It has been the longest one year for four batches of IRS Income Tax. Officers of 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 batches have been waiting in vain for their turn for empanelment as Commissioners. But for some unknown and mysterious reasons, things are not moving at all. This has had a cascading effect on other batches causing disappointment among IRS IT officers.

Indianmandarins has reliably learned that months back, the CBDT had sent the proposal for empanelment of these batches but the UPSC has not been able to conduct the DPC as the matter pertaining to 1999 batch officers Ms. Sumana Sen and Ms. Ashima Neb are subjudiced before the court. There has been murmuring as well that these two officers are being victimised whereas as  a faction terms it vice-versa as well.  

Sources say that the issue may be resolved by way of a minor modification in the earlier proposal. For this, the proposal for empanelment of the 1999 batch may be separated from that of 1996, 1997 and 1998 batches but this calls for a proactive approach at the Board-level (CBDT). Reportedly, 1999 batch officers do not like the idea. They know that in case the batch is left over it may take too long to get a solution. Indeed, the four batches consider themselves a victim of the personal-cum-professional rivalry of few officers. Some seniors at the top believe that the discontentment and rivalry should have been stopped for the sake of the cadre as it may create a cascading effect on other batches below 1999.

Reportedly, the Board has been waiting for the deadlock to end in due course and then the UPSC conducting the DPC.