How to Maintain Safe Distance from Income Tax Department ?*
Do you want to keep an Arm’s Length Distance from the Income Tax Department?
Obviously the Answer is YES!!! But the question here is HOW???

*Here are a list of expenses/ investments, which at any point of time performed by you may invite undue attention from the Income tax Personnel ?*
1) Depositing Cash aggregating to Rs.10 Lacs p.a. in your Savings Bank Account.
2) Making Credit Card Payments of more than Rs.2 Lacs p.a.
3) Investment in Mutual Fund Units worth more than Rs. 2 Lacs.
4) Investment in Debentures/ Bonds, amounting more than Rs. 5 Lacs
5) Investment in Shares worth more than Rs. 1 Lakh.
6) Investment in Gold ETF worth more than Rs. 1 Lakh.
7) Investment in RBI Bonds worth more than Rs. 5 Lacs.
8) Purchase / Sale of any Immovable Property exceeding Rs.30 Lacs.
9) Receipt of Cash Payment exceeding Rs.2 Lacs for sale of any goods/ services.
10) Cash deposits or withdrawals aggregating to Rs 50 lakh or more in a financial year in one or more Current Account.
The Next question which may strike us, is

*How does the Income tax Personnel get to know about all these activities ?*
To keep an eye on such high value transactions of the tax payers, the IT Department has developed a statement of financial transactions called Annual Information Report (AIR).
On the basis of this AIR, the department shortlists their targets and further sends them a notice.

*What do you mean by a Annual Information Report ?*
Annual Information Return (AIR) of ‘high value financial transactions’ is required to be furnished under section 285 BA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 by ‘specified persons’ in respect of ‘specified transactions’ registered or recorded by them during the financial year.

*Who provides the high value transaction information to prepare the AIR ?*
☆ Banks
☆ Mutual Fund Companies
☆ Companies Issuing Bonds/ Debentures
☆ Companies issuing shares
☆ Credit Card Companies
☆ Sub- registrar offices on real estate deals.

*How can I trace my High Value Transactions reported under AIR ?*
The assesse can trace his/ her high value transactions reported under AIR, in their 26AS Report under AIR section. Any transaction of the assesse which has been categorized as a High Value Transaction, will be reflected therein.

In the end, one last question which everyone might have.
*How to avoid receiving a notice from the IT department ?*
The most important step is to file your Income Tax returns on time and file them correctly.
Always re-check your Tax Credit with the 26AS statement.
Disclose all your Taxable as well as Exempt income under the right head.

Tikamgarh (MP), August 28

Over-enthusiasm by a youth to show his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, dashed his hopes of joining the Army.The class X pass youth, Sourabh Bilgaiyan (22), of Jeron village in the district, wanted to serve as a soldier in the armed forces.However, a tattoo on his chest reading: “Jab tak suraj chaand rahega, Shivraj Mama aur Narendra Modi ka naam rahega” (Chouhan and Modi’s name will remain till sun and moon are visible), has now shattered his dream of getting into the military service.”Though I have no interest in politics, I am a fan of Chouhan and Modi and got this slogan imprinted on my chest as a mark of respect for the two leaders during the 2013 elections,” Sourabh said.”However, when I went to Maharashtra’s Vimannagar in 2014 to appear in a recruitment rally for Army and after appearing in the written examination when I removed my shirt for physical and medical examination, the recruiters declared me unfit for the force because of this slogan,” he claimed.The youth also claimed that he was treated in a similar manner in the Army recruitment rallies held in Guna, Anooppur and Shivpuri.This has led the youth in a piquant situation as he neither wants to remove the tattoo that he got done on his chest in the honour of Modi and Chouhan, nor does he want to give up his dream of serving the military.Meanwhile, retired Colonel V K Saini, who also earlier served as recruitment director, told PTI, “We do not permit any tattoo on the person, on the ground that it will disclose the person’s identity and religion to enemy in the battlefield. We are not supposed to reveal it at any cost in operational areas.””Secondly, when a man wears a uniform then all should look alike, especially when they go to fight an enemy,” he clarified.A senior retired Army officer, A S Tomar, also said, “There is a rule in the Army that any person applying for any post should not sport any slogan about any particular person, especially about political persons.” — PTI

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 17

The one-man Judicial Committee comprising Justice L Narasimha Reddy set up by the Central Government to look into the implementation of “one rank, one pension” (OROP) formula for the ex-servicemen and address anomalies arising thereof held its first public hearing at the Chandimandir Military Station today. Ex-servicemen contended that major points of discord were not included in the committee’s terms of reference.A large number of retired armed forces personnel across all ranks attended the hearing to present their views and opinions before the committee, which is scheduled to submit its reports to the government in December. Justice Reddy is a former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.Ex-servicemen said major points of discord that did not form part of the committee’s mandate included the definition of OROP, not equalising the pension annually, not fixing pension according to the highest rate for the particular rank and instead basing it on the average rate of the rank, fixing the date of implementation and base year for calculations.Veterans said unless these key issues were resolved, OROP would lose its real essence. It would not only deprive them of full benefits, but also lead to more disparities later on. This, they claimed, would lead to more unrest and bad blood.

