AP requests Centre to set up CESTAT tribunal in state

In a letter to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, state Information Technology and Communications Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah said the Tribunal covering Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala was now located in Bengaluru. About 45 per cent of the litigations pending before the Tribunal were from Andhra Pradesh.

"Most of the Information Technology companies are registered as Software Technology Park units or Special Economic Zones in AP, which are eligible for Customs and Central Excise exemption.

"The indirect tax litigation has touched new heights in AP causing more hardship to the industry, mainly IT and ITeS sectors as personal representation has to be made before the zonal bench in Bengaluru," the IT Minister pointed out in the letter.

Hence, he requested the Union Ministry of Finance to create and set up a south-central zonal bench of the Tribunal in Hyderabad to aid in "effective and speedy delivery of justice" and time and efforts of the industry were saved and put to more productive use. PTI DBV

MR