SHILLONG: Meghalaya BJP Vice President and Tura MDC, Bernard N. Marak, has raised a serious alarm over allegations of illegal tax collection by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), targeting local and non-tribal traders.
In an urgent appeal to the Chief Minister, Marak pointed out that the GHADC Taxation Department—previously led by NPP-headed Executive Committees—has been enforcing Trading by Non-Tribal (TNT) and Tribal Trading License (TTL) fees that lack legal standing, as they have not yet received the mandatory assent from the Governor of Meghalaya.
The Tura MDC clarified that while the proposal to hike these taxation rates is currently stalled in the Governor’s office, the Council has nonetheless been coercing traders into paying these unapproved, inflated amounts during the license application process.
Marak characterized this practice as a significant burden on the business community, affecting both indigenous and non-local traders with exorbitant fees that have no legal basis.
He further noted that during a recent Council session, an Executive Member (EM) admitted that the new rates had not been officially sanctioned, yet the GHADC continues to collect the money regardless of the legal vacuum.
In light of these findings, Bernard Marak insisted that the Council must secure explicit legal approval before implementing any new revenue collection schemes.
He issued an advisory to the trading community, urging them to verify the officially approved rates before depositing any funds into the Council treasury.
Marak also confirmed that he has formally submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Chief Executive Member in charge of Taxation, who has reportedly promised to review the matter thoroughly to ensure that traders are no longer forced to pay these illegal taxes.
