Prime Minister has given direction to Consumer Affair Ministry handled by Ram Vilas Paswan to become attentive on grievances from common people in respect to Goods and Service Tax (GST) and Exaggerating price issues with retailers.
The streamlined decisions were taken last week when the public complaints accepted by the consumer ministry were reviewed strictly under the consideration of the PM and respective officials of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) department.
Two retired government employees and specialists have been employed by the Ram Vilas Paswan led consumer affairs ministry to strengthen its National Consumer Helpline concerning grievances arriving in related to GST, to track the doubts regarding the GST rates on many products, and to reconcile and refer such grievances to the Central Bureau of Excise and Customs (CBEC), which plays very important role and is a supreme authority in GST implementation.
Prospective buyers have been lodging complaints about retailers’ misconduct in not passing the GST rate cut profits on different products, as officials mentioned. Some other complaints reaching to the consumer ministry are regarding GST overcharged on discounted prices. For an instance, a product of Rs. 100 is sold by the retailer at 30% discounted price but they are charging GST on rest Rs. 70 of the product price. This is a Deceptive procedure on the discount mechanism.
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A senior government official on a request for anonymity said, “They should declare the correct discount as the GST should include all taxes and cannot be above MRP.”
Officials mentioned that there are various phone calls to the consumer ministry helpline about complexities regarding GST.
The consumer ministry, which handles packaged goods under scrutiny, has informed in advance for special price tag stickers to be pasted on the goods exhibiting the decreased prices after GST amendment.
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The consumer ministry mentioned as well to the state legal metrology offices to examine and implement checkups in all states regarding whether the profits of reduced prices of the GST are passing to the consumers or not, said a government official.
As the helpline plays the role of the “first responder” for all complaints (including GST) of the consumer, the PMO has defined a “special focus” in the mentioning on the part of consumer ministry to take action fast to such GST related grievances.
