Complaints against the officials included corruption, extortion and bribery

In another action aimed at cleaning up government service, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday ordered the retirement of 15 senior officials of the Ministry of Finance.

This comes a week after the President ordered the retirement of 12 senior officials of the Finance Ministry for alleged corruption, extortion and sexual harassment.

While last week’s action was against officers of the Income Tax Department, Tuesday’s orders were against senior officers of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (j) of rule 56 of the Fundamental Rules, the President of India has retired 15 officers of Indian Revenue Service (C&CE) in public interest with immediate effect on completing 50 years of age,” the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.

The 15 officers — all in the rank of Assistant Commissioners, Principal Commissioners or Commissioners — are to be paid a sum equivalent to the amount of pay and allowances for a period of three months at the same rate at which they would have received immediately before their retirement.

Sources in the Finance Ministry said complaints against the officials included corruption, extortion, acquisition of movable and immovable assets that were not disclosed to the proper authorities, smuggling and bribery.

The President chose to remove the officials immediately rather than opting for the other choice of giving them three months’ notice.

Clause (j) of rule 56 of the Fundamental Rules state that: “The Appropriate Authority shall, if it is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so, have the absolute right to retire any Government servant by giving him notice of not less than three months in writing or three months’ pay and allowances in lieu of such notice.”