TN to introduce VAT Bill in current Assembly session

Chennai, Dec 4 (UNI) Tamil Nadu is all set to join the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime with the introduction of a Bill in this regard in the ongoing session of the State Legislative Assembly.

The winter session of the Assembly, which commenced today, would last till December seven, Speaker R Aavudaiappan told reporters after a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) which decided the schedule and business to be transacted in the House.

He said four Bills -- The Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Bill 2006, The Indian Stamp and the Registration (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill 2006, a Bill to replace the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance and a Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Payment of Salaries Act -- would be introduced and passed during the session.

A Bill to abolish Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission in professional colleges was also likely to be introduced, he said.

The Speaker said a Government resolution on making Tamil the official language of Madras High Court would also be passed.

Also, demands for further grants for 2006-2007 and demands for excess expenditure for 1997-98 would also be moved and passed in the House, he added.

Asked whether there was any re-allocation of seat for rebel AIADMK MLA S V Shanmugam in the HOuse, Mr Aavudaiappan said his seat had been swapped with that of AIADMK member 'Agri' S Krishnamurthy, who was accused of using unparliamentary language in the House by some of the women MLAs.

UNI AKN JJ RL ND1454