BN Sharma Will Head GST National Anti-Profiteering Authority
The anti-profiteering body will ensure consumers get the benefit of reduced prices under GST.
The government today appointed BN Sharma, as the first chairman of the anti-profiteering body which will soon be responsible for ensuring that consumers get the benefit of reduced prices under the Goods and Services Tax.
Technical members will include JC Chauhan, chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tax Tribunal; Bijay Kumar, principal commissioner-GST, Kolkata; CL Mahar, principal commissioner-GST, Meerut; and R Bhagyadevi, ADG-systems, Chennai, the finance ministry said in a media statement.
Earlier this month, the Union Cabinet approved the setting up of a National Anti-Profiteering Authority to protect consumer interest, by ensuring that the benefits of input credit and the reduction in GST rates on specified goods or services are passed on to consumers.
The body has been set up for a two-year period, which would begin from the date Sharma assumes charge as chairman. “If a consumer feels there has been no commensurate reduction in prices, he may apply for relief to the Screening Committee in the State,” the finance ministry statement said.
After the application is screened, it will be passed on to the Director General of Safeguards, CBEC to carry out detailed investigation. The Director General of Safeguards shall report its findings to the authority, the press note added.
According to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Sharma is an IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre of the 1985 batch. Prior to his current appointment, Sharma was the Additional Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.