Press Information Bureau

09.01.2020

Direct Taxation

CBDT grants relaxation in eligibility conditions for filing of Income-tax Return Form-1 (Sahaj) and Form-4 (Sugam) for Assessment Year 2020-2021

MANU/PIBU/0026/2020

In order to ensure that the e-filing utility for filing of return for assessment year (A.Y) 2020-21 is available as on 1st April, 2020, the Income-tax Return (ITR) Forms ITR-1 (Sahaj) and ITR-4 (Sugam) for the A.Y 2020-21 were notified vide notification dated 3rd January, 2020. In the notified returns, the eligibility conditions for filing of ITR-1 & ITR-4 Forms were modified with an intent to keep these forms short and simple with bare minimum number of Schedules. Therefore, a person who owns a property in joint ownership was not made eligible to file the ITR-1 or ITR-4 Forms. For the same reason, a person who is otherwise not required to file return but is required to file return due to fulfilment of one or more conditions in the seventh proviso to section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act), was also not made eligible to file ITR-1 Form.

After the aforesaid notification, concerns have been raised that the changes are likely to cause hardship in the case of individual taxpayers. The taxpayers with jointly owned property have expressed concern that they will now need to file a detailed ITR Form instead of a simple ITR-1 and ITR-4. Similarly, persons who are required to file return as per the seventh proviso to section 139(1) of the Act, and are otherwise eligible to file ITR-1, have also expressed concern that they will not be able to opt for a simpler ITR-1 Form.

The matter has been examined and it has been decided to allow a person, who jointly owns a single house property, to file his/her return of income in ITR-1 or ITR-4 Form, as may be applicable, if he/she meets the other conditions. It has also been decided to allow a person, who is required to file return due to fulfilment of one or more conditions specified in the seventh proviso to section 139(1) of the Act, to file his/her return in ITR-1 Form.

Tags : Eligibility conditions Relaxation Grant

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Press Information Bureau

09.01.2020

Civil

1023 Fast Track Special Courts will be set up for Speedy disposal of Rape and POCSO Act Cases

MANU/PIBU/0029/2020

Incidents of rape and gang rape of minor girls below age of twelve years and similar heinous crimes against women have shaken the conscience of the entire nation. Therefore, the offences of rape and gang rape of women and children require effective deterrence through fast and time bound completion of trial relating to sexual offences. To bring out more stringent provisions and expeditious trial and disposal of such cases, Union of India enacted the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The has taken up work of setting up of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) as a part of National Mission for Safety of Women (NMSW). Accordingly, the Central Government has started a Scheme for setting up of 1023 FTSCs across the country based on pendency of subject cases obtained from various High Courts (1,66,882 numbers as on 31.03.2018) for time bound trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and POCSO Act. Further, in pursuance to the direction of Supreme Court of India in Suo Moto Writ Petition (Criminal) No.01/2019 dated 25.07.2019, out of 1023 FTSCs, 389 Courts have been proposed to be set up exclusively for POCSO Act related cases in Districts where pendency of such cases is more than 100. The Scheme was circulated to all concerned State Governments/Union Territories Administrations in September, 2019. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Law and Justice has written and appealed to all the Chief Ministers of States for opening these courts and for effective implementation of the Scheme which will act as strong deterrence against such crimes.

Out of total 31 States and UTs, so far, 24 have joined this scheme (Andhara Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, NCT of Delhi, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, UT of Chandigarh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh) for setting up of 792 numbers of FTSCs/including 354 exclusive POCSO courts. Efforts are constantly being made to obtain consent/willingness of remaining States/UTs.

The Department of Justice in the Government of India is constantly endeavoring to extend requisite assistance to the High Courts and State Governments in setting up of these Courts for prompt trial and disposal of cases to ensure safe and worth living environment especially to women and children in totality. 216 numbers of POCSO courts have already been operationalized in 12 States under the scheme.

Tags : Fast Track Special Courts Speedy disposal

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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

09.01.2020

Media and Communication

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India launches Complaint Management System portal and app

MANU/TRAI/0008/2020

As per TRAI Act, 1997, consumer protection is an important mandate of TRAI. TRAI has taken several initiatives, over the years to protect the interests of the consumers. TRAI has now launched an online Complaint Management System (CMS) for effective redress of consumer complaints. Initially the CMS will feature rule-based redress of complaints related to Value Added Services (VAS). Using the CMS portal or the app consumers will be able to fetch details of VAS services activated on their phone. Where double consent for VAS has not been recorded by TSPs, the consumers shall be able to file claims for the cost of VAS for one month. The claims, if any, will be settled by the respective TSPs only.

The TRAI CMS app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The URL to access the portal is: https://cms.trai.gov.in. It may be noted that it is a pilot launch to get feedback on working of app & portal. Based on feedback from consumers necessary changes, if any, will be incorporated in the app & portal.

Tags : Portal Launch Consumer Complaints

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Securities and Exchange Board of India

09.01.2020

Capital Market

Operating Guidelines for Investment Advisers in International Financial Services Centre

MANU/SIPM/0001/2020

SEBI has issued SEBI (International Financial Services Centres) Guidelines, 2015 (hereinafter referred to as 'IFSC Guidelines') on March 27, 2015 for facilitating and regulating financial services relating to securities market in an IFSC set up under section 18(1) of Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. The IFSC Guidelines provide for a broad framework for operating of various intermediaries (including Investment Advisers) therein, as defined in Clause 2 (1) (g) of the IFSC Guidelines. Further, in terms of Clause 3 (1) of the IFSC Guidelines, SEBI can issue guidelines for any entity desirous of undertaking any other financial services relating to securities market.

Based on the representations received from various stakeholders, it has been decided to put in place 'Operating Guidelines for Investment Advisers in IFSC'. The same is annexed herewith. This circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11(1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.

Tags : Guidelines Investment Advisers IFSC

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Ministry of Commerce and Industry

08.01.2020

Customs

Query regarding import policy of Iron & Steel

MANU/DGFT/0007/2020

DGFT vide Notification No. 17/2015-2020 dated 05.09.2019 amended the import policy of Iron & Steel by revising it from 'Free' to 'Free' subject to compulsory registration under Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) for the items covered in chapter 72, 73 and 86 of ITC (HS), 2017, Schedule-I (Import policy). The Directorate has received a query that whether the SIMS Registration is required both at the point of import into SEZ/FTWZ and at the time of Customs Clearance for import from SEZ to DTA.

The matter has been examined in consultation with Ministry of Steel and it is clarified that in case an item of steel gets registered under SIMS at the time of entry into SEZ/FTWZ, there is no need to seek SIMS Registration again at the time of supply of such item into DTA. In other words, if the goods imported under SIMS to SEZ/FTWZ are supplied to DTA unit without any processing, the DTA unit need not seek any registration under SIMS. However, if manufacturing process in SEZ results in change of HS Code at 8-digit level, the importer in DTA shall be required to register under SIMS.

Tags : Query Import policy Amendment

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Press Information Bureau

08.01.2020

Civil

Cabinet approves ratification of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France

MANU/PIBU/0019/2020

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the ratification of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France. The Agreement was signed in March, 2018 during the State Visit of the French President to India.

The Agreement represents a major milestone in enhancing people-to-people contacts, fostering mobility of students, academics, researchers and skilled professionals and strengthening cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides. The Agreement is a testimony to India's rapidly expanding multi-faceted relationship with France and symbolizes the increasing trust and confidence between the two sides. The Agreement is initially valid for a period of seven years, incorporates provision for automatic renewal and a monitoring mechanism through a Joint Working Group.

Tags : Ratification Approval Migration

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