(TIE)
THE J&K ASSEMBLY Wednesday passed a resolution to pave the way for the implementation of GST, with Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu saying that constitutional safeguards would be put in place to protect the special status of the state in the new tax regime. “There would be enough safeguards to the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir,” Drabu said in his reply on the second day of heated debates on GST in the state assembly. Following the passage of the resolution in the assembly, the J&K Cabinet met and approved the implementation of GST. This will now be forwarded to the Governor for an order to be obtained from the President on implementing the new tax regime.
Welcoming the resolution, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley posted on Twitter: “Congratulations to the people of J&K for integration of the state with the #GST. J&K is a consuming state and #GST will help it to increase revenue for the state. The consumers in J&K will benefit from #GST. No tax payment twice over.” Central government sources said J&K would “now be effectively under Article 246A”, which provides for GST under the Constitution. “The rates on GST will apply as it is approved by the GST Council,” said sources, adding that fiscal autonomy on expenditure would rest with the state government.
