Amendments of Acts, Rules on IT likely

Pune, June 19 (UNI) Amendments to existing Acts and Rules in respect to high profile cases like Pune-based businessman and horse owner Hassan Ali or builder Avinash Bhosale may be taken up during the coming All India Conference of Chief Commissioners (Income Tax) next month.

Central Board Of Direct Tax (IT) Member Rao Ranvijay Singh was speaking to reporters after a two-day zonal conference of Chief Commissioners (IT) from Western Region, a precursor to the All India Conference scheduled next month.

He said the two-day zonal conference was a routine exercise undertaken twice a year to make recommedations to the Union Finance Minister.

Although non-committal, Singh said that high profile cases like those of Hassan Ali and Bhosale may come up for discussion during the conference.

''Whatever needs to be done in terms of changes or amendments will be recommended, if it so merits. Law is the same for all whether a small fry or a big shark,'' he said.

Singh said the target collection for this year is Rs 2,67,400 cr collection, while last year the target of Rs 2,29,000 crore was achieved. But in the country, there are a total of 3.5 crore assesses in a population of 115 crore, he added.

He said his department was working to expedite disposal procedures for which a comprehensive computerisation programme had been initiated through the ''Sevauttam'' project.

Pilot projects of the same are being undertaken in Udaipur and Mumbai.

When asked about cases under the RTI, he said that there were queries regarding third parties. Also some embarrassing queries seeking information for settling divorce cases had been received by the department, he said.

Talking about Pune circle which has ''the potential for high growth'', he said there has been an increase in collections by 33.8 per cent and revenue collection targets for the previous year in the city had been achieved due to the vibrancy in revenue collection. A total 497 surveys as against 147 in the previous year and collection of Rs 324.4 crore achieved due to the surveys, seizures, searches and various awareness programmes.

This year the target is Rs 10,576 crore, this will be achieved as in the first quarter Rs 310.96 crore has been collected. The revenue collection was Rs 8,978 crore last year as against the target of Rs 8,750. There are a total of 18,733 assesses this year against last year's 12,813 assesses, he said adding there has been an increase in revenue collection by nearly three times since 2001 till date.

UNI