Government sets up an IT Grievance Redressal Mechanism to address the grievances of taxpayers due to technical glitches on GST Portal

It has been decided by the Government to put in place an IT-Grievance Redressal Mechanism to address the difficulties faced by a section of taxpayers owing to technical glitches on the GST portal. In this regard, GST Council has delegated powers to an IT Grievance Redressal Committee to approve and recommend to the GSTN the steps to be taken to redress the grievance and provide relief to the taxpayer. The relief could be in the nature of allowing filing of any Form or Return prescribed in law or amending any Form or Return already filed. However, where the problem relates to individual taxpayer, due to localised issues such as non-availability of internet connectivity or failure of power supply, this mechanism shall not be available.

The mechanism inter alia envisages that taxpayers shall make an application to the field officers or the nodal officers where there was a demonstrable glitch on the Common Portal in relation to an identified issue, due to which the due process as envisaged in law could not be completed on the Common Portal. The IT Grievance Redressal committee shall examine and approve the solutions as may be necessary for an identified issue.

The Circular also seeks to address the problems faced by the taxpayers who could not complete the process of filing of TRAN-1 by due date, due to IT-glitch such that the process of digitally signing/ validating TRAN-1 could not be completed. The taxpayer would be allowed to complete the process of filing such TRAN 1, stuck due to IT glitches, by 30^th April 2018 and the process of completing filing of GSTR 3B which could not be filed for such TRAN 1 shall be completed by 31^st May 2018.

The last date for filing of TRAN 1 is not being extended in general and only the taxpayers, who have been identified in terms of the circular issued in this regard, shall be allowed to complete the process of filing TRAN-1.

The decision relating to filing of TRAN-1 shall benefit 17,573 taxpayers who shall consequently be able to avail Rs. 2582.98 cr. as CGST credit and Rs. 1112.77 cr. as SGST credit. For further details, circular no. 39/13/2018-GST dated 03.04.2018 may be downloaded from the website www.cbec.gov.in.

Income ceiling of parents/guardian increased to Rs.2.5 lakh per annum for Pre-Matric scholarship to SC students

Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme to Scheduled Caste students studying in classes IX and X and Post Matric Scholarship Scheme to SC students are centrally sponsored Schemes and implemented by State Governments/UT administrations. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment releases the Central Assistance to States/UTs towards the total expenditure under the scheme, over and above their committed liability.

All the scheduled Caste students whose parental/Guardian's income does not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum, are provided scholarship as per regulation of scheme.

Under Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme to SC students, the department has increased the annual income ceiling of parents/guardian from Rs. 2.00 lakh to Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum w.e.f. 19^th September 2017.

This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Sanjay Kumar/jk/SJ&E-1/03-04-2018

MoU between Indian Army and HDFC Bank

A Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) was signed between the Indian Army and HDFC Bank on the Defence Salary Package on 03 Apr 2018. The first MoU between HDFC Bank and the Indian Army was signed in 2011 and was renewed on 13 Mar 2015. The current MoU is tailor made to suit the requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and families.

The signing in ceremony was chaired by the Director General (MP&PS), Lt Gen S K Saini and was attended by the top dignitaries of HDFC Bank headed by Ms Smita Bhagat, Head Government Business and Branch Banking.

Currently Indian Army has MoUs on Defence Salary Package with 11 public and private sector banks. MoUs are considered for inception and renewal with banks on analyzing their utility and suitability to the requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and families. Army is hoping that this MoU will benefit a large number of serving and retired Army personnel who are having their accounts with HDFC bank; and also provide them an opportunity to access modern banking facilities.

Under the current MoU apart from other benefits the Army personnel will get free personal accident death cover and free permanent disability cover of Rs 30 lakhs, free educational cover of upto Rs 1 Lakh per year for four years for education of  dependent child in case of accidental death of defence personnel and 100% processing fees waived for Car Loans and Personal Loans.

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Col Aman Anand

Mumbai becomes first Indian city with 8 women police station in-charge

Mumbai: Mumbai, also known as the financial capital of India, has added another feather to its cap, becoming the first city of the country to have as many as eight women police station in-charges.

Mumbai becoming the first city of the country to have as many as eight women police station in-charges.

Mumbai police is quite enthusiastic about these ladies heading their respective police stations and they expect that soon the number of stations led by women officers will be more.

Taking to Twitter, Mumbai Police wrote, “Eight women police station in-charges a first in any city in the country, protecting the good and destroying the evil, with a smile each day.”

Trying to keep up with the city’s trend of setting examples! #InspiredByMumbai pic.twitter.com/cEyEu7GOmg

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) March 31, 2018

While in the present scenario when cases of violence against women are on the rise, Mumbai Police has ensured that women are the helm guarding the city.

The names of the eight women police station in-charges are–Alka Mandave (Airport Police Station), Rashmi Jadhav (Cuffe Parade Police Station), Mrudula Lad (Sion Police Station), Lata Shirsat (Sahar Police Station), Jyotsna Rasam (Vanrai Police Station), Rohini Kale (Pantnagar Police Station), Vidhyalaxmi Hiremath (Aarey Police Station) and Kalpana Gadekar (BKC Police Station).

Rashmi Jadhav, in charge of Cuffe Parade Police Station said that being female in charge of a police station, will help women and it will be more comfortable for girls and women to come and report crimes against them.

ANI

Facebook asked to explain on data breach.

Facebook called upon to give response by 7th April,2018.

On 23.3.2018, a notice seeking details relating to breach of data from Facebook had been sent to M/s. Cambridge Analytica particularly with regardto reports in the media about questionable practices attributed to M/s.Cambridge Analytica in their efforts to influence elections.

It is felt that there is need for further information about the data breach from Facebook. Accordingly, a letter has been issued by the Ministry of Electronics & I.T. on 28th March 2018 to Facebook seeking their response to the following questions:

1. Whether the personal data of Indian voters and users has been compromised by Cambridge Analytica or any other down stream entity in any manner, and if so, how was it compromised?
2. Whether Facebook or its related or downstream agencies utilising Facebook’s data have previously been engaged by any entities to manipulate the Indian electoral process?
3. If any such downstream entity misused data from Facebook, what is the protection available to the data subject?
4. What are the specific steps proposed to be taken by Facebook to prevent any misuse of personal data for potential interference in, or manipulation of the Indian electoral process?
5. Facebook today has its largest footprint in India in terms of its user base and therefore what proactive measures are being taken to ensure the safety, security and privacy of such large user data and to prevent its misuse by any third party?

Facebook has been called upon to give their response by 7.4.2018.