FBR imposes penalty on IR intelligence officer for inefficiency, mis-conduct

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday has imposed a minor penalty of ‘withholding of annual increments for the period of three years’ on Umar Yar Afridi, Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation, Lahore on charge of inefficiency and misconduct, a notification said.
According to Inquiry report, “It has been proved that the accused officer is custodian of the record, as he was responsible for misplacement of files/records on the basis of which notices u/s 122(9) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 in 19 cases issued,” inquiry officer said.
Similarly, the charge has not been proven of issuance of Sales Tax refunds amounting to Rs.19.87 million in five cases where outstanding Income Tax demand existed against the directorate, Manzoor Hussain Shad, Commissioner (IR) Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU), an inquiry officer authorized by member of admin, FBR said.
The directorate was absent from duty for 71 days from December 10, 2012 to February 18, 2013, a major penalty of dismissal from services as prescribed under Rule 4(1)(b) of the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rule, 1973 will be charged because of non-availability of documented evidences.
“The findings of inquiry report sent to the accused officer in form of show cause notice on November 8, 2013 on the charges of inefficiency and misconduct for imposition of one or more penalties including the major penalty of dismissal from services under government servant rules,” it said
The accused officer requested for personal hearing, in this regard the member admin in the capacity of authorized officer granted him personal hearing on February 10, 2014.
“The accused officer Umar Yar Afridi (ITG/BS-17) was heard in person, after gone through the relevant records, show cause notice, reply of the accused officer, his verbal explanation that he had committed these acts by mistake due to lack of knowledge and experience during his first tenure at RTO, Lahore and his assured of no complain would arise him in future,” report said.
On the above inquiry, the authorized officer/member Admin has been pleased to impose a minor penalty of withholding of annual increment of the accused officer, Umar Yar Afridi for a period of three years as provided under Rule 4(1)(a)(ii) of the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973. He said, “The period of his unauthorized absence of above mentioned 71 days is regularized to be treated as extra ordinary leave (EOL) without pay.”
However, Umar Yar Afridi shall have the right to appeal to the appellate authority as provided under the relevant Rules, the FBR added.