October 23, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 16,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Justice Saleem Akhtar (retired) has asked the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) to initiate inquiry against a tax official for demanding illegal gratification from an assessee for the issuance of refund.

The ombudsman recommended to the CBR that the income tax inspector, Shaukat Ali Tori, be transferred to another zone immediately to avoid any further incident of mal-administration with any other assessee, said an official announcement issued on Tuesday.

He further said inquiry against the inspector should be conducted by the director-general (enquiries), who should also examine the complainant and witnesses, who had appeared to support the complaint.

The compliance report should be produced to this office within 60 days of the order, the ombudsman said.

The complainant, M/s Central Hotel, Chowk Bazar, Bannu city, alleged mal-administration on the part of income tax employees, circle-24 who demanded illegal gratification for issuance of refund for assessment year 2000-01. The tax employees instead of issuing refund voucher demanded 30 per cent of the total refund as commission.

The ombudsman observed that if the tax officials were so sure of their conduct, why they have entered into an agreement with complainant, who had charged them of corruption and bribery.

The affidavit filed regarding settlement of dispute alleged to be informal resolution could not be accepted to be genuine and correct, he said.