A BIGGER ROLE

IRS babus will predictably hold key positions in the Goods and Services Tax council secretariat which is being set up. These and officers of the Central Board of Excise and Customs will play a greater role in GST implementation than IAS officers. This assurance has been given by finance minister Arun Jaitley to a delegation of IRS Officers Association. Despite the general enthusiasm surrounding GST, the IRS association had earlier opposed the formation of the GST council secretariat since it was to be filled with IAS officers. The Union Cabinet had on September 12, approved appointment of the secretary (revenue) as the ex-officio secretary to the GST council and inclusion of the chairperson, CBEC, as a permanent invitee. Revenue secretary is usually an IAS officer.

The Cabinet had also approved creation of one post of additional secretary and four posts of commissioner in the secretariat. The council will decide on the tax rate, exempted goods and the threshold. The association had demanded that the secretary to the council be member (GST) in the CBEC.

Though the minister did not spell out how exactly the government would accommodate this demand, the delegation appears to have been satisfied with his response, for now. But a fresh round of appointment and promotions and some new announcements are still awaited in the next fortnight.