Indian Income Tax Department does not have the data of Income Tax Return Filed? – Shocking Reply in response to the RTI Application
The owner knows about their business. Head of the family members take care of their family. Parents keep caring about the activity of their child. Employers own the responsibility of their employees.
Who is taking care of the taxpayers of the country?
The major part of the revenue of the Government is from Taxes and the heads don’t even bother to keep a track of the number of ITR filed? Is it so difficult to get the details or maintain it for better governance?
Is it not shocking or painful that the country doesn’t have the data of the ITR filed during the particular days or month?
A RTI application was filed on 28/06/2021 wherein data of total income tax returns filed between 7th June, 2021 to 21st June, 2021 on the new E-filing portal was sought.
And the pleasant reply that will make every taxpayers of the country feel joyous and happy is
“no such data is being maintained and it is not available”.
Is it the reply which reflects the maturity of the next 5 trillion economy?
This is the governance we are planning for?
Little efforts could not have offered the numbers of ITR filed?
Whom are we protecting by not replying to such a simple question?
Computerized Environment gives the details of each and every person or ip address of everyone who has even accessed the portal. It is surprising and shocking that we don’t have the data of income tax return filed?
Whether the figure often announced by the Government with regard to the number of returns filed is just a guess work or on the basis of actual figures from the CPC? Without actual figures, how anyone can announce that 1 Cr returns have been filed till so and so date.
It may be noted that the public authorities have very well read the judgment of CBSE Vs Aditya Bandopadhyay 8SCC 497 wherein at Para 63 of the order, it was replied that
“where the information sought is not part of the record of the Public Authority and where such information is not required to be maintained under any law or rules or regulations of the Public Authority, the Act does not cast an obligation upon the Public Authority, to collect or collate such non-available information and furnish it to the applicant”.
Not everything needs to be discussed, but the authorities need to believe that the question deserves respect as a result of present disruptions caused by new income tax portal.
Probably, it’s the court of this country which can ensure that we have matured administrators. The country is blessed with various taxpayers, business & industrial associations who have read this RTI reply & can take this issue forward for better India. Earlier, almost a similar reply was given when someone asked about the contract awarded to Infosys for Rs. 4242 Cr wherein reply given is accessible at – https://thetaxtalk.com/2021/07/14/contract-to/
The copy of the present reply is as under:
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF INCOME TAX
CENTRALIZED PROCESSING CENTER,
48/1 & 48/2, PRESTIGE ALPHA, BERATENA AGRAHARA,
ELECTRONIC CITY (POST), HOSUR ROAD, BENGALURU — 560 500.
F. No. RTI/June/31A/2021-22
Dated : 14.07.2021.
To
**************************
Sir,
Sub: Request for information under the RTI Act, 2005 — reg.
Ref: Your online RTI application dated 22.06.2021 received on transfer from 0/o. ADG(Systems)-3, New Delhi in this office on 28.06.2021.
In the RTI application sent to this office, you have requested for the following information :
| Sl No. | Information requested |
| 1. | Please provide data of total income tax returns filed between 7th June,2021 to 21st June, 2021 on new E-filing portal. |
| 2. | Please also provide ITRs filed on each day between 07.06.2021 to 21.06.2021. |
The RTI Application is disposed as under:
- Reply to Query Nos.1 & 2
The applicant is hereby informed that the requested information is not held as such, by the CPIO as registered information nor is the requested information required to be maintained as such by the CPIO, under extant rules or regulations.It may be mentioned here that the CPIO is not obliged to collect, collate and compile such non-available information and provide the same to the applicant.Further, under the RTI Act, the CPIO is authorized to provide only such information as is available and existing and held by the public authority or under the control of the public authority.
2.1. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CBSE Vs Aditya Bandopadhyay 8SCC 497 has held at Para 63 of their order, that where the information sought is not part of the record of the Public Authority and where such information is not required to be maintained under any law or rules or regulations of the Public Authority, the Act does not cast an obligation upon the Public Authority, to collect or collate such non-available information and furnish it to the applicant.
- The First Appellate Authority under the RTI Act for CPC is the Addl. Director of Income Tax (CPC), Unit-8, Prestige Alpha, Post Box No.1, Electronic City Post, Bengaluru — 560 500. First appeal, if any, may be filed within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order.
Yours sincerely,
(Rajamathangi V)
Income Tax Officer & CPIO,
CPC, Bengaluru.
