PANJIM: Bowing to pressure from various quarters, including its own cadre, the BJP-led government on Thursday withdrew the controversial circular asking business establishments to go cashless within ten days. The government stated that going cashless is an “option” and “not a compulsion”.
“It is once again reiterated that the cash transactions have not been banned and said trade circular is only an appeal to facilitate the business on account of the problems faced by dealers/hoteliers/proprietors as well as customers/public at large pursuant to demonetisation. It is further clarified that it is an option and not compulsion to provide for electronic mode of payment,” Commercial Taxes Commissioner Dipak Bandekar said in a fresh circular.
“The time limit of 10 days mentioned in the earlier trade circular would not apply for making available the other available modes of payments/cash transfers like point of sale machines, QR code recognition and payment devices, swipe card enabled payment systems etc,” he added.
The department of commercial taxes last week had issued a circular asking business establishments to go cashless within ten days. However, the move was objected to by the business community and political parties including the BJP.
Social activist Adv Aires
Rodrigues had even approached the Goa Human Rights Commission against the decision, wherein notice has been served to Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Commercial Taxes.
“Upon field visits by ward officials and after interaction with other stake holders like banking institutions and upon taking into consideration factors like need for training of proprietors/dealers for operating POS machines/time required for configuration of other electronic modes of payments, and the business rush due to ensuing festive season, the ten days time limit is withdrawn,” Bandekar said.
The Commissioner has directed tax officer in charge of each ward to hold meetings, workshops with the assistance of bank officers to sensitise dealers, hoteliers about benefits of alternative cash payments and has asked to submit the report by January 31, 2017.
