Grievance Redressal Committee Holds First Meeting of FY 2025-26 to Address GST-Related Issues

The first Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) meeting for the financial year 2025-26 was convened on May 23, 2025, under the chairmanship of Shri Rajesh Sodhi, Principal Chief Commissioner, CGST & CX, Delhi Zone. The session was held at the Principal Chief Commissioner's Office, I.P. Estate, New Delhi, with senior officials from the Centre and Delhi SGST, as well as representatives from leading trade and industry bodies.

This quarterly meeting aimed to systematically address taxpayer grievances and operational issues faced under GST, with a focus on transparent redressal in the presence of senior officers.

Key Stakeholder Participation

The meeting saw participation from representatives of:

• CII (Confederation of Indian Industry)
• ASSOCHAM
• Sales Tax Bar Association
• Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM)
• PHDCCI
• Confederation of All India Micro & Small Scale Industries
• GSTN and departmental Commissioners and Joint Commissioners

Major Issues and Discussions

1. Concerns from Industry Bodies:

• CII flagged dual taxation on re-imported goods and sought IGST exemptions. They also demanded a holistic approach to classification changes.
• FAIVM raised concerns over harsh penalties on minor transport document errors and demanded leniency. They also highlighted confusion over post-sale discounts and pending appeals.
• ASSOCHAM presented 13 key concerns, including technical glitches in GSTR forms, delays in appeal hearings and refunds, and procedural ambiguities in ISD mechanisms and e-invoicing.
• STBA highlighted unjustified suspensions of GST registrations, procedural opacity in registration cancellation, and requested better centralization of CGST offices in Delhi.
• PHDCCI called for avoidance of aggressive search operations in non-sensitive cases, simplification of movement of goods, and speedy resolution of pending Delhi SGST refunds.
• CAMS sought complete digitization of taxpayer interactions and secure, QR-coded departmental communication.

2. GSTN and Policy-Level Recommendations:

Several matters, especially related to system functionalities (e.g., GSTR-5A for OIDAR services, acknowledgment for tax demand payments, and late fee visibility), were referred to GSTN. Others concerning legal clarity and procedural reforms were advised to be escalated to the GST Council or Board.

Trade Facilitation Measures

The Delhi GST Zone informed stakeholders of the following:

• Launch of a dedicated grievance email: [email protected]
• Updated taxpayer-friendly website: gstdelhizone.gov.in
• Expansion of outreach programs such as “Samvad” sessions
• Issuance of Trade Notice No. 01/2025 detailing GRC functions and redressal mechanism

The Confederation of All India Micro & Small Scale Industries also appreciated a recent session on audit procedures conducted by the Audit-II Commissionerate.

Conclusion

The meeting concluded with an emphasis on continued collaboration between taxpayers and the tax administration, and a vote of thanks to the Chair. Stakeholders were urged to make regular use of the grievance redressal system to ensure constructive resolution of issues.

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