Assam: Some bureaucrats do not submit annual property returns

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Not submitting annual property returns in time is a habit of sorts for a section of IAS, IPS, ACS and APS officers. Nine hundred such officers have not yet submitted their annual property returns for the year 2021, even after the elapse of the deadline.

According to service rules, all such officers have to submit their annual property returns of a calendar year on or before January 31 of the following year. According to sources, till January 31, 2022, as many as 23 IAS officers, 26 IPS officers, 576 ACS officers and 267 APS officers have not submitted their annual property returns for the year 2021 by January 31, 2022.

To weed out corruption and enhance oversight, the government introduced the facility of online filing of annual property returns from January 2017.

Talking to The Sentinel, a senior official said, "This is a matter of concern. The government has to increase surveillance on erring officers. Submitting annual property returns is mandatory as per the service rules. What prevents a section of officers from complying with the service rules? The service rules spell out the action against officers not submitting their annual property returns in time. The government should follow that stricture. The government even can draw disciplinary proceedings against such officers, among other actions."

The services conduct rules mandate every member of the service to submit annual property returns, giving particulars of the immovable property inherited, owned, acquired or held by him on lease or mortgage either in his family or in the name of any other person.

Also Read:  Assam Civil Service officers asked to submit property returns

Also watch: