Srinagar, Oct 31 — The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Friday ratified the recent amendments to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, aligning the Union Territory’s law with the latest decisions of the GST Council.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved the bill for ratification, which was passed through a voice vote after a brief discussion.
BJP MLA Pawan Gupta sought to move amendments to the bill but was overruled by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, who clarified that no modifications could be made at the state level once the GST Council had approved the changes.
“I am talking about reforms to be done by the state. We are not challenging the Central Act,” Gupta said during the debate.
Responding to his remarks, Chief Minister Abdullah noted that the GST is a federal law and the state’s role is limited to ratification. “What I am putting before the House has been approved by the GST Council. We are only putting it for ratification,” he explained.
Speaker Rather emphasized that the Act cannot be amended at this stage and urged members to pass the bill without delay.
With no further objections, the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed by a voice vote, reinforcing J&K’s compliance with the national tax framework.