Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 12
The second session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) today passed three government bills, which were introduced in the House on Monday. The bills include the Nagaland Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Nagaland Passengers & Goods Taxation (Amendment) Bill 2023 and the North East Christian University (Second Amendment) Bill 2023.
Nagaland GST (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2023 introduced
Earlier, the Nagaland Goods and Services Tax (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced today. The bill was moved for introduction by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
NLA speaker Sharingain Longkumer informed that the consideration and passing of the bill will be taken up on September 14. In statement of objects and reasons, Rio stated that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been implemented with effect from July 1, 2017.
The GST consists of the Central Goods and Services Tax and the state Goods and Services Tax. The Central Government has amended the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 through Finance Act No 8 of 2023.
State Governments have to affect corresponding amendment in the state Gods and Services Tax Act. Rio stated that the Nagaland Goods and Services Tax (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2023 will make Nagaland Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 more comprehensive.
Nagaland Anatomy Bill 2023 introduced
The Nagaland Anatomy Bill, 2023, was also introduced today, which was moved by Health & Family Welfare Minister, P Paiwang Konyak. Consideration and passing of this bill is also scheduled for September 14.
In statement of objects and reasons, Paiwang stated that the State Government presently does not have any legal provisions relating to the manner and procedures under which dead bodies that are unidentified and unclaimed, are to be dealt with.
There is also lack of legal provisions to allow for voluntary donations of organs and dead bodies, in whole or part.
Keeping in view the increasing need for supply of bodies of deceased persons to hospitals and medical and teaching institutions for the purpose of medical education and research, including anatomical examinations and dissections, it is considered necessary to create legal provisions for the same, the Minister stated.
“This Bill seeks to empower the authorized officers appointed by the State Government to take possession of unclaimed dead bodies in hospitals, prisons or public places, and also for enabling a person before his death, to express an intention, in writing in the presence of two or more witnesses, to donate his body or any part thereof after his death for the purposes aforesaid,” the Minister stated.
On memorandum of delegated legislation, Paiwang stated that the Nagaland Anatomy Bill, 2023, delegates power to the State Government to make rules.
