Mizoram MP urges Centre to halt tax notices to tribals, citing constitutional exemption

Aizawl: Mizoram's sole Rajya Sabha member, K. Vanlalvena, on Wednesday urged the Centre not to levy income tax on tribal residents of the state, citing the country’s Constitution, an official statement said.

Addressing the upper house during the ongoing winter session, Vanlalvena stated that tribal people are exempt from paying income tax under Section 10(26) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the statement added.

He informed Parliament that some Mizoram residents, who are scheduled tribes, have often received income tax notices from the Income Tax office in Assam despite being constitutionally exempt.

He alleged that the income tax department continued to harass such residents even after they produced income tax exemption certificates and tribal certificates.

Vanlalvena described this as a violation of the Constitution, causing unnecessary distress to Mizo tribal people without any legal basis.

During his speech, he urged the Rajya Sabha Chairman to instruct the Principal Chief Commissioner of the Income Tax Office in Assam not to issue income tax notices to the Mizos and to take necessary action in this regard, the statement added.

Reports also noted that the income tax department recently served a notice to the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, the state’s largest Christian denomination with over 6 lakh members.