Kohima: The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has demanded to ensure the implementation of the Nagaland Government notification against illegal collection of money in various check gates of the state and closure of the check gates.
A release issued by ACAUT said that with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed nationally since 2017 all other taxes are subsumed. It has asked the Nagaland State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) Department to ensure that no act or law on taxation is in contravention with the Central GST.
It also pointed out that the imposition of royalty and tax on forest and mineral items with Transit Permit from other states by both the Department of Forest and the Department of Geology and Mining is “unlawful.” The ACAUT said that it amounts to double taxation which should be done away with immediately.
The ACAUT stated that the insistence of paper slip for entry of commercial vehicle with registration number at check- gates serves as the information centre for tracking and sending SMS system for illegal tax collection.
Instead, GST e-bill should be scanned and verified, it demanded. It said that any authorized toll or tax levied should have services and facilities provided. It said “For instance, the Department of Veterinary should have quarantine for animals at the border check gates for issuing of the mandatory pass.” Any aggrieved party or individuals should now be able to send photo or video evidences anonymously in the given helpline numbers and email, it added.
The ACAUT also said that CCTVs should be immediately installed in all authorized check gates. It further called for doing away with the lessee system practiced by Municipal Councils in Nagaland.
The ACAUT demanded that other than deployment of normal personnel and officers, a dedicated unit, comprising of upright police personnel along with magistrates in a particular district may be tasked for overseeing the enforcement of the Home Department notification and it should be adequately backed with ground mobile Police Squad for patrolling within the zones in a district. The ACAUT also called to appoint Special Police Units under the rank of a senior Superintendent of Police or a Deputy Inspector General of Police, the release said.
