'GST Will Ensure Transparency, Accuracy & Corruption Free Nation'

The Southern India Regional Council of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India is organizing its 42nd Regional Conference of Company Secretaries on 14^th & 15th July 2017 to deliberate on the theme "Drive the Change; Embrace the Opportunities”; in Bengaluru.

The Conference aimed to address the issues and offer solutions to ease the implementation of GST and also to throw light on the Advocacy Skills and Courtroom Etiquette.

“GST is a great relief from multiple tax structure, multiple point taxes and also reduction in the number of indirect taxes. Backed by GSTN, a fully integrated tax platform, it will help build a transparent and corruption free tax administration”, said Shri D P Nagendra Kumar, IRS, Principal Additional Director General of Central Excise, speaking at the conference.

A recent report says IGST – Integrated Goods and Service Tax collections on imports in the first 10 days of the new, simplified regime have crossed Rs 4000 Crores which is an indication that the ecosystem is on the right track.

Addressing the audience, Shri Rithvik Pandey, IAS, Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Karnataka said – "GST aims to capture all transactions in a way that the traders and manufacturers along with the Government benefit, as long as there is proper disclosure. The system is entirely supported by Government initiatives for its successful implementation."

The conference was inaugurated by CA T N Manoharan, Padmashree Awardee, Chairman, Canara Bank.

Shri. Rostow Ravanan, CEO & Managing Director, Mindtree Ltd delivered the Keynote address to over 500 professionals from across India.

The Central Government has constituted National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under Section 408 of the Companies Act, 2013 w.e.f from 1st June 2016 to handle corporate civil disputes arising under the Act.  Eminent speakers Prof Dr. Nandimath O V, Registrar, National Law School of India University and Shri K G Raghavan, Senior Advocate, spoke on – Advocacy Skills and Courtroom Etiquette. he said, "Advocacy refers to the process of trying to persuade others to support your position or point of view. One has to be strategic in ones advocacy. This trait was ideally associated with lawyers from time immemorial. NCLT has opened this new arena for professionals like Company Secretaries and, Chartered Accountants.

Etiquette is essential for making a good impression; especially true in the courtroom, where there are many stated and unstated, rules of conduct for litigants, attorneys, jurors and other attendees. A good courtroom etiquette can aid in a case decision being made in your favour.