Satpal Singh Satti named Himachal finance commission chief : The Tribune India

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Satpal Singh Satti named Himachal finance commission chief

Satpal Satti.

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 23

Former BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti has been appointed Chairman of the Sixth Himachal Pradesh State Finance Commission.

The much-awaited appointment of Satti was being expected for a long time but kept getting delayed for one reason or the other.

Main task

The Finance Commission’s main task is to look into the distribution of net proceeds of taxes, duties, tolls and fees leviable by the government among panchayats and municipalities and measures to improve their financial position.

It was Satti under whose leadership the BJP had won the 2017 Assembly and 2019 parliamentary polls. However, he had lost his elections from Una in 2017, after three consecutive terms in 2003, 2007 and 2012.

Though some more political appointments were being expected, only Satti and Trilok Kapoor, who has been appointed Chairman of the State Wool Federation, have been given responsibilities. Randhir Sharma, former MLA from Naina Devi in Bilaspur, is likely to be adjusted soon.

Kuldip Kumar, a former Congress president and former minister from Una, was the Chairman of the fifth finance commission during the previous Virbhadra regime. His appointment had been made on November 19, 2014.

It was late last night that the government notified the commission. The primary objective of the commission is to review the financial position of panchayats and municipalities and devolution of funds.

The ex-officio members are the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, and ACS, Urban Development. The Adviser, Planning, will be the ex-officio member secretary of the commission. It will prepare its report by December 31, 2021, covering five years, commencing from April 1, 2022, to December 31, 2027.

Its main task will be to look into the distribution of net proceeds of taxes, duties, tolls and fees leviable by the government among panchayats and municipalities and measures to improve their financial position. Another task of the commission is to look into aspects related to changes in legislation and procedures necessary to enhance the tax and non-tax capacity of PRIs.

It will also suggest measures to reduce revenue deficit of the local bodies by preparing a fiscal reforms programme. The commission will also suggest measures to ensure accountability in utilising the resources raised or received from the state and Central Government or any other agency.