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 16The Supreme Court today ruled that the Army had taken “suitable action” against about 75 officers for their involvement in the illegal sale of prohibited weapons to criminals and the general public.A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur also refused to issue any guidelines to the Army to prevent such sale, observing that the Arms Act and its rules and Defence Services Regulations were adequate to ensure that.The Bench, which included Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, however advised the authorities to ensure that the mechanism for the sale of such weapons was “under strict scrutiny and supervision”.The court noted that 25 officers involved in importing ammunition in excess of authorisation had been awarded “severe displeasure”, while 12 others were subjected to administrative action that resulted in similar punishment.The court expressed the confidence that adequate action would be taken against others facing similar charges.

New Delhi, August 17

India and Bangladesh will jointly produce a documentary on the 1971 War of Independence of Bangladesh, the Information and Broadcasting ministry said on Wednesday.

India will also facilitate the production of a “mega movie” by Bangladesh to mark the 100^th birth anniversary of its Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020.

In a meeting between Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Bangladesh Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu here, India also informed that All India Radio would be launching an exclusive service for Bangladesh and Bengali diaspora titled “Akashvani Maitree” on August 23.

President Pranab Mukherjee India would be launching the channel which would act as a “bridge of amity between the two countries”, an official statement said.

In the context of production of the documentary on the 1971 War of Independence of Bangladesh, Naidu suggested that the archival material available with Films Division, DD and other media units of the government be optimally utilized, a statement released by the I&B ministry said.

This documentary proposed to be produced would commemorate the 50^th year of Bangladesh Independence in 2021.

In the meeting, Naidu also said that information dissemination is critical to counter terrorism which is a common issue plaguing both India and Bangladesh.

“Timely and correct dissemination of information will prevent rumors and falsehood, while at the same time, build the spirit of cooperation and understanding between people,” Naidu said.

During the discussions, India and Bangladesh agreed to work out a proposal for a joint audio-visual co-production agreement between the two countries.

It was also agreed to organize Film Festival of India in Bangladesh and a Bangladesh Film Festival in India. The Bangladesh Minister also agreed to the request of Naidu to provide the celluloid version of the Bengali film Devdas directed by Pramatesh Barua in 1935, the statement said. — PTI

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar expressed his willingness to travel to Islamabad but with a rider

Islamabad/New Delhi, Aug 17

India on Wednesday rejected Pakistan’s proposal to hold Foreign Secretary-level talks on Kashmir and asserted that it would like to discuss aspects related to cross-border terrorism which are central to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.Responding to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry’s invitation, India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar expressed his willingness to travel to Islamabad but maintained that Pakistan had no locus standi in addressing any aspect of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which is an internal matter of India, except to put an end to cross-border terrorism and infiltration.The response was handed over to Pakistan by Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad Gautam Bambawale.“Since aspects related to cross-border terrorism are central to the current situation in J&K, we have proposed that discussions between the Foreign Secretaries be focused on them.“We have also conveyed that the Government of India rejects in their entirety the self-serving allegations regarding the situation in J&K, which is an integral part of India where Pakistan has no locus standi,” sources added.Pakistan on Monday had invited India for talks on Kashmir, saying it is the “international obligation” of both the countries to resolve the issue.The invitation was extended amid tension in bilateral ties due to the war of words between the two nations over the issue.Last week, while reacting to a statement by Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz regarding the invitation, India had made it clear that it would talk on “contemporary and relevant” issues in the Indo-Pak relations and at this time it included stoppage of Pak-supported cross-border terrorism. PTI

The I-Day speech

What Modi says, and what he doesn’

Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Day speech invited an immediate comment of disapproval from none other than the Chief Justice of India. This is unusual. After Raghuram Rajan, Chief Justice TS Thakur is the second dignitary who speaks out his mind regardless of consequences. The CJI’s grouse is that the PM did not speak on the delay in judges’ appointments, which is leading to a pile-up of cases and denial of justice to citizens. The CJI may not be alone in expressing disappointment. Prime Minister Modi left many crucial things unsaid. It was an incoherent speech that was so long that it put to sleep friends and foes alike — Arun Jaitley, Manohar Parrikar and Arvind Kejriwal, among them — all caught on camera.The PM’s silence on certain issues is not without a purpose. The I-Day speech is carefully crafted. If the focus is on achievements, then ugly things go under the carpet. Attacks on Dalits is one such ugly reality. Given the VHP annoyance with Modi’s reference to fake gau rakshaks, the PM skipped the issue. The President of India, however, spoke against ‘forces of divisiveness and intolerance’. Lack of anything concrete to show up in terms of progress half way through his term may explain Modi making no mention of ‘Make in India’, ‘Swachh Bharat’, black money and job creation.Inflation fell under the NDA due to a sharp decline in prices of oil and other commodities. Modi claimed credit for this. If any institution is responsible for lower inflation, it is the RBI, and not the government. On GST, the PM could have justifiably patted himself. Instead, he chose to brag about the faster delivery of railway tickets and passports. He told the nation about the turnaround in Air India but did not tell the whole truth. Air India has made a Rs 100-crore profit, but the profit happened not due to any government intervention but because of cheaper fuel. The airline’s accumulated losses of Rs 44,000 crore should worry Modi. On a solemn occasion like Independence Day the minimum the nation expects from its Prime Minister is to display statesmanship and national leadership.

Eroding the moral edge

Unveiling India’s designs may harm Baloch cause

Unveiling India’s designs may harm Baloch cause

With one swoop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have undercut India’s moral superiority over Pakistan during his Independence Day speech by indicating New Delhi’s willingness to meddle in Balochistan by way of retaliation for Pakistan’s sponsorship of unrest in Kashmir. India has been able to enlist the West’s support on Kashmir because it was never seen to be giving Pakistan an eye for an eye. At best, the West views India as a ham-handed manager of the troubles in Kashmir. During the worst of times, when foreign jehadis had poured into the Valley, New Delhi had adroitly exposed the neighbour’s role. But it kept its counsel on the Baloch unrest, be it the nationalist movements or armed struggles.Balochistan underwent severe convulsions in 2006-07 following the killing of Nawab Bugti and Nawabzada Balach Marri (oddly in a NATO strike). The Pakistan army has undoubtedly cracked down hard, leading to thousands of missing Baloch activists, now presumed murdered. But none of them subscribed to, even actively opposed, the communal politics practised by the State in Pakistan. Therefore, it is hard to believe that but for a few tutored statements, Baloch activists would feel gladdened by the Hindutva brigade’s support. Modi’s attempt to highlight the Baloch struggle for autonomy may have created a constituency here but may embarrass the largely secular Baloch nationalists.Modi’s non-diplomatic utterances are at variance with the sophistication with which Manmohan Singh tried to tackle the Baloch issue in 2009. To set the record straight, it was the Pakistan PM who raised the issue and Dr Singh responded by agreeing to discuss ‘all outstanding issues’, without once mentioning Balochistan. In fact the Sharm-el Sheikh communiqué was a victory of sorts for India because it did not mention Kashmir even once. But a large section of the media here raised a shindy, forcing Dr Singh to disown the statement. There is misinformation being peddled about India not supporting the Baloch struggle. The moral backing has always been there. Baloch leaders have openly interacted with the Indian leadership. The only difference is this was never announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Getting tougher with Pak

Vivek Katju
The traditional narrative has given way to a strict stance — for the better

Vivek Katju
The traditional narrative has given way to a strict stance — for the better

LONG ROPE: The role of separatists will have to be reconsidered and redefined.

