State GST Department to pilot ‘faceless adjudication' system from Friday
In this system, the adjudicating authority and the taxpayer will not interact directly with each other. All procedures related to taxation will be carried out through digital platforms and electronic communication.
From August 1, the faceless adjudication system will be piloted in Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts. The system's roll-out will make Kerala the first Indian State to introduce it for indirect taxes, the department said.
Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal had announced plans to introduce it in connection with the 2025 State Budget. The system is designed to guarantee fair, fact-based and unbiased taxation, R. Sreelakshmi, Additional Commissioner, SGST, said on Thursday.
All procedures related to taxation - right from the point where a taxpayer is issued show-cause notice and all subsequent steps including the filing of its reply, hearing, and the issuance of the final order will be conducted online.
The 'faceless adjudication system' does away with the need for the taxpayer to visit the offices of the SGST Department. The taxpayer's version on show-cause notices will be heard by a 'faceless adjudicating authority' via an online meeting platform. For submitting supporting documents, taxpayers can use the GST common portal.
The Union government had introduced a similar system for income tax, which is a direct tax. This is the first instance of a State government rolling it out for indirect taxes, the SGST department said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Sugar prodn dips 23% in 7 yrs despite rise in cane acreage'
Lucknow: UP's sugarcane sector has witnessed an intriguing trend with sugar production by mills falling by almost 23% between 2017-18 and 2024-25, despite a substantial increase in cane acreage and productivity during the period. Industry sources attribute the dip to diversion of cane for Khandsari, low recovery and adverse weather conditions. Data released by the cane development department shows that the area under cane cultivation increased by almost 28% — from 22.99 lakh hectares in 2017-18 to 29.51 lakh hectares in 2024-25. Likewise, the productivity also increased from 79.19 tonnes per hectare to 83 tonnes per hectare, signifying a rise of around 5%. Even cane production went up from 1820.75 lakh tonnes (LT) to 2456.35 LT during the same period. The number of mills crushing cane also rose from 119 to 122, one of the highest in recent times. However, the sugar production dropped from 120.5 lakh tonnes in 2017-18 to 92.45 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, a fall of around 23%. In 2023-24, sugar production in the state was pegged at around 104.13 lakh tonnes. The cane crushing season in UP ended in June earlier this year. Yet, UP happens to be the biggest producer of sugar in the country, surpassing Maharashtra. The western state was the leading producer of sugar last year when it produced around 110 lakh metric tonnes of sugar. This, however, plunged below 90 LMT in 2024-25. Nationally, the total sugar production is estimated to be around 330 lakh tonnes. The fall in sugar production is largely attributed to the diversion of sugar from cane mills to Khandsari, a traditional, unrefined Indian sugar made from sugarcane juice. It's a natural sweetener that retains more nutrients and molasses than refined white sugar. According to an estimate, UP has around 250 Khandsari units, essentially established in parts of west and central UP. Industry sources said that cane growers diverted their produce to Khandsari units for quicker compensation compared to the one paid by the mills. The shift gained pertinence against the backdrop of the state govt keeping the State Advisor Price (SAP) for sugar at Rs 370 per quintal (for early variety) and Rs 360 per quintal for general variety. Another key reason behind the downturn in sugar production is adverse weather conditions — drought and excess rainfall — besides a drop in the quality of cane. Sources said that the cane recovery reduced from around 10.5% in 2017-18 to a little over 9.5% in current times.
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
100% dues to be recovered from casinos: Sawant
Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant told the assembly that state govt has issued notices to casino operators for the recovery of dues. Sawant said raids are being conducted at onshore casinos where live gaming takes place, while responding to a discussion on the demand for grants for the home department on Tuesday. 'Notices were issued, and 100% recovery will be completed. Some cases are in court,' Sawant said. 'We have increased fees by 100% for new casinos.' Sawant urged people to verify tenants because if a tenant is found involved in any criminal case, the homeowner shall be booked. He stated that 12 new history-sheets were opened in the state and 471 touts were booked. He noted that police reach the scene of a crime in 11 minutes. He denied the opposition's charge that promotions have been held back in police. 'Maximum promotions have been cleared during my tenure,' he said. The CM said that the crime detection rate is increasing day by day, and awareness drives on cybercrime and women safety have been conducted. Further, he said that state govt is working to reduce road accidents. On another front, Sawant noted that the SIT probing land grab cases has arrested 75 persons, and 30 cases are active. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These 11 Everyday Foods Might Be the Key to Knee Pain Relief Undo He said 727 land grab cases were received, and over 600 cases have been disposed of. Sawant said the work on the Patradevi Memorial will be completed by Dec 19. Speaking on the finance department, Sawant said that he achieved the target of a revenue surplus budget. He said state govt's borrowing limit was Rs 4,400 crore last year, but the state borrowed only Rs 1,500 crore to take up development work. Where the excise department was concerned, Sawant said that revenue from liquor sales has doubled since 2020 — from Rs 491 crore to Rs 947 crore in 2024 — and this shows that tourism has increased in the state. He said no truck carrying illegal liquor will cross the border. Sawant noted that every month, GST collection is on the rise in the state.
