NVCO plea to Governor on taxations

Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO) has urged upon the state Governor to effect the following- protect the state revenue, rectify exorbitant rates favouring contracting firms in infrastructural development, end table-tender and to direct the state government to implement the High Court order banning all forms of illegal collections in check gates and highways.

Stating this, NVCO through its media cell informed that on May 14, 2015 it requested the Governor to look into earlier representations submitted to the previous incumbent specifically highlighting “certain illegal conduct of the government” in favouring a few contractors/firms. NVCO said as per the clause of contract, the government incorporated the sentence “Sales tax and Work tax shall be paid extra to the contractor as applicable” in the terms and conditions. 

NVCO said this has led to the state losing huge revenue in terms of crores of rupees as tax, which should have been deducted on the running bill. Instead, NVCO said, contractors were exempted from paying legal taxes the clause which was totally contrary to the provisions of NPWD & CPWD and invalid under the Indian Contract Act. 

NVCO also requested the Governor to direct the state government to execute the judgment order dated June 3,2014 passed by the Gauhati High Court, Kohima bench to stop all illegal cash collections at check gates and highways. NVCO pointed out that the court had banned several unions, associations, federations against cash collections besides restricting such organisations from establishing their office/sub-office/pay counter/information centre on highways.

NVCO maintained, that the mushrooming of such illegal collections by all and sundry including police and government agencies had contributed to price rise in Dimapur. It said many trucks refuse to enter Nagaland due to numerous cash collection points at every conceivable place in Dimapur including “unauthorised DMC toll tax counters” where truck drivers were stopped and forced to pay money. 

NVCO also pointed out that the state government itself failed to implement the order of the chief secretary issued on June 22,2009 banning all forms of collections even by police, excise, forest and taxes departments.

The NVCO also informed that during an interaction with the Governor, it maintained that there was no provision under the constitution of India for appointment of parliamentary secretary, advisor and chairman except 12 ministers in a house of 60 in the case of Nagaland.