Odisha Cabinet approves Amendments in OGST Act
Bhubaneswar (23/10/2024): The Odisha Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Wednesday approved six important proposals including Amendments in the Odisha GST (OGST) Act. On the recommendation of the GST Council, it is proposed to further amend the OGST Act, 2017 for greater convenience of taxpayers. Due to ambiguity over tax rates on certain goods or services, GST was not being levied at appropriate rate. In case of payment of tax on reverse charge basis, invoices have to be issued by recipient of service. However, there was no clarity regarding the timeframe for issuance of the same. There was restriction on refund of un-utilised input tax credit in cases where export duties were levied on goods exported outside India. Difficulties relating to issuance of notices and orders under section 73 and 74 were being faced. • Taxpayers have to deposit a higher amount before filing an appeal against the order of any authority. Similarly, due to non- functioning of the GST Appellate Tribunal, taxpayers had to face some difficulties in filing appeals. Due to the delay in filing of returns, a large number of taxpayers are paying interest and penalty, while on the other hand, they are also deprived of availing input tax credit. In view of above challenges faced by taxpayers in the initial years of implementation of GST and impact of COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, GST Council in its 53rd meeting recommended to amend various provisions of the CGST Act, 2017. Accordingly, the Government of India has enacted the Finance (No.2) Act, 2024. The Central Government has already notified that some of the amended sections of the CGST Act, 2017 shall come into force from 27.09.2024 and certain other sections w.e.f 01.11.2024. Since the CGST Act, 2017 has already been amended, there is an urgent need to amend the OGST Act, 2017, as both the Acts are mirror acts. The Odisha Legislative Assembly is not in session at present. Therefore, it is necessary to amend the OGST Act, 2017 by way of promulgation of an ordinance under clause (1) of Article 213 of the Constitution of India which will subsequently be replaced by an Act of Legislature. The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Arun Kumar Sarangi as Chairman in Odisha Public Service Commission. Arun Kumar Sarangi, Special Director General of Police (Training) and Director, Biju Patnaik State Police Academy, Odisha has been appointed as Chairman in the Odisha Public Service Commission vide G.A & P.G. Department Notification No.28440/Gen., dated 27.09.2024. The Cabinet in their meeting also gave its approval for implementation of "Samruddhi Krushak Yojana". In order to increase the income of farmers, the State Cabinet have approved implementation of "Samrudha Krushak Yojana". Farmers who have registered to sell paddy through the existing mechanism of the Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare will be paid Rs. 3100 per quintal, including the input assistance under Samrudha Krushak Yojana and the prevailing minimum support price (MSP). The paddy seed growers who have registered under the Odisha State Seed and Organic Products Certification Agency (OSSOPCA) and sell paddy seeds through the Odisha State Seeds Corporation (OSSC) Ltd. will also be eligible to avail input assistance under the the scheme.
