Odisha to convene special Assembly session to ratify GST Bill

Bhubaneswar, Aug 23 (PTI) A special session of theOdisha Legislative Assembly will be held on September 1 forratification of the 122th Constitutional Amendment Bill (GST). A proposal in this effect was approved at a cabinetmeeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. The cabinet also approved another proposal to defer thebeginning of the Monsoon session of the Assembly fromSeptember 7 to September 21, Chief Secretary A P Padhi toldreporters here. "The state cabinet has decided today to place theConstitution Amendment Bill (GST) before the state legislatureon September 1 for ratification. A one-day special session ofthe Assembly will be convened for the purpose," Padhi said. Stating that the Goods and Service Tax (GST) ConstitutionAmendment Bill needs to be ratified by at least 50 per cent ofthe state legislatures, Padhi said it was an importantmilestone in the reforms of indirect taxes in the country. TheGovernment of Odisha is in favour of the GST, he pointed out. "It will bring uniform tax rate throughout the countryand help in seamless movement of goods and services across thestates," he said. On the deferment of the Assembly Monsoon session, Padhisaid the decision was taken keeping in view of the ensuingNuakhai festival in Western Odisha. "The cabinet decided to defer the beginning of theMonsoon session of the state Assembly from September 7 toSeptember 21 and will have ten working days as decidedearlier," he said. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, in a letter tothe Assembly Speaker, had also requested to defer the Monsoonsession in view of the Nuakhai festival. PTI AAM DKBSMN