Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged Income Tax officials to stop making citizens chase departments for services they are legally entitled to receive.
Sitharaman Tells Tax Officers to Serve Citizens Without Delay
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has asked Income Tax Department officials to ensure that taxpayers and ordinary citizens are not forced to move repeatedly between government offices for routine services and benefits that are rightfully theirs.
Speaking after inaugurating the 13-storey Aaykar Sindhu office building at Nariman Point in Mumbai, Sitharaman said the department’s own difficulties in securing approvals for the project should help officers understand the frustration experienced by citizens dealing with administrative procedures.
She clarified that officers were not being asked to ignore rules, grant special favours or bypass established procedures. Instead, she urged them to complete legitimate work promptly whenever the matter fell within their authority and avoid making people “run from pillar to post.”
Tax Department’s Own Delays Used as Governance Lesson
Sitharaman pointed to the construction of Aaykar Sindhu as an example of how even a powerful government department can face delays while seeking permissions and coordinating with several authorities.
The 1.13-lakh-square-foot building stands on land allotted to the Income Tax Department in 1973. However, unauthorised occupations developed on the property over the years, delaying its productive use and exposing weaknesses in the management of government assets.
The Finance Minister criticised what she described as a laidback approach within parts of the administration. She said officials responsible for public property must act before encroachments become obstacles to development rather than later claiming that available land cannot be used.
Aaykar Sindhu Event Highlights Housing and Project Delays
The Finance Minister also addressed the shortage of official accommodation for Income Tax employees in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Nearly half of the department’s personnel reportedly lack government housing, forcing many to undertake lengthy daily journeys to their workplaces.
Sitharaman said she would support government-to-government transfers of suitable land but told officials to complete the remaining approvals without unnecessary delay. She called for closer coordination with the Central Public Works Department and faster completion of tenders, contracts and construction procedures.
She also referred to land belonging to state-owned telecom company BSNL and indicated that she would discuss a possible transfer with the ministry concerned. The department, however, would be responsible for ensuring that subsequent procedural work moved quickly.
Citizen-Centric Administration Must Combine Speed and Integrity
Sitharaman’s remarks placed citizen service, accountability and asset management at the centre of tax administration. Faster processing, she indicated, should not come at the cost of legal compliance, fairness or institutional honesty.
Concluding her address, she described integrity as the guiding principle for every Income Tax official. Her message was that efficient governance requires officers to act decisively, protect public resources and help citizens receive lawful services without avoidable inconvenience.
