The Hindu : New Delhi News : VAT on schedule, says Walia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 11, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

VAT on schedule, says Walia

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 10. Ruling out postponement of the proposed new Value Added Tax (VAT) regime in Delhi from this coming April 1, Delhi's Finance Minister A.K. Walia today said the "bribe-on-camera scam" would in no way affect the introduction of this progressive tax legislation.

At the same time, he hinted at a complete overhaul of the Sales Tax Department including shifting out of officers and employees with doubtful integrity to cleanse the administration of corrupt elements.

Denying reports that the sudden suspension of 28 officers and the unearthing of the bribery scam had made the Government re-think on implementation of VAT, Dr. Walia said Delhi was prepared to go ahead with the new regime and everything had been put in place for this purpose.

"This unfortunate development will not affect the introduction of VAT in any manner and Delhi will switch to the new system as planned."

"We have been in constant touch with the traders and businessmen. We are also consulting on what best could be done to ensure smooth implementation of the new law,'' he added.

Conceding that he and the rest of the Government had been "badly embarrassed" by the bribe-on-camera scam, the Finance Minister said that he was now all the more determined to weed out the corrupt elements from the Department. "I have apprised the Chief Minister of the entire situation and she has also supported taking action against those who are creating such a mess. She has been constantly monitoring the situation and been supportive of the action taken,'' he stated.

Hinting at a thorough overhaul of the Department, Dr. Walia said that the process had been set in motion for identifying the black sheep and posting them in non-sensitive positions.

It is also being probed as to how a large number of people managed to stay in the same position even after completing their term.

Asked what action was being contemplated against the other officials who had been caught taking bribe on the camera, Dr. Walia said that the department had got hold of the cassette from the Hindi news television channel and was presently scrutinising the same.

The images are very blurred in same cases and it had been decided that some senior officials of the department would put their heads together and sit through the night to identify the tainted officials. They will face the same action as had been done in the previous 28 cases and no leniency would be shown.

"There is no attempt on part of the Delhi Government to push the matter under the carpet and we are determined to provide clean and efficient administration."

Dr. Walia also hinted that action was also in the offing against the officials of the Vigilance branch of the Department who despite being stationed there did not take any action against the guilty.

It is also being probed if these officials had got a large number of complaints and had failed to act on them.

The vigilance branch officials would have to do a lot of explaining as they have been found wanting on various fronts and the next step would be clean up this part of the department.

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