03-21-2005, 07:52 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://www.kaumudi.com/news/031605/kerala.stm
<b>IT department plans taxing Devaswom deposits</b>
THRISSUR: Another controversy is in the making at the Guruvayur temple
with the Income Tax Department planning to levy tax on the Guruvayur
Devaswom's bank deposits. The decision comes as a sequel to the
department's move last January to inspect a gold crown offered by
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha to the temple which saw the
sparks flying.
Banks where the Devaswom has deposits have received communication from
the IT Department that they should furnish details of the deposits and
whether the tax has been deducted at source.
Responding to the move, the Devaswom has written to the banks that it
enjoys tax exemption, Devaswom Commissioner Mohandas told.
Following a move to levy tax by the department last June, the
Guruvayur Devaswom in August had written to the Income Tax
Commissioner, Kochi, explaining that it has been exempted from paying
tax since 1967. But the Devaswom has not received a reply to date, he
said.
The Kerala High Court on a petition filed by the Cochin Devaswom Board
in 1987 had ordered that the Central Board of Direct Taxes has no
authority to cancel or alter any notification of the Government of
India. In this case, the Government had exempted institutions such as
Devaswoms from paying tax. In addition to this, the Income Tax Act,
1961, duly amended in 1979, has a clause exempting such institutions
from paying tax.
But there is no provision for a permanent exemption for the Guruvayur
Devaswom, says K.Anil Kumar, Devaswom Administrator. The Devaswom has
fixed deposits in 22 banks amounting to approximately Rs 250 crores.
In the event of paying tax, the Devaswom will have to dole out Rs 3-4
crores, he said.
We are viewing it seriously and the banks have been asked to reply
that the Devaswom enjoys exemption from paying tax. If required, we
shall take up the issue with the Central Government, K.Velayudhan
Nambiar, Chairman, Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee, said.
The audit of Guruvayur Devaswom is done by the Director of Local Fund
Audit and reports are duly submitted to the government by the audit
department.
An earlier move by the Devaswom ad hoc committee to permit Income Tax
officials to examine an offering by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's a
gold crown weighing 349 gm and studded with 26 stones ? had sparked
off a controversy.
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a&Topic=0&
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KERALA
March 21, 2005
'IT Dept won't be allowed to interfere with Devaswom'
Monday March 21 2005 00:00 IST
FAC
GURUVAYUR: The Income Tax Department will not be allowed to interfere
with Guruvayur Devaswom anymore, Minister for Devaswom and Tourism
K.C.Venugopal said here on Sunday.
The government was sure about this and was taking necessary steps to
avoid further controversies, he said.
The letter received by the Guruvayur Devaswom administrator from the
Additional Commissioner of IT at Kochi stated that the IT office could
not explain the particular section of the amended Income Tax Act on
exemption of taxes. The administrator had been directed to seek
clarification from the Central Board of Direct Taxes, the minister said.
If the IT authorities could not interpret the Act, then how could they
issue directions to remit taxes, he asked.
When the Cochin Devaswom Board, Travancore Devaswom Board and Wakf
Board were not taxed, he was surprised by the move to slap taxes on
Guruvayur Devaswom, he said. There was no IT law exclusively for
Guruvayur Devaswom, he added.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had already taken up the matter with the
Union Finance Minister. As the Minister for Devaswom, he also had sent
a letter to the central ministry. The issue would be settled soon,
Venugopal added.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: Projects for the comprehensive development of
Guruvayur were getting finalised, the minister said and added former
devaswom commissioner K.Mohandas had submitted the projects after
consultations with all concerned.
The same would be reviewed by the Principal Secretary, Devaswom, and
the new devaswom commissioner, G.Rajasekaharan, and placed before the
Chief Minister and the high-level delegation arriving at Guruvayur on
Wednesday.
The Chief Minister would clear the projects, related to sewage
treatment, drainage, drinking water and low-cost accommodation and
other amenities, he said. These would be implemented in a time-bound
manner.
The high-level meeting would be held from 9 am on Wednesday and the
Chief Minister would declare major projects for the development of
Guruvayur.
Earlier, Venugopal addressed the new devaswom managing committee at
the devaswom conference hall and reviewed the projects chalked out by
the committee. The meeting was attended by devaswom commissioner
G.Rajasekharan, devaswom chairman K.V.Nambiar, members R.Rajasekharan,
A.M.Gopalan, Thrivikraman, Mallissery Parameswaran Namboothiripad,
P.N.P.Panicker and devaswom administrator K.Anil Kumar.
