Decks cleared for GST Appellate Tribunal in Uttar Pradesh
The tribunal, which will deal with tax disputes enabling traders and dealers to appeal to it against the department’s decisions and actions, is expected to reduce the burden on high court
LUCKNOW Decks have been cleared for setting up a GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) in Uttar Pradesh with the Cabinet on Tuesday giving approval to the proposal for promulgation of an ordinance in this regard.
At present, aggrieved traders have to appeal to the high court in the absence of a GST Tribunal, said Hari Lal Prajapati, joint commissioner, GST. (Pic for representation)
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The GST tribunal, which will deal with tax disputes enabling traders and dealers to appeal to it against the department’s decisions and actions, is expected to lessen the burden on the high court too.
“At present, aggrieved traders have to appeal to the high court in the absence of a GST Tribunal,” said Hari Lal Prajapati, joint commissioner, GST.
The government’s decision to bring an ordinance, according to him, is in line with the Centre’s Finance Act enacted recently.
The constitution of the GSTAT at the Centre as well as in states had been pending since the launch of the indirect tax regime in July 2017.
According to the Act, GSTAT will have a principal bench in New Delhi, with branches in states. UP may have two branches considering its size of population.
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“We will soon frame rules for setting up the GST Tribunal and send the same to the Centre for approval,” said Prajapati.
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“We will soon frame rules for setting up the GST Tribunal and send the same to the Centre for approval,” said Prajapati.
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According to another official, the proposed ordinance also seeks to give some relief to traders in penalties/fines applicable in various GST offences.
“e-commerce traders will also be able to avail themselves of government’s compounding schemes brought from time to time after promulgation of the ordinance,” he said.
Brajendra K Parashar is a Senior Journalist with the Hindustan Times, based in Lucknow, with nearly three decades of experience covering governance, public policy, politics and development in Uttar Pradesh. Over the years, he has reported extensively on key sectors, including energy and renewable power, mobility and transport, road safety, agriculture and allied sectors and issues related to farmers, rural development, taxation under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and public administration. A seasoned political correspondent, Parashar closely tracks the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has covered every major election in Uttar Pradesh right from three-tier panchayat elections and urban local body polls to Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. He also reports regularly on the proceedings of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature, bureaucracy, governance, policy decisions and administrative developments with focus on their impact on public life. His reporting is known for its strong analytical approach, extensive use of official data. His areas of interests include investigative journalism, long-form political and policy analysis, data-driven reporting, elections and institutional reforms. Parashar holds a postgraduate degree in Political Science with First Division from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), followed by a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from the same university. His inclination towards journalism began during his student days, when he regularly contributed letters to editors and articles to newspapers and magazines. In the mid-1990S, his essay, “Should India Switch Over to the Presidential Form Of Government?”, published in Politics India magazine edited by noted constitutional expert Subhash C Kashyap, was adjudged the best entry in a national competition. His work has received professional recognition, including the Hindustan Times Journalist of the Month Award for an impactful series on drinking water issues during the 2010 Lok Sabha election campaign. Originally from Kasganj in western Uttar Pradesh, Parashar is currently based in Lucknow where continues to report on politics, governance and public policy.
