RTI seeks info on Sachin's I-T assessee status
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Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's sculpture which was installed at the Marine Drive as a tribute is being removed after a high court order in Mumbai on Tuesday. Nariman Point Churchgate Residents Association had written to the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee raising objection to any installation or construction on the promenade. The association argued that the promenade is meant for citizens to walk on and it has been designed to get an unobstructed view of the sea. PTI
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked authorities whether former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has declared himself an actor or a sportsperson while filing I-T returns.
The commission asked authorities to seek Tendulkar’s opinion before disclosing the details on an RTI plea by a Supreme Court advocate.
The apex transparency panel said since the information relating to I-T assessee is “personal information”, the third party procedure has to be followed. After being denied information, advocate Pranesh approached the CIC, contending that since Tendulkar has been awarded the Bharat Ratna under the sportsperson category, what more public interest would be there than the people of this country to know whether he filed his returns as an “actor” or a “sportsman”.
The I-T department refused to divulge the details, saying the information was related to third party and was exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
It further submitted in the absence of PAN of the assessee, it was difficult to extract the information from the voluminous records of the department. Pranesh said the assessee being an MP is a public servant and his I-T returns should be in public domain. The non-submission of PAN of such a famous personality is a mere excuse for withholding information.
While disposing the appeal, Information Commissioner Basanth Seth said the authorities are bound to follow the procedure meant for third party information. He directed the I-T department to decide the matter afresh after seeking response from Tendulkar.
Among other things, the advocate sought to know whether in the revenue records of the government, Tendulkar was an actor or a cricket player and if he has asked for any tax rebate from the Central or any state government.
The commission asked authorities to seek Tendulkar’s opinion before disclosing the details on an RTI plea by a Supreme Court advocate.
The apex transparency panel said since the information relating to I-T assessee is “personal information”, the third party procedure has to be followed. After being denied information, advocate Pranesh approached the CIC, contending that since Tendulkar has been awarded the Bharat Ratna under the sportsperson category, what more public interest would be there than the people of this country to know whether he filed his returns as an “actor” or a “sportsman”.
The I-T department refused to divulge the details, saying the information was related to third party and was exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
It further submitted in the absence of PAN of the assessee, it was difficult to extract the information from the voluminous records of the department. Pranesh said the assessee being an MP is a public servant and his I-T returns should be in public domain. The non-submission of PAN of such a famous personality is a mere excuse for withholding information.
While disposing the appeal, Information Commissioner Basanth Seth said the authorities are bound to follow the procedure meant for third party information. He directed the I-T department to decide the matter afresh after seeking response from Tendulkar.
Among other things, the advocate sought to know whether in the revenue records of the government, Tendulkar was an actor or a cricket player and if he has asked for any tax rebate from the Central or any state government.