The Lower House of Parliament, Lok Sabha, passed the Finance Bill 2023 with 64 official amendments on Saturday without any discussion. The Bill was tabled in Parliament on February 1, 2023, by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Among other proposed amendments, the Bill aims to amend Section 10 Clause 26AAA of the Finance Act, which would extend Income Tax exemptions to the Sikkimese people. The term “Sikkimese” refers to individuals who meet any of the following criteria:
(i) their name is recorded in the Register of Sikkim Subjects maintained under the Sikkim Subjects Regulation, 1961, read with the Sikkim Subject Rules, 1961, before April 26, 1975;
(ii) their name is included in the Register of Sikkim Subjects by virtue of the Government of India Order No. 26030/36/90-I.C.I., dated August 7, 1990, and Order of even number dated April 8, 1991;
(iii) their name does not appear in the Register of Sikkim Subjects, but it is established beyond doubt that their father, husband, paternal grandfather, or brother from the same father has been recorded in that register;
(iv) their name does not appear in the Register of Sikkim Subjects, but it is established that they were domiciled in Sikkim on or before April 26, 1975; or
(v) they were not domiciled in Sikkim on or before April 26, 1975, but it is established beyond doubt that their father, husband, paternal grandfather, or brother from the same father was domiciled in Sikkim on or before April 26, 1975.
