Court Questions Government on Interest Burden from Delayed Tax Refunds, Seeks Accountability for Officials.

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....The High Court expressed concern over the unwarranted burden on the Government of India due to payment of interest on delayed refunds of eligible amounts to assessees. The court directed respondents to file an affidavit after taking instructions from CBDT, confirming the approach to be followed by officials to avoid burdening the public exchequer with interest payments. The court emphasized the need for rules or mechanisms to fix accountability on officers whose actions increase the burden on the government. The court recognized that delayed refunds not only burden the exchequer but also deprive assessees of funds, causing prejudice to both revenue and assessees. The court sought a statement from respondents regarding the total interest payable to the petitioner for appropriate orders.....