India.com
41 minutes ago
- India.com
India Hits China Where It Hurts Most, Hosts Beijing's Enemy, Sends Strongest Message With Naval Alliance In South China Sea
New Delhi: India welcomed one of China's fiercest maritime adversaries this week with full diplomatic honours and coordinated military manoeuvres. As Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr stepped onto Indian soil for a state visit, Indian warships were already cutting through the South China Sea alongside the Philippine Navy. The message from New Delhi was India stands with Beijing's biggest regional rival. The joint naval passage took place inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Indian ships INS Delhi, INS Shakti and INS Kiltan sailed alongside Philippine frigates BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal. The two-day operation was calm but closely monitored. 'We did not experience any untoward incidents, but there are still those shadowing us as we had already expected,' said Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner. The naval drill unfolded just as President Marcos departed Manila for his five-day visit to India. The timing was not incidental. The idea for the joint operation came during Brawner's meeting with his Indian counterpart in March. The exercise, confirmed by Indian officials, formed part of New Delhi's broader push to further strengthen security ties across the Indo-Pacific. Some nice shots! As part of the ongoing Operational Deployment to South East Asia, Indian Naval Ships INS Delhi (Guided Missile Destroyer), INS Shakti (Fleet Tanker), and INS Kiltan (Anti Submarine Warfare corvette) of the Eastern Fleet concluded their port call at Manila,… — Vayu Aerospace Review (@ReviewVayu) August 5, 2025 Indian Navy ships INS Delhi, Shakti, Kiltan in Manila, Philippines; to hold joint exercises with Philippines counterparts — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 4, 2025 #IndianNavy and #Philippines naval forces conducted first joint naval exercise in the #WestPhilippineSea Two PLA Navy vessels where tracking the exercise from 10 Nautical Miles, away #SouthChinaSea vid cr ANC 24/7 Philippines — Hero For Fun (@XClassHero) August 4, 2025 In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs reinforced its maritime posture through official briefings. 'Our position on the South China Sea is clear and consistent. We consider the South China Sea part of global commons. We support freedom of navigation, overflight and legitimate commerce through the waters of the South China Sea. India has an abiding interest in peace and stability in the region, and our position is based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982,' said MEA Secretary (East) Periasamy Kumaran. He emphasised India's view that ongoing negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea should include voices from all affected parties, including those outside the formal talks. 'It should be effective, substantive and inclusive of the interests of all stakeholders,' he added. The Indian and Philippine governments formalised their growing partnership with a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Marcos endorsed expanded cooperation in defence, maritime security, humanitarian response, pollution control, shipbuilding, coastal surveillance and disaster relief. Both countries expressed concern over rising aggression in the region and called for restraint. The joint statement reiterated their commitment to international law, including the UNCLOS, and their support for a free and open Indo-Pacific. They pledged increased participation in joint maritime drills, including the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise, the Exercise MILAN and the Philippines' Maritime Cooperative Activities. India is delighted to welcome Philippines President, Mr. Bongbong Marcos at a time when we mark 75 years of bilateral relations between our nations. It is equally gladdening that we have decided to elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership, which ensures our cooperation becomes… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2025 We are working to boost cultural linkages between India and Philippines. Our nations will work together in tourism, connectivity and holding regular cultural exchange programmes. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2025 The partnership now extends to cyber security, peacekeeping, critical technologies, economic security and military medicine. Maritime domain awareness will remain a top priority, with both sides planning joint research and technology sharing. India's actions have not gone unnoticed in Beijing. The Chinese foreign ministry repeated its long-standing position that disputes in the South China Sea must remain between 'countries directly involved', warning against third-party interference. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command had earlier accused the Philippines of inviting foreign militaries to conduct joint patrols, saying such moves 'undermine regional peace and stability'. The reference to India's involvement was implicit but clear. The joint naval passage comes against the backdrop of a broader regional realignment. Since late 2023, the Philippines has conducted maritime operations with the United States, Japan, Australia, France and Canada. India now joins that list, adding its weight and ships to the counter-China security web emerging across the Indo-Pacific. During his trip to India, President Marcos is focusing on expanding cooperation beyond the seas, touching sectors such as defence production, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and trade. But on both land and water, the strongest signal of the visit lies in the synchrony of political hospitality and military movement. India's embrace of China's maritime challenger comes with unmistakable intent.
