Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Don't tax passes

Sir, — The decision of the Central Board for Direct Taxes to add to the annual income of railway employees, for the purpose of taxation, the commuted value of free passes and Privilege Ticket Orders issued to them is retrograde, and anti-labour.

Railwaymen have been enjoying the facility of free passes and PTOs right from the inception of the Railways, thanks to the nature and condition of their job. Certain categories of the essential staff are stationed all along the line of the network. Some places are so remote that they lack even basic needs. The travel largesse is a pecuniary relief to them to keep in touch with their family, located far off.

Any travel allowance is exempted from taxation. The commuted value of privilege passes and PTOs could be construed as travel allowance and as such bringing it within the ambit of taxation is unacceptable.

N. Sadasivan Pillai,

Guntakal, A.P.

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