Income Tax Department to Share Taxpayer Information with Maharashtra’s Women and Child Development Secretary for ‘Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana’
In a significant move aimed at facilitating targeted welfare, the Central Government has authorized the sharing of income tax payer information with the Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, Women and Child Development. This directive, issued via Notification No. 54/2025 dated June 3rd, 2025, by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), empowers the state official to access relevant taxpayer data for a specific purpose: identifying eligible beneficiaries under the “Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana.”
This action is taken under sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 138 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. This particular provision allows the CBDT or other specified income tax authorities to furnish information received or obtained by them in the performance of their duties under the Income-tax Act.
Such information can be shared with an officer, authority, or body performing functions under any other law, provided the Central Government deems it necessary in the public interest and specifies the entity via an official notification. The shared information must also be considered necessary by the income tax authorities to enable the recipient body to perform its functions under that other law.
The latest notification, S.O. 2479(E), explicitly names the ‘Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, Women and Child Development’ as the specified authority. The purpose is clearly defined: “for identifying eligible beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana.”
This development underscores the government’s intent to leverage data for efficient delivery of social welfare schemes. By allowing access to income tax data, the Maharashtra government aims to ensure that the benefits of the “Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana” reach the genuinely eligible individuals, likely by verifying income criteria or other financial parameters as stipulated under the scheme. While taxpayer information is generally confidential, Section 138(1)(a)(ii) provides a legal framework for such disclosures when a compelling public interest for targeted welfare or other specified governmental functions is established.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES)
Notification No. 54/2025 – Income Tax | Dated: 3rd June, 2025
S.O. 2479(E).––In pursuance of sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 138 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Central Government hereby specifies ‘Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, Women and Child Development’ for the purposes of the said clause in connection with sharing of information regarding Income-tax payers’ for identifying eligible beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
[Notification No. 54/2025/ F. No. 225/213/2024/ITA-II]
CASTRO JAYAPRAKASH T., Under Secy.
