No decision yet on giving security clearance to GSTN

The Centre is yet to take a decision on providing security clearance to the GSTN, the information-technology backbone of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), as it is examining various issues concerning it.
"We are still examining the GSTN issue," a Home Ministry official said.
The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), a not-for- profit private limited company, has 51 per cent equity of five private institutions -- HDFC Bank Ltd (10 per cent), HDFC Ltd (10 per cent), ICICI Bank Ltd (10 per cent), NSE Strategic Investment Corporation Ltd (10 per cent) and LIC Housing Finance Limited (11 per cent).

The central government has 24.5 per cent equity in GSTN, whereas state governments, two Union territories and empowered committee of state finance ministers together hold another 24.5 per cent stake in it.
An organisation representing indirect tax employees has raised concerns over the management pattern of the GSTN with majority stake in private hands.
It had said since the GSTN is funded by the central and state governments, there is no justification in entrusting its management to private individuals with heavy salary and allowances.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has also opposed the majority stake for private entities in the GSTN and has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over it.

Recently, the Centre had rejected an RTI plea seeking details of security clearance given to the GSTN citing national security.