HC : GST regime "not tax friendly"; Appeals to administration to fix system glitches

Bombay HC expresses discontent over unsatisfactory state of affairs, terming GST regime “not tax friendly”, while presiding over writ petition seeking grievance redressal against lack of access to GST portal despite registration; Notes that petitioner is unable to inter alia file necessary returns, particularly Form GSTR-3B, thereby attracting late fee for period from October 207 onwards, and generate E-way bill; HC states, “It is not the business of this Court to grant such access as is claimed by the petitioner. It is for the authorities to work out the necessary mechanism and set that in place” while directing authorities to set up and establish grievance redressal mechanism; Noting that Revenue could not give a definite answer on whether petitioner’s grievance would be projected and raised before GST Council or not, HC observes, “A tax like  Goods and Services Tax was highly publicised and termed as popular. We had yet not seen a celebration of New Tax regime, but that has followed with great hue and cry. These celebrations mean nothing. The special sessions of Parliament or special or extraordinary meetings of Council would mean nothing to the assessees unless they obtain easy access to the website and portals.”; Hopes that those in charge of implementation and administration of GST law would at least now wake up and put in place requisite mechanism so as to preserve the image, prestige and reputation of country, and lists matter on February 16 while noting Allahabad HC’s direction to reopen GST portal in a similar grievance : Bombay HC