Wise people said all the five fingers are not equal and we all and specially our legislatives know about this phrase. Nowadays, it is a season of taxes in Punjab. Government take all things under TAX slabs. Previously the property and electricity meter security TAX were in news, and people had protested against generator TAX in Punjab as well. Everyday a new and baseless TAX has been introduced in Punjab, which is already suffering with the curse of inflation and intoxication in youth. It seems like Punjab is competing in some kind of TAX competition. Here it presents a new TAX with name Prevention of Human Smuggling Act/TAX.
BENEFITS TO COMPLAINANTS:
In this bill/Act, the police can arrest any consultant or travel agent for the investigation. The investigation should be completed within a period of two month from the date of information given. Let us spouse if under this investigation the consultant not found guilty then there is not any stipulation under which the complainant have to pay penalty and any punishment. On the contrary when it comes to government itself in another LOCPAL bill, there is the stipulation of 4 year presentment for the complainant if the complaint found wrong or if the officer non-guilty.
If anybody applies for the student visa to abroad, they had to pay the college tuition fee in advance and transfer the fee through banks or any other financial institute. In case if their visa gets rejected and the concern college gone blacklisted or closed or if any other reason the college would not return the fee, then as per this law consultant fill complete fee and compensate to the applicant or student, which is wrong. It should be the responsibility of our government to take the initiative for the refunds. It is such a serious concern.
WHAT THE TAX IS AND WHAT IS THE TENURE?
Previously the Act was introduced in year 2008 which was rejected by the centre government. As per that Act there was the stipulation of ten lakh bank security with ten thousand annual TAXES. Now as per new amended act, who desire to undertake the profession of a travel agent or consultancy or of a ticketing agent, as the case may, under these rules, or a person, who is already in any of the aforesaid profession on the date of commencement of this act, shall come under the TAX slabs. A fee of rupees one lac for the firm/company, which have been in existence for more than five years as a travel agent or consultancy and a fee of rupee twenty five thousand for the firm/company which have been in existence for less than five year as a travel agent or consultancy and rupee twenty five thousand of the ticketing agent respectively. This TAX will be charge for the five year tenure. The rules and notification has been passes by the deputy chief minister of Punjab for the collection of TAX and licencing consultancy profession in October 2013. The entire deputy commissioner has been instructed accordingly.
THE POWER OF SEARCH, SEAL AND ARREST.
Act was introduced in the year 2008 and further amended in the year 2013 with notification. As per this act under the stipulation of police search and seal power, any Gazetted police officer not below the rank of Deputy superintendent of police or any other officer authorized in this behalf by the orders by the state government, has enter into and search any such building, conveyance or place. Break open any door or window of any house and remove any obstacle to search entry in case of any resistance. Seize any document or substance or material like electronic devices, computer, mobile phone etc. also arrest any person whom he has reason to believe to have committed any offence. It seems like these qualified expert travel agents consultants are terrorist, as this type of law is enforcing on terrorist only. We can see this in Hindi movies as well.
REASON BEHIND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ACT.
As per government, their motive is to check unscrupuloustravel agents. Illiterate and gullible people are exploited and are cheated by these agents. Lot of young Punjabi youth lost their lives.
WHO ARE THESE SWINDLERS AND WHO HAS BEEN GONE CHEATED.
Here we would like to divert government kind attentions towards the people who cheat others in this profession are used to change their office and city every month. They generated bogus companies and publish fake advertisement to woo people. Their telephone numbers, identities everythingis counterfeit. These people have no ethics and will continually doing this cheating till our illiterate people paying them huge money.
TAX BY WRONG METHOD:
The method of implementing this TAX is wrong. If somebody quit with in one or two year, will the government return his/her remaining advanced paid TAX of five year tenure? Neither is mention about this question in above said bill.
WHY NOT CHANDIGARH?
Why does Punjab government spareChandigarh? The ads published by Chandigarh agents are humorous. Like study in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and UK without IELTS. Sure visa of America in just ten thousand bucks. I think government have to check on these fraud agents. Who these agents are? Where they come from? How would they manage to raise million of funds to publish their ads? From where this money comes it should be checked and investigated.
THESE SHOULD BE GRIPPED.
Those who advertise in the news channels and newspapers should be gripped first. The ad company should first ask for some kind of identity proofs from the person who is willing to publish his/her ad. Is the government blind they can’t see those ads of study visa without IELTS to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand etc.? America 100% multiple visa? Nowadays the hypocrite spiritual people are also acting this hypocrisy, visa in just five minutes!!
ABOUT GENUINE TRAVEL AGENTS:
On other side, what is the fault of those travel agents, consultants etc. who are practicing their work with honesty and principal? It is a questionable concern to the government that who approach the consultants for the student visa and permanent residency; they supposed to be a qualified and professional people. They score six or seven bands in IELTS and prove their credential for the immigration. I regret by saying these literate and professional people are not innocent and gullible. They know better about everything. For the permanent residency mostly the skilled people approach the consultants like Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, accountants and business man etc. these all are qualifies and more smart to understand their right and wrong, these can’t be consider innocent and gullible. These kinds of people are willingly choose go abroad and behind this cause, our government is responsible.
NO BENEFITS TO TREVAL AGENTS AND CONSULTANTS, ONLY HARSHER LIABILITIES:
In this law or bill, neither is talked about the benefits to consultants. It isjust filled with the liabilities and harsher punishments to consultants. It sounds a tight slap to the tax payer and gets home a venomous rattlesnake. What an incredible government of Incredible India!
PUNJAB IS THE ONLY STATE, OF ABOVE SAID LAW:
The Punjab prevention of human smuggling act has been applied by the Punjab government in their legislation. Only Punjab state comes under the stipulation of this act. This type of TAX is not available in any other state of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Madras etc. Might be our state would now become number one in TAX charging after intoxications. Government must think and take initiatives in the welfare of all Punjab.
DR AMRIK SINGH KANDA
BHaji, you are absolute right… I