REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF CONVENOR OF CONFERENCE ON TWO DAY NATIONAL TAX CONFERENCE AT MANGALURU On 4th & 5th November, 2017

As Chairman of the Conference Committee I furnish the following report on the Conference.

After obtaining due permission from the respected National President of AIFTP, the South Zone in joint partnership with Karnataka’s State Tax Practitioners Association and the Institute of Tax Practitioners of India proceeded with all zeal coupled with dedicated interest to organise the Conference for the first time in the port city of Mangaluru in South Kanara in the State of Karnataka. Of course it has been the long awaited, cherished desire of the Federation to organise the Conference at Mangaluru which is ultimately transformed into reality. Mr. Sreedhara Parthasarathi, Tax Practitioner, Bellary and Deputy Chairman of Membership Development Committee of the AIFTP has taken the required initiative in obtaining permission from the respected National President of Federation Smt. Prem Latha Bansal. Thereafter at the request of the organisers, it was at the sincere and honest efforts of the respected National President Smt. Prem Latha Bansal and the Secretary General Mr. Sanjay Sharma, the organisers were able to succeed in obtaining the consent of the Judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court from the State of Karnataka, His Lordship Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Abdul Nazeer. The organisers also fixed Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Shrikshethra, Dharmasthala, Shri Ritvik R. Pandey, IAS, Secretary to Govt. Finance Department, Karnataka, Shri H. Rajesh Prasad, IAS, Commissioner of GST/VAT, Government of NCT of New Delhi and finally Mrs. Vatika Pai, President, Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mangaluru as Guests of Honour.

A hectic schedule for the Two Day Conference was drawn by the organisers. In addition to the Chief Guest for the inaugural session, Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, Judge, Supreme Court of India, the Guests of Honour, the Chairman of the Conference, National President of the Federation, Secretary General, the President of Karnataka State Tax Practitioners Association and Institute of Tax Practitioners of India, Chairman of South Zone of AIFTP and National Vice-President of AIFTP from South Zone were accommodated on the dais.

Mr. Y. N. Sharma, Co-Chairman of the Conference Committee invited the dignitaries on to the dais and the flowered bouquets were handed out to them. The Conference was inaugurated by lighting of the lamp. There was one more luminary in the inaugural session was Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Nagarathnamma, Judge of the Karnataka High Court who was also requested to sit on dais.

The Chairman of the Conference Committee welcomed the dignitaries on the dais, off the dais and the delegates, office bearers of the Federation, members of the NEC and the Members of the Print Media and explained the object behind organising the Conference. Later the National President of the Federation – Smt. Prem Latha Bansal, Sr. Advocate from New Delhi once again welcomed the participants and explained the role of the Federation in maintaining the high standards in respect of education, excellence and ethics amongst professionals through the continuous education being imparted through various National Conferences, One Day Seminars and RRCs being organised across the country.

The Chief Guest of the Inaugural Session, Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, Judge, Supreme Court greeted the participants in Kannada. He hails from Mangaluru District and remembered more nostalgies as a law student, advocate and then Judge of the Karnataka High Court before he travelled to Delhi to function as Judge of Supreme Court, His Lordship mainly emphasized the concept of philosophy of tax, collection, responsibilities and accountability rest on the tax administrators, tax professionals and finally taxpayers. Payment of tax is essential for a civilized society in a democratic setup. He stressed that enormous responsibility on the tax professionals to educate the taxpayers of India to pay the tax legitimately due to the exchequer and tax planning to some extent is considered as lawful but evasion is illegal. His Lordship clearly stated that he is not inclined to speak anything on GST. He quoted certain excerpts from the speech of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the eve of the introduction of GST from the Central Hall of Parliament on the night 30th June 2017. He has appreciated activities and rules being played by the Federation, the apex body of professional fraternity in creating awareness amongst taxpayers and tax professionals for payment of taxes, needed for a welfare oriented society in our country. His Lordship also wished that it was a very good gesture on the part of the organizers in conducting the Conference in a District Headquarters while mainly such Conferences are seen in cities. The souvenir was released by the Chief Guest. Also the GST Act book compiled by T. P. Parthasarathi and published by the Institute of the Tax Practitioners of India was also released by the Chief Guest.

