New Delhi/Jammu, February 11 (Scoop News) – The Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather has enjoined upon the Centre to address the concerns of Jammu and Kashmir, taking into account the State’s special status granted under the constitution of India, while introducing General Sales Tax (GST) regime in the country.
Speaking at the meeting of Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers held here today under the Chairmanship of Minister for Finance, West Bengal, Dr. Aseem Dass Gupta to discuss issues relating to introducing of GST regime and CST compensation, Rather called upon the Empowered Committee to evolve a democratic solution for switching over to GST regime adding that the State of Jammu and Kashmir has a special status under the constitution of India where under the State has been given special dispensation in the matters of legislative powers in contrast to other States. He emphasized for consideration of this stand of J&K while designing the GST as has already been conveyed to the empowered Committee and the Government of India from time to time. He reminded that even Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has already accepted this stand in principal. Rather conveyed that J&K Government has constituted a cabinet Sub-Committee to deliberate upon the sensitive issue of implementation of GST, the constitutional amendments and final shape of acceptance of GST Model by the J&K State.
Speaking at length regarding constitution of GST Council and GST Dispute settlement Authority under the proposed articles 279-A and 279-B of the Constitution of India, Rather agreed that creation of these two authorities was essential for steering the GST in the country and resolution of disputes in the new regime. He, however, cautioned that a provision of creation of these authorities should be kept in the Constitution rather than creation of these bodies under law. He elaborated that the Parliament is an elected forum and should not be viewed as a body that was out to exercise a veto against the interests of the States. He requested the others States to take the issue of these amendments sportingly and facilitate a debate on these amendments in the Parliament.
On the issue of placement of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure in place Rather cited the example of J&K State which has faced extreme difficulties in this regard in the past. He requested that the Government of India must ensure that a complete I.T infrastructure must be put in place well in advance of implementation of GST as introduction of GST without computerization would be a disaster. He added that J&K is now geared up with the adequate IT infrastructure to go into GST. The State would, however, not like that others States go into GST regime the way J&K went into implemented VAT without IT.