special assembly session to pass GST Bill on the cards

PANAJI: A one-day

special assembly

session is likely to be convened to pass the

state Goods and Services

Tax (GST) Bill, government officials said. So far, no

specific date

has been decided on, but it is fathomed that the session may be called any day in May.

With the July 1 target to roll out the unified indirect tax regime just over two months away, the Union government is expected to issue an official note asking the Manohar Parrikar-led government to hold a one-day session to ratify the GST Bill.

“A one-day session will be held, but so far we have not got any communication. We should get the details in a week, and by May we should have the session. This is the assumption as of now,” a government official said.

On April 6, the

Parliament

passed four legislations to pave the way for roll out of the historic GST, including the Central GST Bill, 2017, Integrated GST Bill, 2017, GST (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017, and the Union Territory GST Bill, 2017. “It is the ministry of finance and council of GST that will send the Model State GST Bill to states, which will then call special session to pass it,” a source said.

The government may also utilize the opportunity to ratify a few ordinances that were issued after the state budget session and with the approval of the state cabinet.