49th GST Council Meeting: 13 members express interest for state tribunals, says Tamil Nadu Finance Minister

The recommendations are currently being deliberated upon at the 49th GST Council meeting in New Delhi.

The proposals drew concerns from states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Kerala, and Rajasthan.

Bihar and Punjab have also opposed the recommendations of the council. The states have expressed reservations as they want a separate state tribunal from the proposed National Tribunal, sources said.

CNBC-TV18 had earlier reported on February 14 that the GoM report proposes to constitute a Principal Bench of the Appellate Tribunal at New Delhi.

Other recommendations from the GoM included creating the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against orders passed by the Appellate Authority or the Revisional Authority. The proposed principal Bench to be presided over by the President and shall consist of a Technical Member (Centre) or a Technical Member (State), among others, CNBC-TV18 had reported citing sources.

Abhishek Jain, Partner Indirect Tax at KPMG in India, has expressed that the industry players have long awaited the establishment of a GST Tribunal, as the absence of it has put many cases on hold.

Establishing a GST tax tribunal similar to the one for income tax is essential not only to reduce the need to approach high courts, but also for the betterment of businesses, according to MS Mani of Deloitte India.

The Tamil Nadu Finance Minister also said that the GST compensation to states, pertaining to financial year 2020-21 has been released today and the state expects to receive a sum of Rs 4,233 crore.

Today's meeting also saw the GST council reduce the levy on pencil sharpers to 12 percent from 18 percent earlier.