The Congress party has released its manifesto for the elections 2019. One of the striking promises made in the manifesto is that the extraordinary discretionary powers given to the tax department which has led to ‘tax terrorism’ will be ended. Several reforms for the judiciary have also been announced including the enhancement of representation at all levels of the judiciary for women, SC, ST, OBC, minorities and other under-represented sections of society
Tax Terrorism to be ended
In the last 5 years, tax authorities have been given extraordinary discretionary powers that have throttled industry and come to be described as ‘tax terrorism.’ Investigative agencies have misinterpreted the laws and have instilled fear among businesspersons. Congress will review these discretionary powers and arbitrary actions and take steps to allow industry and business to function with a large degree of freedom.
The 2 major taxes that will be the backbone of the economy are Income Tax and Goods and Services Tax. Congress reiterates its firm belief that the principles underlying these taxes should be simplicity, transparency and progressivity. Besides, a good tax administration must place trust in, and enjoy the trust of, taxpayers. Congress will put an end to the tax terrorism unleashed by the BJP government that has put uncertainty and fear in the minds of individuals and businesses.
Father of tax terror and retrospective tax is now talking of a tax-friendly government!!! To be fair to @INCIndia and @RahulGandhi neither @arunjaitley nor @narendramodi did much to reverse Cong's retro taxes pic.twitter.com/tNa5MtjIYI
— Sunil Jain (@thesuniljain) April 2, 2019
Reforms to Judiciary
Congress promises that the independence and integrity of the judiciary will be maintained and protected at all costs.
01. Congress will introduce a Bill to amend the Constitution to make the Supreme Court a Constitutional Court that will hear and decide cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution and other cases of legal significance or national importance.
02. Congress will introduce a Bill to amend the Constitution to establish a Court of Appeal between the High Courts and the Supreme Court, to hear appeals from judgments and orders of High Courts.
The Court of Appeal will sit in multiple Benches of 3 judges each in 6 locations.
03. We will enhance representation at all levels of the judiciary for women, SC, ST, OBC, minorities and other under-represented sections of society.
04. We will allocate sufficient funds annually to provide the necessary infrastructure for the judiciary.
05. Congress promises to fix the retirement age of judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court at 65 years. The retirement age for judicial members in Commissions and Tribunals shall also be 65 years. This will prevent post-retirement assignments for serving judges and allow more opportunities for qualified persons to serve as judges or judicial members.
06. Congress will work with the judiciary to improve the administration of courts by introducing modern technology and appointing professionals for court and roster management.
07. We will encourage the judiciary at all levels to adopt technological tools to track cases and expedite the hearing and decisions on cases.
08. Learned, independent and upright judges are the core of the judiciary. Congress promises to establish a National Judicial Commission (NJC) that will be responsible for selection of judges for appointment to the High Courts and the Supreme Court. The NJC will be comprised of judges, jurists and parliamentarians and will be serviced by a secretariat. Names of suitable candidates will be placed in the public domain and the reasons for selection will be published to ensure that the entire process is transparent. Once the new system is in place, we will endeavour to fill every vacancy in the High Courts or Supreme Court within 2 months.
09. Congress will establish, by law, an independent Judicial Complaints Commission to investigate complaints of misconduct against judges and recommend suitable action to Parliament.
Even while @narendramodi didn't do anything to scrap reservations and extended its ambit, @RahulGandhi @INCIndia going one step ahead with reservations in judiciary!!! pic.twitter.com/OEKzdjzJKy
— Sunil Jain (@thesuniljain) April 2, 2019
More farm loan waivers!If you thought @RahulGandhi @INCIndia's NYAY wasn't enough of a handout,it wants to waive off all farm loans! The first bill the party should pass if it comes 2 power is the Fiscal Irresponsibility and Budget Mismanagement Act (FRBM) pic.twitter.com/lg3VseKW4P
— Sunil Jain (@thesuniljain) April 2, 2019
LIVE: Congress President @RahulGandhi launches 2019 Manifesto. #CongressManifesto2019 https://t.co/th35WGsl63
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 2, 2019
WATCH | "Not a manifesto, but a fraud": PM Modi attacks Congress#ElectionsWithNDTV #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/vNHs3TkqfP
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 3, 2019
Congress makes big poll promises in its manifesto, BJP calls it dangerous and unimplementable. #CongressManifesto
Read more: https://t.co/txM8HoJtl5 pic.twitter.com/os3v6bkbly
— BloombergQuint (@BloombergQuint) April 2, 2019
Reassessment of income u/s 148 of the Act in case of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi is genuine, not tax terrorism. However now they coward are playing victim card and want to gain public sympathy and also want to gain some political mileage. Do they have courage to promise that they will bring an end to terrorism which kills the innocent people. Tax terrorism cause economical damage but can not cause death of human being. So their priority must be to end terrorism which cause death of human being.
India has always been ruled by mafia governments run by the most corrupt bureaucracy and the investigators and intelligence officials of the so called PREMIER AGENCIES like CBI, ED, DRI, etc. being terrorists – they forge & manipulate evidences to implicate their preys. These bas**ds terrorise the victim into writing a self implicating statement under section 108, and then extort moneys. Public attorney and the judiciary become part of this process.