'This hearing is about cybersecurity, not…': Tensions flare b/w Senators at Health Committee hearing
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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
2-day free urology camp at IMS-BHU from today
Varanasi: A free urology consultation and surgery charitable camp, to be organised by Urological Society of India (USI), under its public welfare initiative USI CARES (Community Action, Relief, Education & Service), will begin at Urology department of IMS- BHU on Aug 1. During the camp, patients will receive free consultations from some of the country's leading urologists, along with diagnostic investigations and surgical interventions, including both minor and major procedures as deemed necessary. These services will be provided entirely free of cost. According to a BHU spokesperson, a team of more than 15 to 20 urologists and healthcare professionals from across India volunteered to participate in this noble cause. Among the distinguished participants are Prof TP Rajeev from Guwahati, who currently serves as the president of the Urological Society of India and Dr SP Yadav from Gurugram, an executive council member of the society. In addition to clinical care, the camp will also focus on public health education. Interactive awareness sessions will be conducted to inform participants about various urological conditions, including kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, and cancers of the urinary and genital systems. These sessions aim to empower individuals with knowledge about prevention, early detection, and the importance of lifestyle modifications in managing their health. TNN
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Business Standard
Direct tax disputes soar 198% amid rising vacancies in revenue dept
India's tax dispute burden is rising sharply, despite multiple policy interventions aimed at streamlining compliance and reducing litigation. The Standing Committee on Finance, in its latest report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, flagged a 198% jump in the amount of disputed direct taxes over two years. As per the report, appeals in direct tax cases rose from 51,567 in 2021–22 to 64,311 in 2023–24, while the disputed amount ballooned from ₹6.64 trillion to ₹14.21 trillion, marking a 198 per cent increase. At the Income Tax Appellate Authority, the contested sum almost tripled in one year — from ₹2.89 trillion in 2022–23 to ₹8.56 trillion in 2023–24. In indirect taxes, the number of cases went up from 1.13 lakh to 1.26 lakh, and the value involved more than doubled to ₹7.4 trillion during the same period. "Considering this data, it seems that the various measures taken by the Government to reduce tax litigation have not yielded the desired results so far..... The Committee feel that it is imperative to further enhance the focus on tax dispute redressal mechanisms and take additional measures in this regard," the report said. It highlighted that no assessment of the best practices by different countries for mitigating tax dispute burdens has been undertaken by CBDT. The Committee also took note of the 'slow pace of disposal of cases related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA),' pointing out that 'only 45 cases have been disposed of so far' since the law came into force. Alongside rising litigation, the Committee raised concerns over the significant staff shortages in both the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). "For instance, in CBIC, against a total of 36,859 vacancies, only 4,653 officers were recruited in 2024 and 8,912 vacancies have been reported to SSC for future recruitment. This still leaves a substantial gap in sanctioned versus working strength, particularly at the crucial Inspector level which perpetuates a substantial impediment to the efficacy of field enforcement and seamless delivery of taxpayer services," the report stated. The committee noted that there are considerable numbers of vacancies in both CBDT and CBIC. In some posts, there are 100% vacancies. Even for the crucial post of Inspector of Central Excise, there are 7,744 vacancies. Such vacancies may be hampering the smooth functioning of the organizations and providing optimum services to the taxpayers. The Committee flagged persistent challenges in tackling GST evasion and fake invoicing, despite the deployment of advanced analytics and AI-based tools. "There were 12,574 GST evasion cases in 2021-22, which increased to 20,582 in 2023-24. Similarly, fraudulent ITC cases rose from 5,966 in 2021-22 to 9,190 in 2023-24. During the study visit of the Committee to Chennai and Mumbai, in Nov.2024, it emerged that fraudulent ITC cases are a significant challenge in GST, requiring urgent attention to curb it," the report stated.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
HC notices to government in PIL plea over Sigachi blast
Telangana High Court on Thursday issued notices to the State government and heads of different departments like Labour, Home, Industry along with the management of Sigachi Industries in a PIL petition seeking direction to constitute a Special Investigation Team to probe the blast in Sigachi Industrial unit at Banoor and pay full and final compensation to the victims' families. A bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Gouse Meera Mohiuddin directed the respondents, including Chief Secretary, Special Home Secretary, Pollution Control Board, Sangareddy Collector and Sigachi management, to file detailed counter affidavits by August 27. The PIL petition was filed by septuagenarian retired scientist Kalapala Babu Rao seeking different reliefs including release of the Report of the High Powered Committee created on June 30 to fix accountability and culpability of the company. The petitioner wanted the HC to instruct different government wings to identify the danger posed by industrial dust accumulation, absence of hazard assessment system and align India's safety protocols with global standards like NFPA 652. The petitioner's counsel Vasudha Nagaraj said the government should take responsibility for payment of one crore rupees compensation to families of all the 54 persons who died in the fire accident on Sigachi factory triggered by a blast. The victims included eight missing workers of the factory. The CJ, seeking responses of the counsels for the State, said the government should not take the PIL plea as adversarial litigation. The State should make its best efforts to assist the families of the victims, he said. Directing the respondents to file comprehensive counter affidavits responding to different points raised by the petitioner, the bench noted that passage of time should not diminish the tragedy or be allowed to be forgotten. The bench sought to know the details of the First Information Report, the different sections of law invoked in the case and the progress of the investigation. The bench also asked the Government Pleader for Home if any arrests were made in the case. The GP replied that no person was arrested so far. The bench wanted the respondents to furnish precise details like how many workers were present at the site when the fire accident was reported, what statutes were invoked to make the company liable, the categories of workers and the compensation amounts paid in the counter affidavits. The Additional Advocate General T. Rajanikanth Reddy informed the bench that all the issues raised in the PIL petition were being delved into and actions were initiated. He sought four weeks of time to file counter affidavits, stating that the authorities were awaiting reports of the High Level Committee and Expert Committee on the incident.
