IRS Officers Ajay and Sridhar Das Attached to CESTAT Delhi and Bhubaneswar GST Zone
Two Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officers, Principal Commissioner Ajay and Deputy Commissioner Sridhar Das, have been assigned attachments to two different offices within India’s indirect tax administration. While Ajay has been attached to the office of the Chief Commissioner (Authorised Representative) at the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) in Delhi, Sridhar Das has been attached to the Bhubaneswar Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Central Excise Zone.
The administrative arrangements, reported by Indian Masterminds on October 13, 2026, place the two officers in different areas of indirect tax administration. Ajay’s assignment relates to the appellate representation framework, while Das’s attachment brings him into the regional GST and Central Excise administrative structure.
Principal Commissioner Ajay Attached to CESTAT Delhi
Principal Commissioner Ajay, an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes), has been attached to the office of the Chief Commissioner (Authorised Representative) at CESTAT, Delhi. The office is associated with the coordination and representation of the revenue department in proceedings before the specialised appellate tribunal.
CESTAT deals with appeals and disputes arising under customs, central excise and service tax laws. Its jurisdiction covers a range of indirect tax matters, including duty demands, assessment disputes, penalties, classification issues and valuation-related cases. The tribunal provides an appellate forum for matters arising under the relevant indirect tax legislation.
Ajay’s attachment places him within the administrative framework supporting the department’s representation in such proceedings. The assignment is connected with the legal and technical aspects of indirect tax disputes, where the revenue department presents its position before the appellate authority.
The report identifies Ajay by his name and rank as Principal Commissioner but does not specify his batch year, previous posting or the duration of this attachment. It also does not provide details of any particular cases or responsibilities assigned to him following the attachment.
Deputy Commissioner Sridhar Das Attached to Bhubaneswar GST and Central Excise Zone
Sridhar Das, a 2016-batch IRS officer of the Customs and Indirect Taxes cadre, has been attached to the Bhubaneswar GST and Central Excise Zone. His assignment places him within the regional administrative structure responsible for indirect tax functions.
According to the report, Das is originally from West Bengal and entered the Indian Revenue Service after clearing the Civil Services Examination in 2015. He subsequently underwent professional training at the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN), Faridabad, as part of his preparation for service responsibilities.
During his career, Das has served in both field-level tax administration and central policy coordination. One of his earlier assignments was as Deputy Commissioner in the Keonjhar Division, where he gained experience in regional revenue administration.
His latest attachment to the Bhubaneswar GST and Central Excise Zone places him back within the regional indirect tax administrative framework. The available report does not specify the effective date of his new attachment or the particular division or charge he will handle in the Bhubaneswar zone.
Sridhar Das Previously Served at GST Council Secretariat
Before the latest attachment, Sridhar Das served on central deputation as Under Secretary at the GST Council Secretariat in New Delhi. The secretariat provides administrative and institutional support to the GST Council, the constitutional body responsible for making recommendations on important aspects of the Goods and Services Tax framework.
Its work includes facilitating coordination between the Centre and the states, supporting consultations and preparing for the Council’s deliberations. The secretariat also plays a role in the administrative processes associated with the Council’s meetings and decisions.
During his tenure as Under Secretary, Das was associated with policy implementation and secretarial coordination relating to indirect taxation, according to the published report. This assignment gave him exposure to the central policy and coordination side of GST administration, complementing his earlier experience in field-level revenue work.
His previous posting in the Keonjhar Division and his tenure at the GST Council Secretariat represent two different aspects of indirect tax administration. The Bhubaneswar attachment now places him in a regional administrative setting, although the report does not detail his specific duties in the new assignment.
Attachments Cover Appellate and Regional Tax Administration
The attachments of Principal Commissioner Ajay and Deputy Commissioner Sridhar Das involve different functions within the Indian Revenue Service’s Customs and Indirect Taxes stream. Ajay has been attached to the Chief Commissioner (Authorised Representative) office associated with CESTAT Delhi, while Das has been assigned to the Bhubaneswar GST and Central Excise Zone.
The two arrangements cover separate areas of the indirect taxation system, from representation in appellate proceedings to regional tax administration. However, the published report does not indicate whether the attachments are part of a larger transfer exercise or provide details about the administrative orders authorising them.
