MEMORANDUM ON INCOME TAX ISSUE SUBMITTED TO GOVERNOR,CM

SIKKIM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
M.G.MARG, GANGTOK,SIKKIM

DT 24 September 2008

PRESS RELEASE


A delegation of Sikkim Chamber of Commerce submitted a memorandum addressed to His Excellency, The Governor of Sikkim in the office of Rajbhawan, Gangtok this afternoon.

The memorandum drew the attention of His Excellency in respect of difficulties in compliance of Direct Tax laws in Sikkim.

“ May we take the liberty of reiterating here that review of the matter is of utmost importance in view of need to include prospective taxpayers of Sikkim in the National mainstream and this task can only be accomplished by a progressive, systematic and logical approach that may be acceptable to the first timer prospective assesses.”

The memorandum further says:

“It is once again most fervently submitted that in the interest of natural justice, the Act be made applicable from accounting year 2009-2010, uniformly on “non-Sikkimese” individuals and “other persons” as defined in Indian Income tax Act “

Attention of His Excellency has been drawn in respect to the pending demand to exempt from Indian Income Tax the 400 families of old settlers residing in Sikkim before the merger date i.e., 26th April 1975 who have been inadvertently left out.

The Old Settlers conveyed to the Government of India through His Excellency, The Governor of Sikkim its heartfelt grief for having been referred as “NON SIKKIMESE INDIVIDUALS” and the OLD SETTLERS would prefer to be denoted as “LEFT OUT SIKKIMESE” and their reference as “NON-SIKKIMESE INDIVIDUALS” may please be discontinued , as they have an inseparable bond and sense of belonging with the soil of Sikkim, with highest regard for its Monarchs who always held them in high esteem and most of us know of no other home.

The delegation also submitted similar memorandum to the office of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim and to Income tax Office.


( Suresh Agarwal)
General Secretary
Sikkim Chamber of Commerce
Gangtok