Massive Transfers in Commercial Tax Department: Chhattisgarh Government’s Transparent Initiative

In line with the Good Governance policy of the Chhattisgarh government led by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, numerous initiatives are being undertaken across all departments to make government functioning transparent, impartial, and public-friendly. In this context, large-scale transfers have been implemented in the Commercial Tax (GST) Department after many years. Prior to this, only a limited number of transfers (10-15 officers) occurred in the department in the last two-three years. Most officers and employees of the GST department had been working at the same posting locations for a long time, with some officers serving in the same place for up to 18 years. This situation was hindering transparency and impartiality in the department’s performance and tax collection. Out of the 35 sanctioned posts of State Tax Deputy Commissioners, 17 officers were given new postings after promotion. Of the remaining 8 Deputy Commissioners, 3 had been posted in Raipur for the last 10 years, 2 for 8 years, and 3 for 4-5 years. In addition, 8 Deputy Commissioners and 4 Assistant Commissioners had been working in their home districts for 5 years. 178 State Tax Officers/State Tax Inspectors were also posted at the same place for the last 4-5 years, out of which 34 State Tax Officers and 45 State Tax Inspectors were posted in their home districts for 5 consecutive years. Due to being a tax collection department, staying in the same area for such a long period increases the chances of developing personal relationships with business entities, which affects work. Commercial Tax Minister Shri O P Chaudhary stated that the state government has taken effective steps towards decentralization and strengthening of tax administration in the state by making necessary improvements to this situation. Earlier, although the department had 30 circles, departmental offices were limited to only 15 districts, whereas the offices of all major departments of the state government are in all districts. To address this shortcoming, circles have been established for the first time in Dantewada, Kondagaon, Jashpur, and the newly formed districts of Sakti and Sarangarh, and officers have been posted there. To strengthen revenue collection, BIU and audit units have been formed in the department and officers have been deployed in them. Despite such large-scale transfers, full attention has been paid to human sensitivities. In particular, the postings of both husband and wife officers have been ensured in the same district and female officers have been transferred to nearby districts as far as possible. Finance Minister Shri Chaudhary said that the state government will continue to take steps in the coming time to strengthen an honest, transparent, and dedicated work culture in all departments.