Jaitley urges Mufti to introduce GST from July 1

26 June, New Delhi

Urging Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from July 1, 2017, Union Finance Minister Monday wrote a letter to her and said any delay in its implementation would create a disadvantage for both, the consumers and the industry in the state.

So far, all the states have passed the GST bill in their respective Assemblies, except the Jammu and Kashmir.

In his letter to Ms Mufti, Jaitley highlighted the adverse impact that the state would have to face on account of not introducing the GST as the prices would increase in the state of all goods being purchased from other states and also increase in the price of all goods being sold to other states.

Jaitley thanked the Chief Minister for successful host of the Fourteenth meeting of the GST Council held in Srinagar on May 18-19, 2017 where some of very crucial decisions relating to GST including decisions on majority of the tax rates were taken.

On legality of constitutional amendment and its applicability in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister mentioned that as per Article 370 of the Constitution, amendments made in Constitution of India are applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir with the concurrence of the Government of the State, as the President may by order specify.

He urged the Chief Minister to send the concurrence of the state, with any modifications as considered necessary keeping in view the special constitutional position of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, on the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016 for the order of the President.