HC refuses to restrain govts from participating in tax event

The Delhi High Court today declined to entertain a plea seeking to restrain the Centre, the city government and its representatives from participating in a tax event organised here next week by an organisation which is allegedly sponsored and controlled by tobacco industry.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw while dismissing the petition observed that the plea had to satisfy it that there was conflict of interest in the government representatives attending the event, the 12th Annual Asia-Pacific Tax Forum, and that it was not in public interest.
"We will give reasons for dismissal of your petition," it told the petitioner -- NGO Institute of Public Health.

The NGO, represented by senior advocate Anand Grover, had alleged in its plea that International Tax and Investment Centre (ITIC) was controlled by the tobacco industry which has its own vested interests in promoting tax policies and reforms beneficial for it.
He had also alleged that participation in the event would violate provisions of the Framework of Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC), to which India was a signatory, that "requires parties to protect their public health policies from the commercial and other vested interests of tobacco industry".
"Union and state governments under provisions of FCTC cannot interact with tobacco industry at an industry sponsored event where officials will be lobbied to adopt policies antithetical to public health," the NGO's counsel contended.

Central government standing counsel Akshay Makhija, appearing for the ministries of Finance and Health and Family Welfare, opposed the plea, saying it was a general conference on tax.
"Where is the legal provision which prohibits anybody from participation," he asked.