Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnaudu on Saturday said the State government was sparing no efforts in seeking total exemption to the TTD from the GST registration.
The grant of immunity vis-a-vis the exemption to the revered institution would bestow on it the benefits the government has been demanding since the beginning.
Expressing his inability to attend the GST Council meet scheduled on November 9 due to the Assembly session, he said officials would raise the issue.
He told media that though the Council had exempted tax on the sale of laddu prasadam, the ingredients used in its making continued to attract taxes. Likewise, the Council was also yet to take any decision for the grant of exemption on the accommodation being provided by the TTD. At present, only those cottages below ₹1,000 tariff enjoyed the immunity.
Though the argument of the Council that any additional exemption to the TTD would open the floodgates for similar claims by several other institutions is well understood, the fact is the Tirumala temple cannot be equated with other temples given its umpteen social tasks.
It is for these reasons that the State government is seeking total exemption instead of some small approvals.
