The Benami Adjudicating Authority (BAA) is set to face operational disruptions six months after the appointment of its new chairperson, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 62, according to a news report.Â
The federal government had appointed the Chairperson and Members of the BAA for a term of three years or until they reach 62 years of age, whichever is earlier. However, the new chairperson will hit the age limit in six months, while one member will reach 62 after one year and another after 18 months, making it impossible for the authority to function uninterrupted for the full three-year term.
The BAA, which has been non-functional since 2022, has dozens of pending cases. After adjudication, decisions still need to be reviewed by the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, as special Benami courts have not yet been established. Officials say the government urgently needs to create these specialised tribunals to ensure smooth resolution of cases once the BAA completes its proceedings.
Despite the appointment of new members, the lack of officials who can serve a full three-year term without interruption raises concerns about the continuity and efficiency of the authority.
