New Delhi: Concerned over circulation of lakhs of duplicate PAN cards, the Government on Tuesday announced that all such cards would be removed by the end of 2006 and an exercise was on to issue a 'new fool-proof card'.
Indiscriminate issue of PAN cards, initially, have led to circulation of 23 lakhs duplicate cards of which not all of them are bogus, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, calling it a legacy issue.
A campaign would be launched, asking people to voluntarily surrender duplicate cards, he said after meeting Chief Commissioners and Director Generals of Income Tax.
"The process is well under way. By December 31, all duplicate cards will be removed," he assured.
At the moment, new assesses are voluntarily taking PAN cards, he said, adding that it was compulsory for any new assesses to take a PAN card.
Chidambaram said authorities concerned would soon announce the PAN reforms and new 'foolproof cards' would be introduced incorporating biometrics.
Thereafter, it would not be possible to obtain a multiple card.
On computerisation of the tax department, he said, "There are too many difficulties and the tax department had appointed an outside expert to advise the department to monitor the progress."
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