In these cases, nearly 14,000 petitions are due that comprise the goods and services tax also the council would be working to set the GST Tribunals.
The number of GST pleas concerned with the Central GST Council are due at different levels surged to 14,227 between April and June in this financial year, as per the official information. From 11,899 such cases pending at the end of fiscal 2022–23, this represents an almost 20% increase. Pankaj Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Finance, announced this information in the Lok Sabha. He was answering a query on the formation of GST appellate courts.
Since 2020–21, when 5,499 cases were outstanding, the total number of appeals concerned with the Central GST authority has exceeded than doubled. By the conclusion of the fiscal year 2021–2022, this had climbed even further, reaching 9,759 instances. “Under the GST legislation, there is no idea of a peaceful settlement, and appeals are handled in accordance with the legislation, Chaudhary expressed.
The establishment of GST Appellate Tribunals around the nation was agreed upon by the GST Council at its 49th meeting in February. On the foundation of the requests of the states, there are plans to gradually build state benches.
The Council also advised, during its July meeting, that the Centre may notify the provisions of the Finance Act, 2023, related to the GST Appellate Tribunal, with effect from August 1, in order to implement them as soon as possible. There have been 50 state bench proposals obtained.
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Although the majority of the state benches are anticipated to begin operating by the end of the year, certain states, like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, have already accelerated construction on them.
The West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya has stated that two benches in the state would begin operating on October 1 while the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet recently authorized the proclamation of an act for the establishment of GST Appellate Tribunals.
The establishment of these tribunals would be a huge relief for the sector, which now needs to go before the High Court to appeal decisions. The industry has been pleading with the GST Council to establish these tribunals as soon as possible due to the numerous cases that were still outstanding.
