The Hindu Business Line : New Bill on tax tribunal likely

THE United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government said on Tuesday that a fresh Bill for the constitution of a National Tax Tribunal (NTT) is under its consideration.

The new Bill will be on the lines of the Bill that was introduced in the Lok Sabha in this regard. The earlier Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 13th Lok Sabha on February 6.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government, on October 16, 2003, promulgated an ordinance for setting up an NTT.

This ordinance ceased to operate on January 12, 2004.

Several writ petitions were filed in various high courts against the National Tax Tribunal Ordinance, 2003.

These petitions were transferred to the Supreme Court on the basis of the transfer applications filed by the Government. All these transfer petitions have since been dismissed by the Supreme Court as the ordinance has lapsed and the prayer in the writ petitions have become infructuous.