CBDT Reshuffles Responsibilities Amongst Top Members

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has reorganized its members' responsibilities, with the chairman now overseeing multiple directorates. Changes were prompted by member retirements, and new roles have been assigned among top officers. The board, under the Finance Ministry, continues to face vacancies.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which oversees the income-tax department's operations, has implemented a new reshuffle of responsibilities amongst its members. According to an official order issued on September 24, the investigation wing will now report directly to the chairman.

The order states that CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal, a 1988-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, will oversee the board's coordination and overall supervision, including the departments of investigation, central and intelligence, and criminal investigation directorates. This change comes after the independent post of member (investigation) was eliminated last year. A senior officer revealed that other members’ roles were also realigned at the time.

In the latest reshuffle, Harinder Bir Singh Gill, a 1987-batch IRS officer, will serve as member (taxpayer services and revenue) and hold the additional role of member (systems and faceless services). Sanjay Kumar, from the 1988 batch, will be member (audit and judicial) and assume the extra responsibility of member (income tax). Prabodh Seth of the 1989 batch will take on the member (administration) role, while his batchmate, Ramesh Narain Parbat, will become member (legislation). The reshuffling follows the voluntary retirement of Pragya Sahay Saksena and the scheduled superannuation of Pravin Kumar, resulting in two vacancies on the board.