Hindustan Times (Bathinda)

HARYANA CABINET OKAYS RERA RULES

HARYANA CABINET MEET Duty to be levied on entertainm­ent points, outlets in municipal areas of state; will be in addition to the Goods and Services tax

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

CHANDIGARH::Watching movies in cinema halls will become costlier in Haryana with the Cabinet on Tuesday giving nod to the Haryana Municipal Entertainm­ent Duty Bill, 2017, for levying entertainm­ent duty.

The entertainm­ent duty will be in addition to the Goods and Services tax (GST) on entertainm­ent. The duty will be levied on entertainm­ent points, outlets in municipal areas and will be uniform across the state. There will be a common list of exempted entertainm­ent events.

The price of cinema tickets was reduced after the imposition of GST in the state. Before the introducti­on of GST, 30% entertainm­ent tax was levied on movie tickets. However, after the imposition of GST from July 1, movie tickets less than Rs 100 attracted 18% GST while tickets over Rs 100 were levied 28% GST, bringing a relief for movie watchers.

The duty on public entertainm­ent will be collected by urban municipal bodies. Once the Haryana Municipal Entertainm­ent Duty Bill is passed in the next assembly session, the movie-goers will have to shell out more.

Officials said funds received from entertainm­ent duty would be utilised by municipali­ties on civic amenities in urban areas.

VOLUNTARY EDUCATION SERVICE RULES GET NOD

The Cabinet also approved the Haryana Voluntary State Education Service Rules, 2017, for taking over teaching and non-teaching staff working on sanctioned or aided posts in aided schools. An official spokespers­on said Rule 6 relating to responsibi­lity of management­s of aided schools and Rule 7 relating to constituti­on of committees for redressal of grievances have been included in the Rules to watch the interests of students and their parents and to avoid mis-utilisatio­n of land and building by the management­s of aided schools.

Under these rules, grant-in-aid would not be payable to aided schools in respect of the posts taken over in the voluntary education service. However, if an employee does not opt for voluntary education service, grant-inaid for such employee would continue to be reimbursed as per the provision made in Rule 54 of the Haryana School Education Rules, 2003.

The mere taking over of employees in the voluntary education service will not absolve the management of the responsibi­lity to clear the pending dues. The employees will have every right to claim their dues from the previous management in respect of service benefits.

GROUND COVERAGE FOR COMMERCIAL COLONIES INCREASED

The Cabinet also approved that the ground coverage of commercial colony in transit-oriented developmen­t (TOD) policy may also be made 60%. Similarly, in respect of mixed land use colony in TOD, maximum 50% ground coverage may be allowed.

An official said the town and country planning department had prepared a policy for innovative financing of mass rapid transit system (MRTS) projects in February 2016. Under this policy, the ground coverage of commercial colony was 40%, whereas under the Haryana Building Code, it is 60%. In another decision, the Cabinet approved to calculate fee for renewal of licence of colonies on the basis of notified licence fees prevalent at the time of grant of part-completion certificat­e. This decision was taken to expedite the grant of completion certificat­es.

ENTERTAINM­ENT DUTY TO BE UNIFORM ACROSS STATE; CABINET ALSO APPROVES VOLUNTARY STATE EDUCATION SERVICE RULES FOR TAKING OVER TEACHING, NONTEACHIN­G STAFF IN AIDED SCHOOLS

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