₹6.85 Lakh Crore Tax Disputes Still Pending: CJI
Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai has highlighted that disputes worth ₹6.85 lakh crore remain pending before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). He shared this while addressing a symposium on the role and challenges faced by the tribunal.
Reduction in Case Backlog
Justice Gavai praised ITAT’s progress in clearing cases, noting that the overall pendency has been reduced from 85,000 to 24,000 cases in the past five years. Despite this achievement, he stressed that the high value of unresolved disputes continues to place pressure on the justice system.
Call for Structural Reforms
The CJI underlined the need for reforms in appointments, tenure, and consistency of rulings within ITAT. He also urged the adoption of technology to make the tribunal more efficient and transparent. The pending disputes, he said, represent more than 2% of India’s GDP, underlining their economic significance.
Wider Implications
Large-scale pending tax cases affect revenue collection, business confidence, and investor trust. With billions locked in litigation, the call for reforms and timely disposal of cases could determine how effectively India strengthens its tax adjudication system in the years ahead.
