Friday, 28 July 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Several local businessmen of Dehradun have accused the officials of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department of harassing them by imposing hefty penalties in the name of the law. The president of Doon Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DUVM) Vipin Nagaliya informed that the department is harassing the businessmen by taking unnecessary actions against the commercial vehicles entering the district with supplies via Mohabbewala checkpost.
He said that the officials are imposing hefty fines on minor clerical errors in documents and on electric bills. If some processes are not done due to factors like inclement weather which can be sorted out during the checking, the officials still impose heavy fines which are mostly higher than usual charges. If the suppliers refuse to pay the fines, officials reportedly threaten them stating they will raid their establishments or tamper with their tax records, claimed Nagaliya.
He said, “The officials also threaten the businessmen to submit the fine on the spot and ask them to get their vehicle with supply back via an appellate officer. We are being forced to make rounds of the appellate office for days despite submitting fines. Also, there is no proper system of appeal in such matters and sometimes it takes months to get the vehicle back when all supply is either damaged or rotten.” He said that most of the shopkeepers and businessmen do not have time and resources to challenge such officials in court due to which they are forced to comply with all the unjustified demands of the officials. He said that officials are mostly harassing the registered businessmen of the district in the name of GST laws. The representatives of the businessmen will soon meet senior departmental officials regarding the issue.
