Changes in Direct Taxes Code bill to be tabled in Monsoon Session: P Chidambaram

MUMBAI: The government will introduce changes to the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) bill that would integrate its various versions, in the forthcoming Monsoon Session, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said here today.

"DTC 2010 was introduced as a Bill. I'm afraid much of the reform measures have been eliminated and gone back to the Income Tax Act. We are not introducing amendments to the Income Tax Act of 1961, we are writing a new DTC. The reference point cannot be IT Act of 1961," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

The draft of the DTC Bill, which was originally prepared by Chidambaram, underwent various modifications before it was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in 2010.

Chidambaram said he was facing a very peculiar problem of integrating the three different versions made over the past five years while trying to ensure that it remained progressive in character.

He further said that the Standing Committee on Finance, which had vetted the Bill, tried to take it closer to the 50-year-old Income Tax Act which the new law sought replace.

Answering questions on the Food Security Bill, the Minister said though the Bill was ready, no decision has been taken yet.

The ambitious food bill, touted to be a big vote-catcher for it in the next general elections, could not be taken up in the last session of Parliament as the Opposition completely stalled the proceedings of the Budget session.