This month, the GST Council is likely to convene to discuss the long-pending matter of creating a GST Appellate Tribunals

The long-delayed matter of creating appellate tribunals will likely be discussed at a Goods and Services Tax Council meeting later this month.

Sources claim that although the meeting’s date has not yet been determined, it will take place around February 18 in the middle of the month. After the Union Budget presentation, the Council normally holds one meeting.

The creation of the GST appellate tribunals would be the main item on the agenda. A Group of Ministers’ report on online gambling is also anticipated to be discussed by the Council.

Given the enormous number of open cases, creating appellate tribunals for GST is a top priority. The earliest it can be implemented, according to another source.

The GST Council, which is presided over by Nirmala Sitharaman, the union finance minister, last met on December 17 after a six-month hiatus.

It had at the time explained the rates on a number of commodities, but it was unable to take up important reports pertaining to the creation of the appellate tribunals, determining the taxes of online gaming, horse racing, and casinos, as well as the taxation of tobacco and gutkha enterprises.

A number of state finance ministers complained that there wasn’t enough time, thus the meeting was adjourned early.

The industry, which presently needs to appeal decisions to the high courts and endure protracted delays in case settlement, has made the prompt establishment of a GST appellate tribunal a top priority.

According to reports, the GOM, led by Dushyant Chautala, the deputy chief minister of Haryana, recommended setting up a primary bench in New Delhi. Additionally, state-specific benches will be erected.

The assessment, which was filed in August of last year, is believed to have indicated that in larger states, depending on population, up to five benches may be placed. One technical member, who would be a senior tax officer, and one judicial member would be on each regional bench.

The Center may decide to change the Central GST Act in the second part of the Parliament’s Budget Session once the GST Council approves the proposal. All benches will be of the same type, with a major bench in New Delhi where the president of the tribunal will sit, according to an amendment to the CGST Act.