Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday 08 September 2010: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has again recommended amendments in the draft ordinance pertaining to the sales of other state lotteries. It is learnt that the draft ordinance with alterations recommended by Chief Minister will be considered in the cabinet meeting today.

Achuthanandan had demanded to attach to the draft ordinance prepared by law department the condition that taxes should be collected only from those other state lotteries which abides by the section 4 of central Lotteries (Regulation) Act.

The state Commercial Taxes Department had instructed that if the state government suspects that the other state lotteries are organized, run or encouraged against the conditions of section 4 of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, then the government can issue notice against it without collecting prior taxes. The Assistant Commissioner of Sales Tax is entrusted to issue notice.

But the condition to submit separate affidavit along with the application was not included. The recommendation of the Commercial Taxes Department that prior taxes need not be collected from the lotteries unless the validity certificate either from the central government or from the concerned states is produced. This recommendation was even approved by the Law Department.

Earlier report

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said that he had suggested a few changes in the ordinance proposed by the Finance Department for preventing fraudulent operations of promoters of lotteries of other States in Kerala.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an official function here on Saturday, he said the draft of the ordinance would be changed accordingly before moving for Cabinet approval.