With only a few days to go for the Union Budget, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde today asked the central government to take steps to reduce the tax burden on citizens and ensure the country's all-round development.
Speaking at an event held to mark the 79th Foundation ceremony of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in the national capital, Chief Justice Bobde said that "excessive taxation" can be seen as a form of social injustice imposed on the people. "While tax evasion is social injustice to fellow citizens, arbitrary or excessive tax also results in social injustice by the government itself," he added.The top judge's suggestion comes at a time when the country's economy is going through a worrying growth slowdown amid high inflation and a weakening rupee. Retail inflation rose to about five-and-half year high of 7.35 per cent in December 2019, further increasing the burden on the common people, mainly due to spiralling prices of vegetables such as onions.
In his address, Chief Justice Bobde also stressed on the part played by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in ensuring that taxation-related disputes are resolved swiftly. "Tax judiciary plays a very important role in resource mobilisation of the country. A just and speedy dispute resolution is perceived as a tax incentive by the taxpayer. To a tax collector, an efficient tax judiciary ensures that demands arising out of legitimate assessments are not strangled by delayed litigation," he said.