Hyderabad: Taking objections over state govt’s policy to pay income tax (I-T) of chairpersons of various corporations and advisors of cabinet rank along with the chief minister and ministers from the state exchequer, Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has urged governor Shiv Pratap Shukla to amend the Payment of Salaries Act, 1953, for payment of I-T from govt funds.In a letter to the governor, FGG president M Padmanabha Reddy said on Tuesday that as far as the I-T Act, govt has to pay only salaries and allowances of CM and other ministers. But he said there were instances, other income of the ministers (business income) and corporation chairpersons was being paid by govt from the public funds.“In Telangana, apart from the CM and deputy CM, there are 14 cabinet ministers and dozens of advisors and chairpersons having cabinet rank, whose income tax is being paid from public funds. Most of these advisors and chairpersons of corporations are politicians and their contribution to governance is not visible. Keeping these facts in view, FGG demands deletion of sub-section (4) of Section (3) of the Payment of Salaries Act, 1953, to pay income tax from public funds,” he added.Padmnabha Reddy said FGG had sought details of I-T paid by govt for each minister and others, but the general administration department (GAD) department refused to provide information stating it was confidential information.“People have a right to know the persons whose income tax is being paid from public money and the amount paid. We request the chief secretary to make public the names of persons and the amount of income tax paid during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years,” he said.He said the provision to pay I-T of the ministers and other chairpersons was against the principle of equality before law and violates the Article (14) of the Constitution and the practice should be stopped.
