Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the AIFTP family,

At the outset, we convey our good wishes and greetings to all of you in connection with two festivals in this month of which one is completed just now with the devotional poojas to Godess Durga for 9 days. We all have invoked the blessings of the Godess.
It is a success of good over bad. Now we have another festival in
this month of a very illuminating and glittering one – Diwali on 29th October, 2016 when we all worship Godess of wealth and prosperity and this is also a festival in succession bringing happiness coupled success over the evil things and demonly acts. The evil or demon is not to be seen elsewhere but within ourselves and the very object and purpose coupled with mythological ideology is to keep ourselves purified against impurities and inculcate a habit of a happy journey of humanity in the society in all assistance, love, affection and service towards the fellow human beings. We pray Godess of wealth and prosperity to shower her merciful and blissful blessings on all of us in all respects.

Friends, we are successful in our efforts halfway through by convincing the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Revenue for inclusion of the tax practitioners for the purpose of preparation of the returns as well as representation on behalf of the assessees before the authorities. To this effect, you are all aware that Rules 24 and 25 of Draft Rules have provided for a positive and affirmative inclusion of all tax practitioners. Please be reminded that the Federation at the National level does pursue the policy of inclusion only and we do not believe in exclusion as all categories of tax professionals are equally near and dear to us.

What remains to pursue and have
fulfilled is replacement of the word ‘audit’ as used in section 42 of Model GST Draft Law by certification or verification as various columns in Form GST 9 indicates only necessity for certification of the turnovers in the annual or consolidated returns together with proof of payment of tax. We have pleaded with the Ministry of Finance that in view of the policy of the Government of India in relation to GST
regime namely "One Nation – One tax" , there shall be no scope for any commodity classification involving a decision on rate of tax and on supply of either goods or services, the rate of tax leviable either in CGST/IGST or SGST is one rate leaving no scope for any kind of audit and that too GST being an indirect taxation law not involving commodity classification issue with varied rates of taxes. The books of account shall not require audit under GST as such books of account even for GST purpose were already subjected a thorough/rigorous
audit by the Chartered Accountant under the provisions of Income-tax Act 1961.

We are hopeful that the Federation would be able to achieve this part of the issue also at the earliest point of time and would be able to fulfil its word to its members.

Friends, one more news to share by which our Federation must be overwhelmingly happy and jubilant that our member from Chennai, a leading practising advocate Dr. Anita Sumanth who is the daughter of the Past National President of the Federation Late V. Ramachandran has recently been elevated as Judge to the High Court of Madras and we are informed that she has taken Oath of office as judge of the High Court on 5-10-2016. Thus this is a one more addition of colourful feather in the cap of the Federation and we all believe that Dr. Justice Anita Sumanth shall prove herself as the best choice as the product of AIFTP to be the Judge of the High Court for serving the institute of justice as well as the Indian public.

Let us all gear up to the much awaited glorious function 40th year Foundation Day Celebrations on 11-11-2016 at Pune and all the arrangements are in progress and we once again appeal to all of you to make it a grand success with your affectionate participation.

Dr. M. V. K. Moorthy
National President