EMN
Dimapur, August 26
The State Government has finally constituted a High Power Committee to inquire into the illegal and multiple taxations in the State and also to go into the genesis, the causes and conditions which facilitate such harmful practices and to indentify the people behind it.
The government has constituted the committee bowing to numerous complaints from the public and civil societies against illegal and multiple taxations and recognizing the need to tackle this menace in the society. The notification on constitution of the Committee was issued by Chief Secretary Banuo Z Jamir on August 5 but made available to the press only today.
The Committee comprises Justice HK Sema, retired Supreme Court Judge, as chairman, Joel Nilo Kath and KK Sema, IAS (retd) as members and Additional Chief Secretary, Justice and Law department, as member secretary.
According to the notification, the Committee will undertake a detailed study on price rise in the State due to illegal and unauthorised collection of money by various organisations, groups, unions and agencies including government agencies and study the adverse impact of the illegal collection in various forms on the resource mobilization efforts of the State government;
It will also inquire into the fact of prevalence or otherwise of illegal collections in various forms by various underground and overground groups and if such system exists in the State, particularly in Dimapur. If so, to identify the syndicate/dealership system and those persons involved or responsible for it, and to suggest preventive measures, the notification said.
Other terms of reference of the Committee are:
To enquire whether government agencies are involved in realization of unauthorized taxes/collections and if so, to find out the agencies involved and the extend/amount of such unauthorized collections, and to suggest measures to eradicate such unwarranted practices; to enquire into the practices of collection money from the highway, check gates, streets and market places by various groups/unions/societies in the form of membership fees etc from vehicles, goods and the services etc and suggest corrective measures; to suggest measures to ensure protection of business community/individuals from illegal and un-abated taxations and to suggest measures to streamline, improve and regulate collection of legal taxes.
The Committee will submit its findings and the recommendations within 90 days from the date its constitution. Justice HK Sema, chairman of the Committee, will receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 1 lakh while the two members, KK Sema and Joel Nilo Kath will receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 50,000 each, the notification said.
The chairman of the Committee will be provided a vehicle with a driver from the Transport Pool and POL and TA/DA will be admissible as per the entitlement of the highest category of officials in the State government. The members will be reimbursed the actual cost of hiring vehicles when travelling in connection with the enquiry or reimbursement of POL if they use their own vehicles. TA/DA as per the entitlement of Class I officers will be reimbursable for actual expenditure incurred during the sittings and for travels undertaken, on production of bills certified by the Chairman.
The headquarters of the Committee will be Chumukedima with an established office and accommodation during the sittings for the chairman, members and other staff in the Police Complex.
The Committee will be assisted by a Deputy Secretary, as staff officer, a secretariat assistant, a stenographer and two Grade IV staff
All expenditure in respect of the Committee will be debitable to the Home department, Civil Secretariat, under Demand No. 26, Head of Account No. 205 2(Non-Plan),
The ACAUT Nagaland has expressed happiness over constitution of the High Powered Committee (HPC) which is as per the demands of 31st October public rally resolution held in Dimapur in 2013. Though the notification came about almost a year late, the ACAUT Nagaland, nevertheless, said it is pleased that the government of Nagaland has realised the seriousness of issues raised by it.
