VAT Bill passed without debate

Bhopal, Mar 24 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh Assembly, which witnessed bedlam on the office of profit issue, today passed a bill to amend the Value Added Tax Act, 2002 without discussion.

Amid uproar after two brief adjournments with Congress members raising slogans seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the office of profit issue, Speaker Ishwardas Rohani rushed through the day's agenda, including passage of three bills. All the bills were passed by voice vote without discussion in about ten minutes.

Commercial Tax Minister Babulal Gaur, who piloted the VAT Amendment bill, laid on the table of the house his statement on the bill, listing among others the items covered under different categories of VAT regime coming into effect from April this year.

The house also passed Indian Road Tax (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) bill, 2006 which provides for collection of road tax on bridges and roads constructed under BOT scheme for 30 years as against 15 years at present.

Madhya Pradesh Medical Educational Institutions (Control) Amendment bill, 2006, moved by Health Minister Ajay Bishnoi, was also passed.

UNI SP VD SSC1501