Now, anyone can take help in resolving their grievances in the matter of Income Tax and Custom Duty from dedicated grievances redressal cell of the Cabinet Secretariat as the government has jurisdiction of the Directorate of Public Grievances (DPG).
“The jurisdiction of the Directorate of Public Grievances is hereby extended to Department of Revenue (Income Tax) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (Customs related issues),” a notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat said.
DPG helps to obtain responses to unresolved grievances on matters relating to some Central Government Departments and Organisations. It can help to obtain a response and resolution on these grievances from the department or organisation.
Aggrieved person can give details of your grievance with copies of supporting document. Also, earlier attempts to have the grievance resolved through the grievance redressal mechanism of the department should be furnished. They is required to indicate whether he has filed any appeal against any previous decision of the organisation or department, before any court, tribunal or consumer forum. The grievance can be filed offline or online.
DPG will assess what aspects of complaint fall within its purview and the gravity of the complaint. Based on this, it will seek comments from the concerned department or organisation or transfer the grievance to it requesting it to directly deal with the matter. This is normally done within 15 working days of receipt of the grievance. A letter will be sent to you informing you of the action taken.
When DPG seeks comments, the department or organisation is expected to examine the matter and give a reply within 30 days. After receipt of comments, it may, if considered necessary, seek further information to ensure that the grievance is dealt with in a fair and objective manner by the department or organisation. Cases on which comments are sought are closed in DPG.
DPG deliberates on grievances related to Central Ministries, Departments or Organizations including, Railways, Posts, Telecom, Urban Development, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Civil Aviation, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Tourism, Public Sector Banks, Public Sector Insurance Companies, National Saving Scheme of Ministry of Finance, Employees’ Provident Fund Organization, Regional Passport Authorities, Central Government Health Scheme, Central Board of Secondary Education, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, National Institute of Open Schooling, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Central Universities, Scholarship Schemes of Ministry of HRD, Deemed Universities (Central), ESI Hospitals and Dispensaries directly controlled by ESI Corporation under Ministry of Labour and Youth Affairs.
Grievances concerning or relating to policy matters, commercial contracts, decisions involving quasi-judicial procedure, service matters (excluding payment of terminal benefits like gratuity and GPF), matters which are sub-judice (pending before courts) and frivolous complaints are not within the jurisdiction of DPG.