Sikkim Assembly passes resolution on IT exemption for old settlers


Gangtok, Dec 11 (PTI) Sikkim Assembly adopted an unanimous resolution today asking the Centre to extend the benefit of income tax exemption to old settlers in the state. Old settlers comprising members of the business community, kin of people in state government service prior to December 31, 1969 and those having agricultural land in rural areas ought to have been granted income tax exemption along with the indigenous people, the resolution said.

It asked the Centre, the sole arbiter of tax-related issues with the subject being part of the union list, to bring the other ordinary residents of the state under the purview of exemption granted under Income Tax Act, 1961. The resolution was moved by ruling Sikkim Democratic Front MLA Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia and seconded by another MLA Chandra Maya Subba and unanimously passed by all members of the house on the first day of the two-day winter session.

The Centre had in 2008 extended income tax exemption to indigenous Nepalese, Bhutia and Lepcha people possessing the Sikkim Subject Certificate or the Certificate of Identification issued by the state government. The old settlers had demanded similar benefits saying they too were permanent residents of Sikkim.