Kashmir has now turned unique in many respects. Today almost all issues in the Valley get solved only when law and order problem is created. It has now become a routine for the state administration that they issue orders which are later withdrawn after public outcry. In the inter-state recruitment rules, the Amarnath land row, the property tax issue, the common entrance for MBBS and a lot of other issues, the end result was that the decisions were withdrawn under public resentment. One gets surprised as to why the Government takes decisions without consulting the stakeholders first. It will suffice twin objectives: one the orders will be implemented in letter and spirit and that the stakeholders will accept it whole-heartedly. But sadly, Government has developed a unique habit of issuing orders just to give public a chance to take to streets and vent their resentment against the same. It is a different thing that when people take to streets, it becomes difficult for the Government to control it within its limits. The best thing would be to take stakeholders into confidence before orders for public related issued are conceived. Last time the proposal to levy tax on property was shelved under public resentment and since dust has not yet settled, another issue has been thrown into the public field by introducing a new VAT return form. Let’s see the activities which take place from the entry of goods into our state up to the dealer. At entry point at Lakhanpore, the bills are entered item-wise and registration of importer is checked. Here if any discrepancy is found, goods are seized and dealer called for verification. Here starts the interference of department in the business activity of a dealer. Now all the goods get entered and allowed to go up to the dealers’ destination. Later dealer starts the business as per the bills and accordingly accounts are submitted to respective circles of Commercial Taxes. Previously the VAT forms were submitted showing input and output under a very transparent ways and accordingly sales and purchases would get reflected in the form. There was or is no provision of concealing or deceiving as records are maintained at the entry point by the department. Now it seems that there is something amiss in the maintenance of records by the department at the entry level as well as in their local offices, which have compelled them to throw this burden onto the dealers. The new 7-page return form of VAT besides being unfriendly is also unrealistic, as the details therein make no sense. The department is citing computerization for the new document. But it has been five years since the value added tax has been introduced in Jammu and Kashmir and business community have all along cooperated with the department in spite of hardships. Isn’t it proper to take people into confidence and on board before public related issues are given the shape of law? We have had enough of blood and sweating on the roads but the interests of business community need to be protected, otherwise it will have the fate of undesirable proportions.

Khan Mukhtar
maribmariya@gmail.com

Lastupdate on : Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 24 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST