Tamil Nadu: HC Moved for Deducting INCOME TAX for MPs, MLAs

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Tamil Nadu: HC Moved for Deducting I-T for MPs, MLAs
PTI | Chennai | Mar 02, 2012

An anti-corruption association has moved the Madras High Court for a
direction to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Tamil Nadu
Legislative Assembly Secretariat to deduct tax at source for MPs and
MLAs in keeping with section 190 of the Income Tax Act 1961.

When the petition filed by C Selvaraj, President of Association of
Transparency and Anti-Corruption, also seeking a direction to the
authorities concerned to pay allowances only on valid claims, with
proof attached came up for hearing today, the First Bench headed by
Chief Justice M Y Eqbal adjourned it for hearing on March 13.

Claiming that citizens of the country, including himself, paid income
tax and other taxes, subject to their income being above Rs 1.60 lakh
per annum, the petitioner alleged TDS was not being applied to the MPs
and state legislators receiving payments totalling Rs 11.40 lakh and
Rs 5.60 lakh per annum (excluding exemptions) respectively.

He claimed that a research of data filed by state MLAs for the period
2006-11 showed eight MLAs did not have a permanent account number
(PAN) while six others claimed nil income. He also alleged 47 others
had under-reported their income.

The petitioner said he had sent complaints on August 4 and December 1
last year to the Director General of Income Tax but there was no
action.

He sought a direction to the I-T DG to recover income tax not paid by
MPs and MLAs during the period.
Filed On: Mar 02, 2012 23:18 IST