GST rollout: Anti-profiteering rules must be used sparingly, says Sumit Dutt Majumdar

What is your take on the government allowing late filing in the first two months?

GSTN is not ready for all functions, including return filing and invoice matching. Offline interim arrangements are planned. Besides, all rules and formats are not finalised. But, the government is determined not to defer GST. We had to relax the provisions.

Your reactions to anti-profiteering provisions?

Jaitley's assurances about the use of provisions in rare cases must be put in guidelines since the rules do not say so. It's a double-edged weapon. This will ensure that the trade and industry do pass on the benefits of lesser tax incidence to consumers. But its rampant application will also create disruptions in business.

Your views on tax evasion and penalty provisions?

These are normal provisions on offence and penalties, like in all taxation laws. I did not find anything extraordinary.

(As told to Dipu Rai)