On way to GST regime

"A march to the Goods and Services Tax Regime"
Shri Mrinal Kanti Chakrabartty, a retired tax officer of the Government of Assam, is now on the heels to publish his 15th book, namely; ‘On way to GST regime’. This book contains a chronological history on the tax measures in Assam since 1939, that is, during the British era. The present taxation laws operative in Assam also got berth in this book. The original Assam sales tax laws were dismantled from time to time and the VAT Law is now operative in Assam since 1st May, 2005. While appreciating the VAT measures in the country, Shri Chakrbartty maintained that the VAT regime has forced the consumers to shoulder a heavy burden of multiplicity tax element in each stage of sale and there had been an unprecedented price hike of the commodities, which tortured them economically. Out of his prolonged experience, he also pointed out some set-backs, faulty ways of action, in legal, practical and technical aspects in the VAT Law, operative in Assam.
According to Shri Chakrabartty, the proposed GST regime will provide fiscal relief to the consumers to a great extent, as there will be no consecutive charge of tax in each sales deal, but only the difference will be reckoned.
This Act will be a conglomeration of Central and State tax measures. A drastic change of the Constitution of India will naturally be necessary for introduction of the consolidated Central and State taxation law.
The new tax law, as Shri Chakrabartty felt, is likely to be enacted by Parliament and the Government of India (Central Government) will be the chief architect of such tax measures. The State Governments are likely to administer the State tax measures under the direction and guidance of the Central Government. He apprehends that, if it practically happens so, the economic sovereignty of the States will likely to be seized. The role of the State Governments in that case will be cipher and the States will be dependable on the Central Government in different aspects.