The NDA government on Friday informed the Supreme Court that it is difficult for them to get hold of the information of old account holders citing a treaty signed with foreign countries including Switzerland government.
In the application filed, the government said, “It cannot disclose details of foreign accounts held by Indians which are governed by bilateral double taxation avoidance treaties.”
Appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the issue and pleaded for an urgent hearing.
The government plea also says disclosure of information regarding account holders cannot be given to everyone like this. On this petitioner and senior advocate Ram Jethmalani said this is an attempt by government to protect those who stashed black money abroad.
Ram Jethmalani also accuses govt for trying to bring amendment in Double Taxation Avoidance Agrrement (DTAA) The court will now hear Centre’s application on October 28.
The apex court had constituted the SIT headed by its former judge M B Shah on a plea of Jethmalani, who had moved the court for the purpose of getting black money back to the country.
It had appointed its retired judges M B Shah as the Chairman and Arijit Pasayat as the Vice Chairman of the SIT for providing guidance and direction in the investigation of all cases of black money in the country and abroad.
(With PTI inputs)
