TIOL proudly presents to you DDT 2500 - Every Day has been a learning experience
2500 editions of tax issues - DDT is grateful to all the Netizens for their support and patronage. DDT is grateful to the Government, without whose continuous flow of inexactitudinallaw making, DDT would not have been possible. During this week in a hearing before the Larger Bench of the CESTAT, lawyer after lawyer was criticising the draftsman who created some confusing law which was ultimately passed by Parliament. The President of the Tribunal observed, "it is only because of him, we are all here."
In all these 2500 editions, DDT's aim was to translate the babu made law into plain English - to what extent the mission was successful is for the Netizen to decide. While DDT is perceived to be harsh and uncharitable in its criticism of the tax administration, (an officer told me that the DDT pen is dipped in vitriol) especially by those at the receiving end and their friends, ultimately it has been realised that we are not adversaries but partners in the progress towards a better tax regime. Even the Tax Administration Reform Commission (TARC) consisting of hard-core revenue officers found a DDT worth incorporating in their report.
Within the mortal limits of modesty, I must admit that doing DDT on a daily basis for 2500 days was not easy; every night was filled with fear as to what DDT can carry the next day. On a daily basis, I was sure that DDT will not come the next day and I will lose my job but it did for 2500 days! I am grateful to my Managing Editor who would not allow a break in DDT and the Team TIOL who kept it alive.
As the Supreme Court says in a judgement (covered in this column today), "Every day is a matter of learning"
I know you don't come to this page to read about DDT; so let's get along with business as usual…….