GST - How Many Votes Will Centre Have?
AS per Article 279A(2), the Goods and Services Tax Council shall consist of the following members, namely:-
a. | the Union Finance Minister........................ | Chairperson; |
|---|---|---|
b. | the Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or Finance............................ | Member; |
c. | the Minister in charge of Finance or Taxation or any other Minister nominated by each State Government............... | Members. |
Now, the Union Finance Minister and the Minister of State for Finance are Members of the GST Council and are there by a Constitutional mandate, each by his individual designation. But then will each of them have a separate vote to calculate the Centre's one third votes and if so, what happens if they vote differently - one for and one against? If there is only one vote, who will vote? The Finance Minister or his deputy? Can the Minister of State be barred from voting? This is the first time that a Minister by his portfolio is mentioned in the Constitution and if they want to change that, they will have to amend the Constitution. Maybe it is not wise to mention every detail in the Constitution.