Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo directs enforcement of Goods and Services Tax rate reductions to benefit consumers

SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting with concerned Administrative Secretaries to review the implementation of recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms and ensure that the benefits of reduced tax rates directly reach consumers on the ground. Those who attended this meeting includes Principal Secretary, Finance; Commissioner Secretary, FCS&CA; Director, FCS&CA, Kashmir/Jammu; Controller, Legal Metrology besides other concerned officers.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for strict enforcement to prevent unjustified pricing and directed the Legal Metrology Department (LMD) to constitute special market-checking teams. These teams will monitor retail and wholesale markets to ensure that commodity prices are reduced in proportion to the GST rate cuts recently announced by the Central Government.

The Commissioner Secretary, FCS&CA, Saurabh Bhagat informed the meeting that several companies have already initiated revisions in their product pricing in line with the new tax regime. Notably, 169 companies have revised their rates and submitted intimation to the Legal Metrology Department. The Chief Secretary further emphasized that the reforms, effective from September 22, 2025, must yield visible relief for the common consumers in the coming days. The Legal Metrology Department will intensify inspections to verify compliance and take strict action against any violations.

He maintained that the objective of these reforms is consumer welfare. It is imperative that the reduction in GST rates translates into lower market prices so that people feel the real benefit, he underlined. The meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding consumer interests and ensuring transparency in the market system.