Home dept refusing to reveal contents of report on multiple taxation citing Sec 8 (1) (i) of RTI Act 2005
DIMAPUR, JULY 26 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) on Thursday stated that the Nagaland State Government should not delay any further in implementing the recommendations of the High Power Committee (HPC) report to curb multiple taxations in the state.
Information and Publicity Cell, NPRAAF in a press statement said the Forum was yet to get its hands on the contents of the recommendation made by 3-member HPC headed by former Supreme Court judge HK Sema despite filing an RTI application in the office of the Chief Minister of Nagaland on April, 2016 seeking to know the contents of the recommendation made by HPC.
The Forum stated that the RTI application was transferred by CMO to Home Department, Government of Nagaland on May 12, 2016. After much delay, the Home Department provided information only on the expenditure incurred by the 3 member HPC committee which amounted to a whopping Rs 47.88.476 lakh.
Apart from this, the Government did not reveal anything on the HPC recommendation even after a series of appearance and arguments between NPRAAF and Home Department officials before the State Information Commission (SIC), with the latest hearing held on February 16, 2018, the Forum stated.
The Forum stated that the Home Department reiterated its earlier stance that, since the report is a Cabinet paper under Sec 8 (1) (i) of RTI Act 2005, a copy of the report cannot be furnished at this stage as requested. Since a verdict could not be given by the SIC even on the latest hearing date, the Forum said it had requested the Home Department to give in written its response on record.
As per the response from the Home Department issued on July 18, on the query to the State Government to produce true certificate copies of the entire report and the recommendation of HPC on illegal/unabated taxation, the Home Department replied that since the report is a Cabinet paper under Sec 8 (1) (i) of RTI act 2005, a copy of the report cannot be furnished at this stage as requested.
On the query whether the Government of Nagaland has taken any step/action based on the report and recommendation submitted by HPC, the Home Department responded that the report is under examination and therefore no action can be initiated until final decision is taken by the cabinet, the Forum stated.
In this connection, the Forum has viewed the response of the government referring to Sec 8 (1) (i) as wrong understanding of the RTI Act, and alleged that the government was trying to dodge the question and nothing else.
While asserting that the public has every right to know the recommendation made by HPC as multiple taxation is a concern for all Nagas and huge public fund was spend for the committee, the Forum has asked the government not to delay any further in implementing the recommendation made by the HPC report to curb multiple taxation in the state.