IN a television interview, after the all-party meeting on August 12 on Kashmir, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury made significant observations regarding Delhi’s policies and actions in the state and Pakistan’s role. He said, “Remember always that the other factor of Pakistan’s interference and infiltration, etc. always is a constant… and there the point is, on that we have told today as well, all of us are unanimous that as far as Pakistan’s interference is concerned, we stand together and we will not permit it. But solve your internal problem.” Mr Yechury also agreed with the interviewer that some actions of past governments had “badly damaged” the trust that the Kashmiri people had in Delhi. Mistakes have been made by many governments in handling Kashmir. Equally, fingers can be pointed at the Kashmiri leadership. However, the real issue that the Indian political class and security managers need to ask themselves is this: can the internal Kashmir situation ever be fully and satisfactorily addressed without eliminating Pakistani interference? It is here that Mr Yechury’s comment that Pakistani interference is a “constant” is deeply troubling; it indicates an almost helpless resignation and acceptance that the Indian state can (and perhaps should) do nothing to staunch the flow of a hostile neighbour’s contaminant and root out its malignant influence engineered through pervasive intrusiveness, backed by violence.This writer had, in a recent contribution to these columns, sought to show how Pakistan’s interference over the past few decades through its proxies had ensured that the situation in Afghanistan will remain unsettled. Pakistan’s Afghanistan strategy is in many respects similar to its approaches in Kashmir: to keep the pot simmering through calibrated actions.India has traditionally taken a laissez-faire attitude to Pakistani contacts in Kashmir. This is seen, for instance, in the approach to the Hurriyat. Far from ensuring that separatists’ activities are eliminated, it has allowed them to publically propagate their views, meet foreign representatives in India and travel abroad where they have promoted their cause, though, at times, it has held them in custody. It has also permitted the separatists to meet Pakistani leaders. Former R&AW chief AS Dulat has revealed that the original decision to do so was taken by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and successive governments have followed it. PM Narendra Modi drew a line on the meeting of Pakistani representatives with the Hurriyat only effectively to erase it. The message that went out to the Pakistani generals and the international community was that Modi, like his predecessors, was willing to accept Pakistani interference in Kashmir affairs. Thus the Indian state has itself virtually, in complete violation of its basic stand that J&K is a constituent state of the Union, allowed Pakistan to openly propagate its position through its proxies. It has accepted, as Mr Yechury states, that Pakistan’s interference is a “constant” and yet has hoped to settle the internal situation in Kashmir!Implicitly, India has distinguished between Pakistani influence and its sponsored terrorism in the state. It has tenaciously fought the latter and continues to do so. Pakistan officially maintains that it has only provided moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmir. However, some of its leaders now publically acknowledge that it has given arms training to disaffected Kashmiri youth who went to POK and that tanzeems such as the LeT play a “heroic” role in Kashmir. The sponsorship of these groups continues despite assurances to the contrary. Indian policy, however, has taken somersaults on the whether talks and terrorism can go together. This has sent out signals that for bilateral engagement, India is willing to live with not only Pakistani influence, but also overlook its terrorism.It is instructive to look at India-Pakistan bilateral engagements on J&K. There have been three serious endeavours. The first two followed traditional approaches and essentially related to territorial arrangements. In 1962-63, during Swaran Singh-Bhutto talks, the question on the table was not of Kashmiri self-determination, but the territorial division of the state. In his recent book, India vs Pakistan, Husain Haqqani writes that according to “one account” of the talks, when the Indian delegation asked Bhutto how would Pakistan wish to modify the map, he leaned over a map and pointed to the little town of Kathua on the Kashmir-Himachal border, drew a circle somewhere there with his forefinger and said, “You can have this part of Kashmir. We want the rest.” Haqqani goes on to note, “Half a century later, Pakistan’s attitude does not seem to have changed.” It simply wants the Muslim majority areas of the state.During the 1972 talks, leading up to the Simla Agreement, it is believed Bhutto had tacitly agreed that the Line of Control would become the international border. The natural corollary is that neither side would seek to influence or intervene in the other’s territory.The third India-Pakistan engagement,  through the Manmohan-Musharraf back channel talks, sought to skirt the issue. Hence, it dwelt on borders becoming irrelevant or soft through increasing contacts between the J&K and the POK. It envisaged common statewide mechanisms on some issues. The Pakistanis, however, assert that they wanted joint management of these issues; this would have impinged on Indian sovereignty. Demilitarisation was also under consideration. All this went far beyond a clean territorial agreement. In the present very difficult period in the Valley, Delhi, Srinagar and the Indian political class needs to reach out to different sections of Kashmiri opinion, especially the youth who are getting swayed by extreme Islamist thought. They need the assurance that all political and developmental concerns will be addressed through constitutional and democratic processes. These assurances have to be followed by quick and tangible actions to overcome the cynicism that has developed about Delhi. Yet a message has also to go through that the Indian state cannot accommodate any extra-constitutional demands. That message can only go through by action to stop Pakistani intrusiveness.At the all-party meeting, Mr Modi made a beginning which he followed up in his Red Fort address by referring to the rights situation in Balochistan and the POK. He has given a clear indication to Pakistan that it should not assume India’s traditional approach would continue. No PM has done so till now. He has broken ground but he will have to show stamina to persevere. His comments will also draw international attention and pressure for the world community is used to flexible Indian approaches. These will have to be resisted. — The writer is a former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs

