ISODA files writ petition in Chennai court

Chennai: The Infotech Software Dealers Association (ISODA) finally filed its writ petition in the Chennai High Court, seeking clarification for the taxation policies levied against the software dealers. The petition that had got stranded due to the month-long lawyers' strike in Chennai High Court was filed last week after the court reopened even though the lawyers went on strike. Writ petition is the legal instrument of the superior courts for remedies to persons, natural or jural, against the arbitrary or illegal actions of any authority or the lower court.

As the lawyers have called off their month long strike and have resumed to work from this Monday, the case is expected to come for hearing within a short time. Showing a sigh of relief after filing the writ petition, Rajesh Kothari, Chairman ISODA said that the notice is yet to be served to the service tax department.

“Even though the petition has got filed in the court, the notice has not been served to the service tax department, as the strike has just come to an end. Only after the court serves notice to the service tax department, they would be replying for it and the case would come for hearing,” Kothari added.

Echoing his views Harinder Salwan, Secretary ISODA, said that only after the respondent comes out with their views the case is expected to come for hearing. He also claimed that the notice would have been served to the service tax department either yesterday or today and the case might come up for hearing with in a week's time or two.

It may be noted that ISODA look legal route as the last resort after making several representations to the industrial bodies such as Nasscom, MAIT and even taking up the issue with the Finance Ministry.