I wish a VERY HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR to every member of All India Federation of Tax Practitioners and subscribers of Journal.

I am extremely thankful to all members of AIFTP for posing the trust and electing me as National President for the term 2010 and 2011.

I hope New National Executive Committee and Zones Committee will perform their duties in achieving the objects of the Federation.
AIFTP (Central Zone) organized the National Tax Convention – 2009 at Jaipur from 18th to 20th December, 2009 jointly with Rajasthan Tax Consultants Association, Jaipur, Tax Consultants Association, Jaipur, Jaipur Tax Bar Association, Jaipur, Jaipur Branch of CIRC of ICAI and Tax Bar Association, Kota.

I place on record my appreciation to all the co-organising associations and the members who worked day and night in making the convention successful.

In the words of our present Chief Justice of India, “…. the citizens’ faith in the judicial system will begin to wane because justice delayed is justice forgotten, excluded and finally discharged.” The quote certainly does not augur well if one were to look at pendency of tax cases in different layers of our judicial hierarchy – 28000 cases in High Court with disposal rate of roughly 6000 each year. Ironically, the situation is worse in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai where the wait time ranges between 10 – 15 years. Not to forget the figure of 2 lac crores often debated in the Parliament as arrears of tax in dispute. These could be more staggering in the future.

You may have to pay from your pocket to help the government clear the three crore cases pending in the country’s courts. The Law Ministry proposes to create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to dispose of all pending cases by 2012 end. Its blue-print for judicial reforms, approved by Cabinet “in principle”, aims at bringing down the period for which cases are pending in courts from 15 years to three.

The SPV will be formed as a society fully funded by the Centre. It may also, in future, be funded from appropriate tax, say a legal reforms cess applicable to all citizens, on the lines of the education cess”, says the blueprint document.

New challenges are before the members to keep updated on GST and Direct Code. The required amendments in the Constitution for implementing the GST could not be put up before the Parliament. The date of introduction of GST has to be confirmed by the Finance Minister in due course.

I on my behalf and on behalf of the New Executive Committee request all members to organize Seminars and Workshops on the GST and Direct Tax Code along with the local Tax Bar Associations and Trade & Industries associations and concrete suggestions, if any, come out, may kindly be forwarded to the Secretary General and Chairman, Representation Committee.

I also request to all the members to take the necessary steps for the growth and development of young members of the Bar who shall be the future of our profession.

M.L. Patodi
National President