Ranchi, Dec. 26: The state government has cracked down on senior commercial taxes officials for failing to meet the revenue targets fixed by the department.

Four department officials were today shifted while sources said more transfers will follow. The responsibilities of three other officers were also changed through a notification issued by the finance department today.

Naresh Murti, deputy commissioner, commercial taxes, Dhanbad circle, has been shifted to the headquarters in Ranchi. Raj Kumar Rajiv, commercial taxes officer, Giridih circle, has been transferred in the same capacity in Sahebganj circle.

Arvind Jha, posted as commercial taxes officer in Sahebganj circle has been shifted to the headquarters in Ranchi. Rustam Ali Ansari, commercial taxes officer of Chaibasa circle, has been shifted as assistant treasury officer at Doranda in Ranchi.

Two assistant commissioners of the department have been made “officiating” with immediate effect. The officials are H.N. Mishra, assistant commissioner, Dhanbad city circle and Navneet Nandan Sahay, assistant commisioner, Dhanbad circle.

In a meeting held on December 5, the officials were asked to meet the targets. “As they failed to do so, the department had to take action,” sources said.

The governments had been expecting an upswing in the quantum of revenue generated by the department as compared with the unified Bihar days. The government had even assured the Assembly that revenue generation under the new set-up was likely to be much higher.

Revenue generation by the excise and transport departments, rated as one of the big grossers for the government, has also not been as per expectations. However, any largescale shifting of officials in these departments has not been affected so far.

The commercial taxes department has seen three secretaries so far. “The department has been headless for a long time. One of the secretaries was perpetually on leave, hampering revenue collection. The axe has now fallen on officials, but there has hardly been any guidance from the top,” sources said.

A.K. Chugh recently joined the department as the secretary. The department had not been in a position to hold commissioners’ court because of the frequent shifitng of secretaries. This also hampered revenue generation, sources said.

Finance minister M.P. Singh said: “We have tightened the noose or else the officers would not have worked. Against an annual target of generating Rs 1,700 crore by March, the department has been realising only 60 per cent per month. Enquiries are pending against several other officials. More transfers will soon follow.”