The government’s proposal for e-payment of taxes and introduce e-certificates in the Revenue Department is being viewed with apprehension by the officials of the department, who feel that the move could effect transparency.
The officials expressed doubts about the practicability of the new system as the village and taluk offices are not yet equipped to adapt to the new system. They also fear that there are chances of manipulation if the new system is introduced.
They said that if the new system is introduced the taxes collected with regard to land would not have much transparency.
Kerala Land Revenue Staff Association state president P S Rajeev said that the bill of land tax payment was an official document, which is used for many purposes. Stating that tax receipt of land is not like a telephone or electricity bill, he said: ‘’The land tax receipt is an official document. The tax receipt shows that one has a particular stretch of land and this is also used for many purposes like availing loans. The land tax is collected after evaluating the title deed. But how is this possible if taxes are paid through e-payment?’’ he asked.
Moreover, the land is being transferred every other time and it could be difficult when collecting taxes through the new system, he said.Kerala Land Revenue Department Staff Association president K Sreekantan Nair also expressed similar apprehensions. He said that the new system was not practical as the village and taluk offices lacked the required information of an individual. ‘’Now a person who wants a caste certificate, income certificate, solvency certificate or nativity certificate has to directly approach the village offices with documents. But with e-certificates, there are doubts how the verification could be done,’’ he said, adding that there was much scope of manipulation.
‘’The village and taluk offices does not have data of any individual. Unless there is data of a person with the offices, how can the certificates be given?’’ he asked.
The officials as well as the leaders are of the opinion that the government should discuss the matter with the officials concerned before any new system is implemented. The government in a bid to bring in more transparency and also to ease the workload of village and taluk offices has mooted e-payment of taxes and also decided to go for e-certificates.
The government has already held discussion with banks in this regard.