Bills for GST appellate tribunals, spending likely in winter session

The government proposes to introduce two key bills in the upcoming winter session to pave the way for goods and services tax (GST) appeals tribunals and to seek permission for changes in its spending plans, two people aware of the plans said.

- Gireesh Chandra Prasad

The bill to amend the central GST law will propose to allow advocates with experience in litigation to be appointed as judicial members in GST appellate tribunal benches, a person aware of the plan said on the condition of anonymity.

The age criteria will also be more relaxed than when it was originally proposed, in an attempt to ease the process of finding suitable members.

The government will also present a bill to seek Parliament’s approval for adjustments to the Centre’s ₹35 trillion spending programme in the current fiscal, a second person added.

The supplementary demand for grants for the year is expected to seek adjustments to the Centre’s spending programme without major net additional fund outgo.

The parliament’s winter session is scheduled to commence from 4 December.