Taxpayers' problems

In a move that is likely to please taxpayers, the Delhi High Court has asked the Income Tax (I-T) Department to inform it within three weeks about the measures taken to redress taxpayers' problems regarding the delay in payment of refund and the issuing of Permanent Account Number (PAN).

This directive follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Sampooran Parivartan, a registered society. The PIL alleged that I-T officials were demanding 10-40 per cent of the refund amount as bribe to expedite payments. The court has asked the I-T Department to respond to the directive by January 12. -- BL Research Bureau