I-T dept must not operate in isolation: CBDT chairman J B Mohapatra

'There is always a time and context when an amendment is brought in', said J B Mohapatra

If the withdrawal of the retrospective (retro) taxation brings in greater investment and business into the country, collections will be higher, says Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman J B Mohapatra. In conversation with Dilasha Seth, he says litigations entail huge costs for the government and precious energy gets expended fighting them. Edited excerpts:

The income-tax (I-T) department has strongly defended the demand raised against Cairn Energy and Vodafone. In the appeal, India’s stand was that Cairn ended up not paying taxes anywhere in the world. As CBDT chairman, how difficult was it for you to let it all