NEW DELHI—Seeeking exemption from the GST (Goods & Services Tax), the Delhi Skh Gurdwara Management Committee’s president Manjit Singh GK has written a letter to the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for issuing GST exemption certificate. Sikh institutions in Delhi run by the DSGMC are not exempt from GST even though they provide free food and services to thousands eveyday.
In his letter, GK has sought issuance of GST exemption certificate from the GST council.
Speaking with Sikh24 on July 18, DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK stated that several provisions of GST make Delhi Gurdwaras an exempt from the recent mandate. While seeking exemption certification, DSGMC lashed out on the India Government. He stated that on one side the Indian government was facilitating financial help for religious pilgrimages but on the other side the religious bodies have been included in GST’s jurisdiction. Citing the Delhi committee act passed in Indian Parliament, Manjit Singh GK said that the DSGMC was a local authority and it comes under jurisdiction of RTI act due to which it becomes eligible for exemption from GST.
It is noteworthy here that with the imposition of GST on ‘Langar’ and ‘Prasad’, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee is likely to bear financial burden worth Rs. 25 million annually. Although, the other religious bodies like SGPC were making efforts to exemption from GST but the Union government’s response to this demand had made it clear that the religious bodies wouldn’t be given relaxation.
