Chennai, Oct 28: Tamil Nadu's Commercial Taxes Commissioner has issued a circular directing officials not to stop and inspect goods vehicles without valid reasons, in a move aimed at reducing roadside checks and easing the difficulties faced by truck drivers and traders, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

According to the circular, enforcement teams will be allowed to act only when the department receives credible, specific intelligence that a vehicle is transporting goods in violation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) laws. The existing 'roving squads' have reportedly been disbanded and replaced by 'flying squads', whose operations will be based on information about suspected violations rather than routine patrols.

Under the revised system, flying squad personnel will remain stationed at the office of the Commercial Taxes Joint Commissioner. They will no longer move around roads, stopping goods vehicles at random, the reports said.

Repeated checks have been described as a major difficulty for truck drivers, who can face questioning at several locations during a single journey. Even when the required documents are in order, such interceptions can place drivers and traders under considerable stress, the reports said.

Nation Press reported that the circular cites Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, which protects citizens' right to freely carry on trade or business. GST enforcement itself has not stopped: flying squads can still inspect a vehicle when credible, specific intelligence points to a violation. The instructions are reported to have taken immediate effect across Tamil Nadu.

Source: Nation Press