Chamling Govt advises Old settlers to get legal opinion for IT exemption.

Source: Himalayan Mirror

21 Oct, Gangtok: In an apparent refusal to take initiative to persuade the centre to grant income tax exemption to old settlers numbering about 400 families belonging to the plainsmen community, the Pawan Kumar Chamling government has asked the latter to seek legal advice on which the matter could be taken forward.

The families of old settlers should seek legal advice from the experts and the chartered accountants on the grounds which the ‘left out’ people may be given income tax exemption akin to one granted to the indigenous people last year, the member secretary of the six-member committee S B Rai has written to the old settlers’ association recently.

Stating that the state government has no justifiable grounds to seek income tax exemption for the old settlers under the provisions of the Income Tax Act 1961, he said that the matter will be pursued further on the receipt 0f legal advice from the experts as forwarded by the aggrieved people.

The six-member committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, had on October 8 last discussed the representation of -the Old Settlers’ Association for income tax exemption to their families on the ground that they have been living in Sikkim for as long as the local people and assimilated socio-cultural and religious ethos of the society here.

Meanwhile, the old settlers’ association, has decided to convene a meeting of its members on October 22 next to discuss further course of action to pursue their demands under the legal framework as suggested by the state government.

“It is not a question of -financial benefits, but the dignity of the old settlers’ families that we have decided to pursue the matter 0f income tax exemption of them to its logical conclusion,” the Old Settler’ Association representative said

At the same time, he said that the association was confident that the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which had committed to get income tax exemption for the old settlers’ families in its election manifesto early this year, will take up the matter with the centre for redressal.
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EDITORIAL SAYS:

October 21, 2009: Hon’ble Chief Minister is taking all positive actions to see that Left Out people get Income tax Exemption. Immdly after election, he went to Delhi and apprised Prime Minister on this issue. The IT Committee advise has to be taken in right perspective. The Government encourages Old settlers to get legal advice from legal lumaniries of the country and submit their opinion to State Government to enable State Government to furthur recommend it to India Government. This time the Old settlers voted SDF in full strength and SDF party has promised in its manifesto for equality, justice and exemption. We fully support State Government under the dynamic leadership of Dr Pawan Chamling. He will keep his promise.

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