In a major crackdown on corruption, as many as 12 government officials, including the Chief Commissioner, Principal Commissioners and the Commissioner of Income Tax Department have been ordered to retire early under Rule FR 56 (J) of the Central Civil Services (CCS) on Monday. The order was issued by Finance Ministry.

As per reports, some of these officers are said to be guilty of sexual assaults, illegal and disproportionate assets, and corruption.

Finance Ministry Sources: 12 senior officers of ranks of Chief Commissioner, Principal Commissioners & Commissioner of Income Tax Department compulsorily retired under Rule 56 by the Finance Ministry. pic.twitter.com/rTXNIBgoUc — ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2019

“12 senior officers of ranks of Chief Commissioner, Principal Commissioners and Commissioner of Income Tax Department compulsorily retired under Rule 56 by the Finance Ministry,” news agency ANI reported quoting Finance Ministry sources.

The development comes within days after the Cabinet Secretariat and the Central Vigilance Commission had instructed the vigilance heads across departments to speed up the process of identifying officers eligible for compulsory retirement under Fundamental Rule 56(j) of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972.

- Advertisement -

The decision was taken to weed out the corrupt officials sitting atop bureaucratic ranks and non-performing officials over the next few months.

Under 56 (j), the performance of an officer who has turned 50 or 55 or has completed 30 years of service is reviewed to determine if he/she is accountable for compulsory retirement.

Though 56(j) has been in existence for several decades, however, it is the Narendra Modi led government that decided to act upon this rule. The Modi government has been instrumental in forcing various government employees to retire ahead of their tenure of attaining superannuation based on their non-performance or lack of integrity.

Income Tax joint commissioner Ashok Agarwal commissioner Homi Rajvansh has been fired on charges of corruption. I-T Commissioner (Appeal) had a sexual harassment case filed by two lady IRS officers. Other officers in the list are BB Rajendra Prasad, Ajoy Kumar Singh, Alok Kumar Mitra, Chander Saini Bharti, Andasu Ravindar, Vivek Batra, Swetabh Suman and Ram Kumar Bhargava.

This move by the BJP government is expected to improve the administrative efficiency of officials, reduce corruption and open jobs avenues across departments such as railways, armed forces, postal department, and central schools over the next few years.