Separate GST, Excise wings need of the hour, says Chief Minister

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said here today that the state government has restructured the Excise and Taxation Department by creating two distinct wings, the GST Wing and the Excise Wing. This step aims to streamline operations and serve the public in a better way. He said that the decision to create separate wings has been overdue for a long, especially after the implementation of the GST Act in July 2017. Our government has taken the initiative to address the need, he added.

“The creation of separate wings is essential to improving the efficiency and functioning of the department,” said the Chief Minister, adding: “Given the different legal frameworks and regulatory requirements, specialized training on technical, legal and regulatory aspects will help ensure better performance and facilitate the public more effectively. This will also lead to an even distribution of workload and stronger field operations.”

With specialized personnel in each wing, the efficiency is expected to improve as officers develop expertise and focus in their respective areas. The GST officers will concentrate on taxpayer services and revenue monitoring, while the Excise wing will handle more regulatory tasks, considering the societal impact of its operations. Currently, officers are burdened with multiple functions, which can affect accountability and the restructuring will help address this issue by allowing for a clear division of responsibilities.

The Chief Minister said that 38 new posts would be created, as part of the department’s restructuring. Following the reorganization, the common pool will have 87 personnel, while the GST Wing and Excise Wing will have 718 and 632 personnel, respectively.

“Neighboring states like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Uttarakhand have already restructured their Excise and Taxation departments into separate wings, and we are now following suit. This restructuring will ensure a more focused approach in each wing, allowing for enhanced public services and regulatory functions across the state,” added the Chief Minister.