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FM Arun Jaitley's move in the Union Budget 2016 to levy 14 per cent service tax on legal services has divided the community with one section of law firms and senior advocates saying it would raise litigation cost while the other said it would help generate funds for the government. Here are the top 5 reactions: (Image Source: Thinkstock)
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Budget 2016 and legal services: "Clients will have to pay more money to lawyers. I can't say if it is a good move or bad. I can only say it will raise the cost of legal services," senior advocate Anil Divan said. (Image Source: Thinkstock)
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Budget 2016 and legal services: Those welcoming the proposal announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, himself a noted senior lawyer, dubbed it as a "good decision" which will help government to execute its policies with increase in funds. (Image Source: Thinkstock)
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Budget 2016 and legal services: Demanding an outright "abolition" of the move that senior advocates and law firms will no longer be exempted from the service tax of 14 per cent, advocate and President of Society of Indian Law Firms President, Lalit Bhasin said, "It is not a correct proposal. This high rate of service would discourage in bringing arbitration to India. India cannot be made an arbitration hub as clients will go outside the country. Prima facie it should be abolished till the bill is passed," he said. (Image Source: Thinkstock)
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Senior advocates Shanti Bhushan and K K Venugopal were of the view that it was a good decision to levy 14 per cent service tax on senior advocates who charge higher fees from clients. "There is no harm in levying service tax on lawyers as government needs funds to execute its policies. Nothing wrong if legal services become a bit more expensive," Bhushan, who was also a Law Minister from 1977 to 1979 in the Morarji Desai Ministry, said. Expressing similar view, Venugopal said, "It is a good decision. Senior advocates should be made to pay as they already charge higher fee. I don't think it will affect the clients." (Image Source: Thinkstock)
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