Cabinet finally gives nod to creation of 7 posts of Ombudsman for CBEC

By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, MAR 31, 2011: THE Union Cabinet today approved creation of seven posts of Indirect Tax Ombudsman to be located at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Lucknow in the HAG + scale of Rs.75,500-80,000/- and the supporting staff. The Indirect Tax Ombudsman Guidelines, 2011 has also been approved.

The Indirect Tax Ombudsman shall have powers to receive complaints from tax payers on indirect tax matters and consider such complaints and facilitate their satisfaction or settlement by agreement through conciliation and mediation between the Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax department and the aggrieved parties or by passing an 'Award’ in accordance with the Guidelines.

It is expected that this will result in making the grievance redressal mechanism in the Customs, Central Excise and the Service Taxes offices under the CBEC more effective and transparent.