Old Settlers’of Sikkim not to file returns till disposal of demand for IT exemption

Source:HM Report

Gangtok, November 23: The kins of old settlers today displayed a rare solidarity by intimating the local Income Tax authorities about their collective decision taken earlier to not file annual returns till disposal of the demand for exemption on similar ground that the indigenous people were granted the benefit last year.
As per the pre-decided schedule, a delegation of the Old Settlers Association of Sikkim met the local income tax officials earlier in the day and informed him about their decision to not file return till the centre and state government decided their case for income tax exemption.

The income tax officials confirmed that they have received in writing replies to the income tax notices served on some assesses for filing of annual returns informing them about their collective decision to not file returns till further deliberations.
Meanwhile, the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS), a representative body articulating the demand of the old settlers for income tax exemption, may soon move to the court challenging the discriminatory manner in which the income tax exemption has been given to a section of the people, an office bearer said seeking anonymity.

“We have planned to seek the best legal advice and a team of expert lawyers to make our case for income tax exemption both politically and legally,” he said.

The old settlers can not denied of their rightful claims of income tax exemption once the centre decided to extend the benefit to the indigenous Nepalese, Bhutia and Lepcha people last year as both sections of the people have been living together in Sikkim for decades, if not centuries, the AOSS office bearer said.

The old settlers had hailed the centre’s decision to extend income tax exemption to the local people and demanded extension of similar benefit for themselves, but it appeared that neither the centre nor the Pawan Kumar Chamling government were keen to hear out their case, he said.

The obdurate stand of the authorities have left the old settlers with no other option but to seek a legal remedy, he said and claimed that once the matter goes to the court, the centre and state government may be exposed for the partisan and discriminatory manner in which the income tax exemption issue has been dealt with by the them.

The outfit has taken the best available legal advice and hired a team of lawyers to take up their case, the AOSS representative said.