GST on Gurudwaras’ langar for the first time in 450 years: Sikh community demands withdrawal

Lucknow: Goods and Services Tax (GST) came into effect from 1st July 2017. Under the law, there is a provision to exempt institutions. Despite this provision, GST was reportedly being levied on “langar” in Gurudwaras including Golden Temple.

According to the report published in Financial Express, the Lucknow Gurudwara Pabandhak Committee (LGPC) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of GST on langars. Mr. Rajendra Singh Bagga, President of LGPC said that GST was being levied on langar for the time in the 450-year history of Gurudwaras. He termed the levying of GST on “langer” as “unfair”.

It may be mentioned that the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister for Food Processing had asked the Central Government to add “langer” to the exemption list of GST.

Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, former Uttar Pradesh Minister and MLC claimed that till 31st December 2017, the Central government had collected Rs. 2 crores from Gurudwaras.

It may be mentioned that GST is not imposed on langars’ food, rather on raw materials used to prepare the food.