•-It is very surprising to learn that some branches of the State Bank of India, Dimapur has served notices to some of the Naga Pensioners of Dimapur for deduction of income tax from their pension amount for which they were to submit Income Tax Exemption Certificate, so that the tax deducted can be credited to their accounts. Under Section 10(26) of the Income Tax Act 1961, it is clearly mentioned that the members of the Scheduled Tribe as defined in clause (25) of the article 366 of the Constitution of India read with Nagaland Schedule Tribe Order 1970 ,are not reliable for payment of income tax. Pension does not form part of total income u/s 10(10A) of the Income Tax Act 1961. As Nagas are so far exempted from payment of income tax, I think any Naga pensioner should also be exempted from income tax. In spite of clearly laid down orders, it is not understood under what ground and under which Act the State Bank is deducting income Tax from Naga pensioners. Instead of such harassment ,the senior citizens like the pensioners should be given proper facilities. I have been working as a Govt. servant under the Govt. of Nagaland in different categories for about 38 years but no income tax was liable and no income tax exemption certificate was required to be obtained or produced .But now as a pensioner am I to pay income tax ? That’s absurd! Will the authority and the Govt. of Nagaland please look into the matter and save the poor Naga pensioners from payment of income tax?
Y.Imti Tzüdir
Nuton Bosti, Dimapur
