The income tax department took the strategy of ‘naming and shaming’ of some large tax defaulters.

“The step is aimed to publicise and put these names in public domain so that the common man can come forward to help the department in knowing the whereabouts of these.The step is to enhance public awareness against these entities who are acting against law. These names were earlier were put up the department’s website earlier,” a senior I-T officer said.

“Defaulters are advised to pay tax arrears immediately,” said the notice.

“This is the first time the department has put in public domain a list of those wilful tax defaulters who have a tax liability of Rs 10 crore and above,” a senior tax official had said, adding that in many cases the assessees were not “traceable”.

“The department, in the public notice, has provided the PAN number and the last known address of these defaulters for the public to know,” the official added.