyers and chartered accountants at the Indian Merchant Chamber, Singh ordered the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax Muthuramalingam to transfer or replace any assistant commissioner who 8220;insists on scrutinising the VDIS declarations before accepting them.8221;He also informed that departmental action would be taken against any delay in issuing certificates to the declarer. Ruling out further extension of VDIS beyond the December 31 deadline, Singh said 8220;the progress of the scheme has been satisfactory and in accordance with our expectations.8221; Extra staff would be posted if necessary to receive declarations till late at night, he added.

Talking about the harassment, Singh said that if the assessees are harassed by officials than the purpose of the scheme is spoilt and instructed that the department should take a serious note of such happenings. On being pointed out some clauses and sub-clauses that needs to be modified, he said that only few days are left and no modification in the rules will be made in this regard. About delays he said that the IT officials should not ask for unnecessary details or valuations.

Stating that the government was committed to confidentiality, Singh also assured that the declaration would not be a base for harassment and sought their cooperation for garnering government revenues as, he said, there was no better scheme than this.

Talking about the declaration of silver or silver utnsils, he said that the regional IT commissioners have set their limits. This limit which is generally not disclosed is different regionwise. Like for the eastern part of the country people have a tendency to procure more silver. He said that the scheme is not about declaration and money alone, but it is a scheme of partnership of trust and added that the people should come forward in the last few days for availing the scheme as he does not see any better scheme in forseeable future. Later, speaking to newsmen, Singh was confident that sluggishness in excise collections would be reversed in the coming months while customs shortfalls would be met through various steps initiated by the department.

Singh said the income tax collections would also increase because of additional dispersals through the fifth commission reports, interim reliefs announced by various state governments and release of locked funds held up in court cases.

On the recent raids stepped up by the income tax department, he said they were independent of this scheme as the raids were based on 8220;information8221;.