Email address guruvayurdevaswom@vsnl.com<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>IT department plans taxing Devaswom deposits</b>
THRISSUR: Another controversy is in the making at the Guruvayur temple
with the Income Tax Department planning to levy tax on the Guruvayur
Devaswom's bank deposits. The decision comes as a sequel to the
department's move last January to inspect a gold crown offered by
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha to the temple which saw the
sparks flying.
Banks where the Devaswom has deposits have received communication from
the IT Department that they should furnish details of the deposits and
whether the tax has been deducted at source.
Responding to the move, the Devaswom has written to the banks that it
enjoys tax exemption, Devaswom Commissioner Mohandas told.
Following a move to levy tax by the department last June, the
Guruvayur Devaswom in August had written to the Income Tax
Commissioner, Kochi, explaining that it has been exempted from paying
tax since 1967. But the Devaswom has not received a reply to date, he
said.
The Kerala High Court on a petition filed by the Cochin Devaswom Board
in 1987 had ordered that the Central Board of Direct Taxes has no
authority to cancel or alter any notification of the Government of
India. In this case, the Government had exempted institutions such as
Devaswoms from paying tax. In addition to this, the Income Tax Act,
1961, duly amended in 1979, has a clause exempting such institutions
from paying tax.
But there is no provision for a permanent exemption for the Guruvayur
Devaswom, says K.Anil Kumar, Devaswom Administrator. The Devaswom has
fixed deposits in 22 banks amounting to approximately Rs 250 crores.
In the event of paying tax, the Devaswom will have to dole out Rs 3-4
crores, he said.
We are viewing it seriously and the banks have been asked to reply
that the Devaswom enjoys exemption from paying tax. If required, we
shall take up the issue with the Central Government, K.Velayudhan
Nambiar, Chairman, Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee, said.
The audit of Guruvayur Devaswom is done by the Director of Local Fund
Audit and reports are duly submitted to the government by the audit
department.
An earlier move by the Devaswom ad hoc committee to permit Income Tax
officials to examine an offering by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's a
gold crown weighing 349 gm and studded with 26 stones ? had sparked
off a controversy.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?I...tle=Keral\
a&Topic=0&
<i>( One can register or can use my login name - `dumbhindus' and
password - `new1234' )</i> <!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->
KERALA
March 21, 2005
'IT Dept won't be allowed to interfere with Devaswom'
Monday March 21 2005 00:00 IST
FAC
GURUVAYUR: The Income Tax Department will not be allowed to interfere
with Guruvayur Devaswom anymore, Minister for Devaswom and Tourism
K.C.Venugopal said here on Sunday.
The government was sure about this and was taking necessary steps to
avoid further controversies, he said.
The letter received by the Guruvayur Devaswom administrator from the
Additional Commissioner of IT at Kochi stated that the IT office could
not explain the particular section of the amended Income Tax Act on
exemption of taxes. The administrator had been directed to seek
clarification from the Central Board of Direct Taxes, the minister said.
If the IT authorities could not interpret the Act, then how could they
issue directions to remit taxes, he asked.
When the Cochin Devaswom Board, Travancore Devaswom Board and Wakf
Board were not taxed, he was surprised by the move to slap taxes on
Guruvayur Devaswom, he said. There was no IT law exclusively for
Guruvayur Devaswom, he added.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had already taken up the matter with the
Union Finance Minister. As the Minister for Devaswom, he also had sent
a letter to the central ministry. The issue would be settled soon,
Venugopal added.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: Projects for the comprehensive development of
Guruvayur were getting finalised, the minister said and added former
devaswom commissioner K.Mohandas had submitted the projects after
consultations with all concerned.
The same would be reviewed by the Principal Secretary, Devaswom, and
the new devaswom commissioner, G.Rajasekaharan, and placed before the
Chief Minister and the high-level delegation arriving at Guruvayur on
Wednesday.
The Chief Minister would clear the projects, related to sewage
treatment, drainage, drinking water and low-cost accommodation and
other amenities, he said. These would be implemented in a time-bound
manner.
The high-level meeting would be held from 9 am on Wednesday and the
Chief Minister would declare major projects for the development of
Guruvayur.
Earlier, Venugopal addressed the new devaswom managing committee at
the devaswom conference hall and reviewed the projects chalked out by
the committee. The meeting was attended by devaswom commissioner
G.Rajasekharan, devaswom chairman K.V.Nambiar, members R.Rajasekharan,
A.M.Gopalan, Thrivikraman, Mallissery Parameswaran Namboothiripad,
P.N.P.Panicker and devaswom administrator K.Anil Kumar.
Email address guruvayurdevaswom@vsnl.com<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->