A very rare situation did arise in the inaugural session of the Conference, when the organisers after seeking permission of the Chief Guest requested the Hon’ble Judge of the Karnataka, Mrs. Justice Nagaratnamma, and thereafter Mrs. Vatika Pai, President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Manguluru to address the participants, of course for a short time. It is really a great and rare gesture on the part of Chief Guest to permit the others to address after completion of the speech of Chief Guest. Finally a member of the Conference Committee proposed vote of thanks to mark end of the inaugural session.

There was a delay in commencement of inaugural session. After inaugural session, the Technical Session started by the Chairman for the First Technical Session Shri Ritvik R. Pandey, IAS, Secretary to Govt. Finance Department, Karnataka explained the developments that have taken place from time-to-time from the day of introduction of GST and how the Government of Karnataka has been confiding in and giving preference to the Tax Professionals and for the benefit of the tax Professionals, training programmes were also conducted and thereafter the speakers spoke on the topics assigned to them. The moderator of the session B. T. Manohar explained the cream of the deliberations of the session. The Second Session has commenced. It was on direct taxes and Past President of the Federation, Sr. Advocate from Mumbai Dr. K. Shivaram presided over the session and the session was ably handled by C.A. A. K. Srivastva from New Delhi.

After lunch break, the Third and Fourth Technical Sessions went on well on the topics assigned. The Third Session was presided by Shri. H. Rajesh Prasad, IAS, Commissioner of GST, New Delhi and the speaker was none other than a popular and seasoned C.A. S. Venkataramani of Bengaluru and the Fourth Technical Session was presided by another famous C.A. Deepa Balidas and speaker was young, bright and upcoming advocate with all expertise in GST, Mr. Ishaan Patkar, S/o. Sr. Member of the Federation, Advocate Vinayak Patkar at Mumbai. The session well managed to the satisfaction of one and all.

In the evening, a cultural programme was also organised by the organisers with Mahila Yakshagana by Sai Kala Prathisthana Artists, Shivamogga, it was really a wonderful feast to the eyes of participants. The said programme was also well attended in a large number of 350 delegates out of which the AIFTP members more than 100 present and graced the occasion. It was followed by AIFTP Foundation month celebrations in which the Sr. Professionals as part of the convention were felicitated. AIFTP celebrated its 40th year Foundation day celebrations on 11-11-2016 at Pune and felicitated all its Past Presidents, Past Secretaries General, Past Vice Presidents, Past Zone Chairman, Past NEC members and those who couldn’t turn up at Pune were felicitated at Mangaluru and the felicitation programme sponsored by Chartered Accountant Shri Kakarala Rajendra Vara Prasada Rao, Eluru, Life Member, AIFTP. Mr. Srikar M.S., IAS, Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Govt. of Karntaka was the chief guest and Mr. B. T. Manohar and Shri Jeevan Saldana immediate Past President, Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Manguluru were the Guests of Honour. Madam Smt. Prem Latha Bansal adorned the dais and it was a great and grand event where all the seniors in the Federation were felicitated and the local organisers were also given mementoes in appreciation of their great efforts in transformation of the Conference into a memorable successful event. Shri. D. K. Shivaram, Sr Advocate, Mumbai, Past President of the Federation & Chief Editor AIFTP Journal, news graced the occasion with Life Member AIFTP Dr. Daniel, Sr. Advocate, Mumbai

On the 2nd day of the Conference namely 5th November, 2017, the day started with modern yoga and nature cure whereafter the fixed technical sessions went on well with the respective Chairmen and calibered speakers.

Overall, it was a well organised and successful tax Conference in South Zone going to the credit of the National President before completion of her tenure. The chairman of the Zone and the Vice-President from the Zone are also equally responsible for extending their encouragement and guidance, co-operation in all respects. The Chief Convenor of the National Tax Conference and Past Secretary General of AIFTP Mr. Malladi Srinivasa Rao of Eluru was the centre of attraction in the Foundation month celebrations in the evening of first day and he invited the identified awardees and others for being felicitated suitably.

The Federation once again with all due appreciation places on record for the well organised Two Day National Tax Conference, all the three partners for zeal, dedication and enthusiasm to transform the Conference into great success for being an addition of colourful feather in the cap of glorious organisation.