Jaitley asks Cong to reconsider stance on GST

Cautions handing over taxation powers to judiciary will be a "misadventure"

In a fresh appeal to Congress, the government today asked it to reconsider its stance on GST, particularly with regard to its insistence on judge-headed dispute resolution panel, saying it will be a "misadventure" of handing over taxation powers to judiciary which "step by step, brick by brick" is encroaching upon the legislature.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought to reach out to Congress in the Rajya Sabha after the main opposition party said it was ready to give full support to GST provided its three key recommendations are accepted by the government.

Replying to a debate on the Finance Bill, Jaitley said, "For heaven's sake, I beseech you in the interest of Indian democracy not to go on this misadventure (judge-headed panel)...With the manner in which encroachment of legislative and executive authority by India's judiciary is taking place, probably financial power and budget making is the last power that you have left. Taxation is the only power which states have."

He added, "It would be wholly misconceived for any political party to say 'let us hand over the taxation power to judiciary'. That is your (Congress) proposal."

Jaitley, who is also the Leader of the House, asked the Congress to "reconsider" its stance on GST which has been stuck in the Rajya Sabha for long due to resistance by the main opposition party.

Conceding that the Goods and Service Tax (GST) constitutional amendment bill was originally conceived by the UPA, he said he will be holding talks again with the Congress leaders so that the bill could be taken up in the Monsoon session.