Karnataka Government Tables Three Critical Bills

The Karnataka government introduced three bills in the assembly, focusing on preventing disqualification of political secretaries, amending the Goods and Services Tax, and providing welfare for cine and cultural activists. These bills aim to ensure political stability, clarify tax credit transfers, and offer social security to cultural activists.

The Karnataka government on Friday tabled three significant bills in the assembly, including the Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) (Second Amendment) Bill, which aims to prevent the disqualification of political secretaries who are MLAs or MLCs.

The bill exempts the Chief Minister's political secretary, financial advisor, policy and planning advisor, and the deputy chairperson to the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission from being disqualified for assembly or legislative council membership upon their appointment.

The Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill seeks to distinguish input service distribution transactions, mandating the transfer of input tax credit related to related service invoices and making it obligatory to distribute the credit. It also enforces penalties for non-registration of machinery used in manufacturing tobacco products and paan masala.

The Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Bill aims to establish a welfare board and fund for financial schemes to provide social security and welfare for cine and cultural activists in the state.

(With inputs from agencies.)