FinMin Urges Expedite Cadre Clearance for GSTAT Deputation Appointments [READ REMINDER]

The Ministry of Finance has issued a reminder urging the concerned authorities to expedite the cadre clearance process for officers selected for deputation appointments in the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT).

The delay in clearance has held up formal appointment orders, despite approval from the Finance Minister.

Vivek Aggarwal, Additional Secretary at the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, addressed the reminder to Ms. Aruna Naryan Gupta, Member (Admin) at the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC). The letter follows up on an earlier communication dated February 24, 2025, emphasizing the urgency of processing cadre clearances.

Key Highlights:

1. Pending Cadre Clearances: The letter states that cadre clearances for officers from CBIC field formations (CCZs) are still awaited, delaying their deputation to GSTAT.
2. Finance Minister’s Approval: The selection of officers for appointment has already been approved by the Finance Minister, but issuance of appointment orders is pending due to bureaucratic delays.
3. Expedited Action Requested:
   The Additional Secretary has urged Cadre Controlling Authorities/Zones to take immediate action for the clearance issuance.

List of Officers Awaiting Cadre Clearance

The annexure to the letter includes names of multiple Superintendents, Inspectors, Executive Assistants, and Stenographers from various CBIC zones, whose cadre clearances are pending. Officers from CGST Mumbai Zone, CGST Ahmedabad Zone, DGHRD, and Chennai Customs Zone, among others, are affected.

Below is the full list of officers awaiting cadre clearance:

Deputy Registrar:

1. Keshav Vijay Narvekar (Superintendent, DG Valuation, Mumbai)
2. Varunesh P. Shrivastava (Superintendent, CGST Nagpur Zone)
3. Mondreti Satyanarayana Rao (Additional Assistant Director, O/o The Additional Director General, Hyderabad)

Assistant Registrar:

1. Sumit Aswal (Superintendent, CGST Pune Zone)
2. Siddhartha Gupta (Superintendent, CGST Pune Zone)
3. Tejaswi Kokkligadda (Inspector, Directorate General of Audit, Hyderabad Zonal Unit)

Court Officers:

1. Prathyusha Ch (Inspector, Coimbatore GST Commissionerate)
2. Vinay Krishna Das (Executive Assistant, O/o Pr. DG, NACIN, Palasamudram)
3. Om Prakash (Inspector, CGST Mumbai Zone)

Account Officer:

1. Sai Krishna Deeduvani (Superintendent, CGST Vadodara Zone)

Legal Assistants:

1. Amit Chahal (Executive Assistant, CGST Vadodara Zone)
2. Parveen Kumar (Executive Assistant, CGST Mumbai Zone)
3. Prashant Kumar (Executive Assistant, CGST Mumbai Zone)
4. Jatin Kumar (Executive Assistant, CGST Mumbai Zone)
5. Mayank Gupta (Executive Assistant, CGST Mumbai Zone)
6. Vikram Singh (Executive Assistant, CGST Mumbai Zone)
7. Sumeesh Kumar (Executive Assistant, CGST Mumbai Zone)
8. Amit Anand (Executive Assistant, CGST Mumbai Zone)
9. Raju Kumar (Executive Assistant, CGST Mumbai Zone)
10. Shivendra Kumar (Executive Assistant, CGST Pune Zone)

Tax Assistants:

1. Sumit Guliya (CGST Pune Zone)
2. Sukhvinder Singh (CGST Chennai Zone)
3. Sahil Siwach (CGST Chennai Zone)
4. Praveen Kumar (CGST Pune Zone)
5. Shaitan Singh Meena (CGST Pune Zone)
6. Pragya Mishra (CGST Bengaluru Zone)

Stenographers:

1. Vivek Kumar Verma (Grade I, CGST Mumbai Zone)
2. Mukesh (Grade I, Chennai Customs Zone)
3. Palak Garg (Grade I, CGST Pune Zone)
4. Deepesh Jain (Grade II, CGST Mumbai Zone)
5. Ankesh Soni (Grade II, CGST Bhopal Zone)
6. Karan Gautam (Grade I, CGST Mumbai Zone)
7. Rahul Kumar (Grade II, CGST Mumbai Zone)

The delay has sparked concerns about the operational efficiency of GSTAT, as these officers are crucial for its smooth functioning. With GST-related disputes rising, the timely appointment of supporting staff is essential for tribunal operations.

Potential Impact

• Legal and Administrative Delays: The pending cadre clearance may impact pending GST appeals, leading to prolonged litigation.
• Efficiency of GSTAT: The delay in appointing supporting staff could hamper the tribunal’s effectiveness.
• Bureaucratic Bottlenecks: The repeated reminders indicate inefficiencies in the clearance process, affecting key government appointments.

The Ministry of Finance has reiterated its request for swift action to ensure a smooth and timely deputation process at GSTAT. Stakeholders in the taxation sector are closely monitoring the developments, anticipating a resolution in the coming weeks.

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