A Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) panel on black money has suggested enactment of new laws, strengthening of existing legislation and introduction of deterrent penalties for tax offences to deal with the menace.
Several national dailies have carried a news item on 16.08.2012 conveying that Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill will impair the independence of judiciary. The Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Justice, would like to state that this is not true. In fact, it seems that the statement made by Hon’ble Chief Justice of India has been twisted and not seen and interpreted in full context. At the same time, the attempt to link the Bill with independence of judiciary, is not based on facts.
Certificate of Practice of the members who have paid the prescribed fees and submitted the prescribed form for renewal of Certificate of Practice for 2012-2013 within due date but not having requisite CEP credit hours, shall be renewed upto 31st March, 2013 without creating a precedence and their Certificate of Practice so renewed shall be valid subject to their obtaining requisite CEP credit hours within 31st December, 2012 positively.
Applicability of Service Tax on Commission Payable to Non-Whole Time Directors of a Company Under Section 309 (4) of the Companies Act, 1956- Approval of Central Government Under Section 309/310 of the Companies Act
The Income Tax Department is in the process of training a fresh batch (Batch-II) of 5000 graduates as Tax Return Preparers (TRPs) across the country. The TRPs are authorized to prepare Income Tax Returns for individual and HUF taxpayers. The Tax Return Preparer Scheme (see www. trpscheme.com) was launched by the Income Tax Department during the year 2006-07.
To give relief to daily commuters, the following steps have been taken to improve the suburban services in Mumbai area: 128 AC/DC Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) rakes with new state-of-the-art technology having improved ventilation system, better seating arrangement and aesthetics have already been inducted into service since 2007-08. With the induction of these rakes:
there are delays in issuance of passport. The reasons for delay normally are as under: (i) increase in demand for passport; (ii) delays in receipt of police verification reports within the stipulated time of 21 days; (iii) receipt of incomplete police reports due to submission of incomplete information/documentation by the applicants; and (iv) Shortage of staff strength in the Central Passport Organization, not keeping with the increase in demand for services.
Government has not issued directive for use of Open Source Software (OSS) in computers in place of micro software across the country. National Informatics Centre, NIC has implemented OSS in many central and state government departments. NIC has also established Open Technology Centre (OTC) to spearhead the adoption of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in e-Governance applications based on Open Standards.
The Cabinet yesterday approved Reduction of 30% (264 tariff lines,) from the SAFTA Sensitive list for Non Least Developed Countries (NLDCs) allowing the peak tariff rates to reduce to 5% within three years, as per agreed SAFTA process of tariff liberalization.
Twin issues of corruption and black money have attracted unprecedented public attention in the past few months in India. Political debates in Parliament and outside, media news and campaigns, public demonstrations, dharnas and fasts, Hon’ble Supreme Court’s attention and observations, and the general public discourse, has been focused on these issues for more than past two years now.
