Jaswant tries to get another extension for CBEC chief

Finance Minister Jaswant Singh has recommended a second extension for Central Bureau of Excise and Customs (CBEC) chief M K Zutshi, and this...

Finance Minister Jaswant Singh has recommended a second extension for Central Bureau of Excise and Customs (CBEC) chief M K Zutshi, and this time for six months till August.

Zutshi, already on a three-month extension, was due to retire in November but in view of the Budget preparation work underway, had been allowed to continue in office.

The fresh move by Jaswant Singh to get another extension for the CBEC chief has created quite a stir especially as it comes in the face of the Prime Minister’s orders dissuading any extensions beyond superannuation age for officers.

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Zutshi’s first extension had also created a flutter as the file relating to this extension was sent by the Finance Ministry straight to the PM’s Office bypassing the Cabinet Secretariat as is the usual practice. Another extension recommended for the same officer has raised many an eyebrow.

The Finance Ministry has been baffled by the spate of retirements due in the current year. While CBEC chief was originally supposed to retire in November, chief of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chief P K Sarma, Expenditure secretary C S Rao and Finance secretary Dr S Narayan are all due to retire between March and June.

There is speculation on Zutshi’s Rajasthan roots — like his minister’s — being the reason behind the second extension. While continuity in the Budget exercise being a logical reason to seek an extension for Zutshi, the recommendation of a second extension has surprised many specially when it is the Finance Ministry which has been talking of expenditure control.