Sikkim Assembly adopts resolution for income tax exemption to left outs


GANGTOK, December 11: A resolution moved by Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) legislator Ugne T Gyatso Bhutia seeking exemption income tax exemption to the left out categories of Sikkimese persons was adopted by the House today in the first day of the winter session of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

Bhutia, the SDF legislator from Tumin Lingi in South Sikkim, in his resolution recorded in the House that with the extension and enforcement of Direct Tax Laws, certain categories of the persons who have settled prior to the merger and popularly known as ‘old settlers’ belonging to the business community and persons whose father or husband had been in Sikkim government service on or before December 31, 1969 have been left out from this exemption.

It may be recalled that the Centre had in 2008 granted income tax exemption to the Sikkimese persons with Sikkim Subject certificates and their descendants. Those Sikkimese persons without the Sikkim Subject certificates like the old settler as mentioned above were not exempted.

Another category of persons who have been left out are those who have agricultural land in rural areas and who have been ordinarily residing in the State, said Bhutia. He proposed in his resolution that all the persons who has or had agricultural land in rural areas and has been ordinarily residing in Sikkim also be brought under the purview of exemption granted under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Bhutia further proposed that all old settlers ie the business community or those persons whose father or husband has been in Sikkim government service before December 31, 1969 and have permanently settled and is continuously residing in Sikkim be also brought under the exempted categories.

SDF legislator from Maneybong-Dentam constituency, Chandra Maya Subba seconded the resolution which was then adopted unanimously by the House.

source: sikkim express