What GT Deve Gowda says on Cong-JDS alliance for Lok Sabha election?
Mysuru, May 29: Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Deve Gowda said that the party leadership would decide whether the JDS would require alliance with the Congress or not for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election after completing one year of JDS-Congress coalition government in the state.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said that it was a special election. The voters have given five seats to JDS in Mysuru city and district, he added thanking the voters.
In order to keep the communal forces away from the power and for the development of the state, the JDS has inevitably joined hands with the Congress. Both JDS and Congress are secular parties. After the coalition government completing one year, the party leaders would decided whether to go with the Congress or not for LS poll, he said.
He has the confidence that Kumaraswamy would complete five years as the Chief Minister. But some people have been saying that he is a short-term CM. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, AICC president Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy have taken a decision. So, if some others spoke about the Chief Minister’s tenure, there is no need to read much about it, he said.
Only media has been showing that the Congress leaders have conditions on expanding the cabinet. But the Congress leaders have extended unconditional support to the JDS. But JDS leaders have decided to take Congress leaders into the cabinet. Cabinet expansion was delayed because it should not spoil the purpose of the coalition government. It was also delayed because of Rahul Gandhi’s foreign tour, he said.
CM Kumaraswamy has already met Congress senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and discussed on whom to be taken for the cabinet. It would be finalized in a couple of days. It is said that JDS is being given 12 portfolios. But the party has 37 MLAs and all of them are aspirants of the minister posts. But they would abide by the party decision, he said.
Farmers loan waiver
It is sure that CM Kumaraswamy would waive off the farmers loan. Before election, Kumaraswamy has announced that he would write off the farmers loan if JDS came to power. But the JDS did not get the majority due to which it is delayed. Because it is a coalition government, Kumaraswamy could not take unilateral decision on this issue. The CM has already discussed the issue with the officials concerned and got information and even made strategies. Though Kumaraswamy has promised of taking a decision within a week, the BJP leaders have called for Karnataka bandh and failed, he said.
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PIL in SC seeks abolition of TDS system, cites constitutional violations
New Delhi (PTI): A PIL filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday sought to scrap the TDS system calling it "arbitrary and irrational" and violative of various fundamental rights, including equality.
The PIL challenged the tax deducted at source or TDS framework under the Income Tax Act, which mandates the deduction of tax at the time of payment by the payer and its deposit with the income tax department. The deducted amount is adjusted against the payee's tax liability.
The plea filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay through advocate Ashwani Dubey, made the Centre, ministry of law and justice, law commission, and NITI Aayog as parties.
It sought a direction to "declare the TDS system manifestly arbitrary, irrational and against Articles 14 (right to equality), 19 (right to practice profession) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution, hence void and inoperative".
The plea further sought directions to the NITI Ayog to consider contentions raised in the plea and suggest necessary changes in TDS system.
It said the law commission should examine the legality of the TDS system and prepare a report within three months.
The TDS system imposes significant administrative and financial burdens on taxpayers tasked with compliance which include managing complex rules, issuing TDS certificates, filing returns, and defending against penalties for inadvertent errors, argued the plea.
Assessees often incur substantial expenses, ranging from salaries of compliance staff to professional fees for tax consultants, without receiving compensation, it said.
The plea said the system violated Article 14 (equality before the law) by disproportionately burdening economically weaker sections and small earners who lack the capacity to navigate its technical requirements.
Referring to Article 23, it said the imposition of tax collection duties on private citizens amounted to forced labour.
The TDS system was stated to adversely affect individuals below the taxable income threshold, as tax was deducted at source irrespective of their liability.
"The regulatory and procedural framework surrounding TDS is excessively technical, often requiring specialised legal and financial expertise, which most assessees lack. The result is an unjust shifting of sovereign responsibilities from the government to private citizens without adequate compensation, resources, or legal safeguards," it said.
