Central government’s move to impose service tax on legal consultancy service under the union budget for 2009-10 has not gone well with the lawyer community. The bar association and lawyers have opposed this move by the Centre.
Expressing his discontent, senior member of the Ahmedabad Criminal Court Bar Association, Gulab Khan Pathan said, “We oppose such move by the central government. We will decide the future course of action after studying the proposal in detail and make representation in this regard after discussing the issue at the Bar Council of Gujarat.”
When contacted, Yatin Oza, former president, The Gujarat High Court Bar Association told DNA, “It seems that, the legal fraternity is being targeted by the central government by imposing service tax upon legal consultants. This is a frustrating move. Legal consultancy should not be treated as a service for imposition of service tax.”
Expressing similar view, Krishnakant Vakharia, senior counsel of Gujarat HC, said that consultancy and advice was beyond the scope of service tax.
He said, “Consultancy and advice regarding legal issues is beyond the purview of the service tax. By providing legal advice, we are also helping society to maintain law and order. The lawyer fraternity should be excluded from scope of the service tax and the central government has to withdraw such proposal.”
Office bearer of Bar Council of Gujarat, Anil Kella said, “We oppose the move. Such provision will create an obstacle in providing speedy justice and ultimately the people seeking justice will suffer.”
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