‘GST amendments in sync with Council’s recommendations’

Kolkata: The WBGST Amendment Bill, 2024 was passed in the Assembly with an aim to bring parity with the Centre’s GST laws. State Finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said in the Assembly that the Bill was passed on the basis of the GST Council’s recommendations.

She also pointed out that during the GST council meetings, the Centre always listened carefully to what the state government had to say. In face of an opposition from a BJP MLA while carrying out a discussion on the Bill, Bhattacharya stated that opposing the Bill amounts to opposing the GST council’s recommendations to the state. The Finance minister also said that the Bill which was later passed aimed to bring some changes in the laws in accordance with the Central laws.

“What Bengal recommends today, India goes by that tomorrow. The recommendations had already been accepted by other states as well,” Bhattacharya said. “The WBGST Amendment Bill, 2024, the imposition of tax in connection with goods and service act is being implemented under article 279A. It was introduced and came into force in July 2017. It was a consequential Bill, brought to make necessary amendments in accordance with Central laws,” Bhattacharya said.