Safeguard consumers' rights during GST transition: JK govt to

The Jammu and Kashmir government today directed enforcement agencies to protect the rights of consumers during transition to the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfkar Ali passed the directive at ameeting held here to discuss the impact of the GST on unsold stock of pre- packaged commodities, a government spokesperson said.
Officers of departments of commercial taxes, legal metrology and FCSCA discussed preventive measures to check profiteering on the unsold stock of pre-packaged commodities after the implementation of the GST in the state.
Various steps for safeguarding the rights of the consumers were discussed at the meeting, the spokesman said.

The minister asked them to ensure that the benefit of the GST reaches consumers till commodities under new tax regime hit the markets.
He also directed them to assist the trading community in shifting to the GST regime by providing them with technical expertise.
"They should also be told strictly to refrain from selling products without computerized billing," he said, adding it should be made clear to traders that the revised rates of the commodities be properly displayed on the bills.
The minister asked for conducting awareness programmes in far-flung and inaccessible areas for saving consumers from unscrupulous traders.