The Minister appreciated the Revenue Department for exceeding even the revised targets of direct and indirect tax collections for fiscal year 2010-11. The Budget estimates for 2010-11 for direct and indirect taxes were Rs.7,45,000 crore which were revised to Rs.7,80,000 crore and actual collection at the end of financial year was Rs.7,92,000 crore, said the Finance Minister. The project is expected to be completed in next 24 to 30 months time, the Minister added.
The Supreme Court last week ruled that an arbitration clause in a contract would not exclude the power of the high courts or the Supreme Court to decide disputes between the parties. The court thus dismissed the appeal of East Central Railway in the case, Union of India vs Tantia Construction Ltd. In this case, the railway awarded a project to the construction firm. Later, additional work had to be done and the firm was asked to undertake that too, at the cost dictated by the railway. This was resisted by the firm which moved the Patna high court. It stated that the entire work could not be thrust on the firm at its risk and cost. The government appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that it could vary the nature of the work according to the terms of the contract. The government also argued that the courts could not interfere in the dispute as there was an arbitration clause.
At a time when the Central Board of Direct Taxes is asking taxpayers to use online platform to file returns, there is a problem that might haunt the assessees. “The data in the online system directly goes to the Central Processing Centre in Bangalore and the entire work is to done by them. Hence, say there is any delay in refund the local IT officer has nothing to do and for the ombudsman it is an issue of jurisdiction,” Income Tax Ombudsman (East) Manoj Mishra told PTI.
Circular No.21 / 2011-Customs, The Central Board of Excise and Customs has made declaration of IEC branch code and AD code as non-mandatory in case low value dutiable import consignments (i.e. consignment other than documents, gifts and samples of an invoice value upto Rs. one lakh) under Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2010. The disclosure of IEC code will continue to be mandatory.
It has now been decided that in order to reduce the cost to exporters (i.e. interest cost on overdue export bills), exporters with overdue export bills may also extinguish their overdue post shipment rupee export credit from their rupee resources. However, the corresponding GR form will remain outstanding and the amount will be shown outstanding in XOS statement. The exporter’s liability for realisation would continue till the export bill is realised. DBOD.Dir.BC.No. 85 /04.02.001/2010-11
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India has vide Circular no. 1 of 2011 dated 31 March 2011 issued a consolidated Foreign Direct Investment (‘FDI’) Policy. This policy becomes effective from 1 April 2011 and shall subsume all the press notes, press releases, circulars and clarifications issued by the DIPP which were in force till 31 March 2011.
With a view to provide significant relief to diamond merchants, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (‘MCGM’) which is the municipal authority governing the jurisdiction of Mumbai, has come out with a circular (Circular No. AC/8/OSSC dated 31 March 2011) to reduce the rate of octroi on Gems and Jewellery items from 2% to 0.01% advalorem. The Standing Committee / Corporation of the MCGM vide their resolution under SCR No. 1461 dated 11 March 2011 & CR No. 1122 dated 29 March 2011 have accorded their approval to reduce the rate of octroi from 2% advalorem to 0.01% advalorem for the gems and jewellery items effective at the point of import at the Custom Station/s of Mumbai with effect from 1 April 2011.
Bank customers may soon expect better services and fast-track redressal of their grievances as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to consider a fresh set of rules to improve the banks’ customer service practices. Almost a year after RBI put in motion a process to improve banks’ customer service practices, a high-profile panel set up by the central bank in this regard is likely to submit its recommendations later this month.
Owning a vehicle would now pinch your pockets even more, with third-party motor insurance premiums set to rise by up to 65 per cent for two-wheelers, private cars and heavy load carriers from April 25. The premiums are being revised after a gap of four years, the sector watchdog Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) said, adding, from now onwards the third-party motor insurance premium rates would be revised annually.
Cautioning judges against taking over the functions of the legislature, Chief Justice Mr SH Kapadia today said that judiciary should maintain self restraint and respect separation of power. “We must refuse to sit as a super-legislature to weigh the wisdom of legislation. We must remember that our Constitution recognises separation of powers and that the legislatures and the government can be made accountable for their legislation and actions by the electorate if they err,” Mr Justice Kapadia said.