Vajra Corps organised a ‘Veer Nari Conclave’ to honour widows of country’s war heroes in Jalandhar on Saturday. A Tribune Photograph

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 13

Vajra Corps organised a ‘Veer Nari’ conclave today to honour and felicitate ‘veer naris’ of Jalandhar and remember the supreme sacrifice made by their valiant husbands in the honour of the country during the 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999 wars and counter insurgency operations.It was a solemn occasion wherein the serving soldiers’ families interacted with the ‘veer naris’ to understand and resolve any problems or issues that they were facing. Jobs for their children, financial assistance to the needy ones and medical equipment to others was ensured by Vajra Corps.A medical camp was also organised and medicines were provided to all. Anupvir Kaur, zonal president, Vajra Army Wives Welfare Association, met all ‘veer naris’ and assured them that they would continue to remain a part of the Indian Army fraternity and all their issues would be resolved at the earliest.59 ‘veer naris’ attended the event. Representatives from regimental centres, banks and pension establishments were present for immediate assistance to the ‘veer naris’.

ANCHKULA: Floral tributes were paid on Monday to the Dogra Regiment 18th battalion’s Maj Sandeep Shankla and Sepoy Swarn Singh of who were martyred in a counter-terrorist operation at Zafarkhani village of J&K’s Kupwara district in August 1991.

SANT ARORA/HTMajor Sandeep Shankla’s parents (behind soldiers) during the wreath-laying ceremony in Panchkula on Monday.

Nine terrorists were neutralised, 22 were apprehended and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered in the operation.

Maj Shankla had sacrificed his life while trying to save one of his soldiers, energising his troops. An IMA pass out of 1986 batch, Major Shankla was posthumously awarded with Ashok Chakra. Sepoy Swaran Singh was awarded (posthumously) with Kirti Chakra while Capt BJS Sandhu was given Shaurya Chakra.

The battalion earned five Sena medals, two Chief of Staff commendation cards and one GOC-in-C commendation card.

Maj Gen IJS Hundal, paid homage and laid a wreath to honour brave martyrs on behalf of the Western Army Commander. Serving officers, JCOs and veterans of the unit, who had participated in this operation, were also present. Next of kin of the martyrs also took part in the ceremony and were felicitated.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 3

The state government has enhanced ex gratia to the family members of armed forces personnel from Haryana, who die in harness in the performance of their duty, from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.This includes those serving in war zones, operational areas, United Nation Peace Keeping, terrorist or militant attacks or border skirmishes.Stating this here today, an official spokesperson said the rate had been revised for battle casualties that occurred on or after March 24.He said the enhanced amount of ex gratia was applicable to only those personnel who were residents of Haryana at the time of joining or entry into the service and were martyred on or after March 24, 2016. He said the previous cases would not be reopened. The ex gratia could be claimed within three years of casualty. It would be paid from the Haryana Chief Minister’s War Heroes Relief Fund, he added

Security personnel stand guard next to a barricade outside the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab on January 2, 2016. — Reuters

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 29

India will “confront” Pakistan with new evidence it has received from the US pointing to its “involvement” in the Pathankot terrorist strike, sources in the National Investigation Agency said on Monday.

Sources claimed the NIA was compiling a detailed report based on information it received from the US on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty request that it sent.

The information received three months ago has provided new evidence of Pakistan’s “involvement” in the attack, the sources said.

NIA will send a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The report will then be sent to Pakistan, sources said.

The development comes within months of NIA Chief Sharad Kumar’s reported statement that the agency had no evidence to point to Pakistan establishment’s involvement in the attack.

The statement, reportedly made in an interview in June, quickly escalated into a controversy between the two rival neighbours, even as the agency claimed Kumar had been “misquoted”.

Some gunmen attacked the airbase in a pre-dawn strike on January 2.  Four gunmen of the Jaish-e-Mohammed — a militant organisation based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir — and seven security personnel were killed in the standoff that followed.

A five-member Pakistani Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP), a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), two Lt Colonels and one inspector, from Pakistan had visited India in March to collect, review and document physical evidences and to interview key witnesses and victims through the NIA in connection with the Pathankot attack.

India has been demanding that Pakistan should allow a team to visit the country for investigations.

Pakistan has denied its involvement in the attack.

The relationship between the two nations has cooled in the past few months over an ongoing unrest in Kashmir. — (With inputs from agencies)