Hot tubbing Technique.

‘Hot-tubbing’  is  a  technique  in  which  expert  witnesses  give  evidence  simultaneously  in each  other’s  presence  and  in  front  of  the  Judge,  who  puts  the  same  question  to  each expert  witnesses.  It  is  a  co-operative  endeavour  to  identify  key  issues  of  a  dispute  and where  possible  evolve  a  common  resolution  for  all  of  them.  However,  where resolution  of  issues  is  not  possible,  a  structured  discussion,  allows  the  experts  to  give their  opinions  without  the  constraints  of  the  adversarial  process  and  in  a  setting  which enables  them  to  respond  directly  to  each  other.  The  Judge  is  thereby  not  confined  to the  opinion  of  only  one  expert  but  has  the  benefit  of  multiple  experts  who  are rigorously  examined  in  public.  
When  parties  to  a  commercial  suit  wish  to  rely  on  the  hot  tubbing  method  to  record the  deposition  of  expert  witnesses,  then  the  Court  may  adopt  the  following procedure:
a) Prior  to  a  hearing  taking  place,  the  expert  witnesses  take  parting  a  meeting,  at  a mutually  convenient  place,  where  they  prepare  a  Joint  Statement  which  shall  be filed  before  Court.
b) The  Joint  Statement  shall  consist  of  the  agreed  statement  of  facts  and  disputed issues. 
c) Thereafter,  suggested  questions  to  be  put  to  the  expert  witnesses,  shall  be  filed by  the  parties.
d) A hearing  is  then  conducted  on  the  disputed  issues.
e) Counsels  may  put  questions  to  the  expert  witnesses,  as  may  be  permitted  by  the Court.
f) At the end of the proceeding, the Court would draw up the issues on which the expert witnesses agree and the issues on which they disagree.
g) On the issues on which the expert witnesses disagree, the Court shall record their statement.

Confidentiality Club

When parties to a commercial suit wish to rely on documents/information that are commercially or otherwise confidential in nature, the Court may constitute a Confidential Club so to allow limited access to such documents/information. In doing so, the Court may setup a structure/protocol, for the establishment and functioning of such Club, as it may seem appropriate.

Commencement of Trial

Commencement of Trial.:- The expression 'commencement of trial' used in Order VI Rule 27 of Code would mean the stage of tendering of evidence of first witness in the proceeding before the Court/Register/Commissioner.

A concise study on GST

GST is an indirect tax that subsums Central and state taxes  and it will make India a unified market. GST is a single tax on supply of goods and services to replace the multiple taxes at various points.

After the implementation of GST you don't have to pay central excise duty, additional excise duty, service tax, additional customs duty, special additional duty of customs, state value added tax, entertainment tax, purchase tax luxury tax, taxes on lottery betting and gambling etc.

The main purpose of GST is to curb tax evadion in a country where small traders businesses routinely evade tax by not creating invoice for goods sold.

GST is expected to be as disruptive as the recent demonetization move, which was touted as a drive against black money but ended up hurting the country's growth in the final quarter (it fell from 7.1 to 6.1 percent) of financial year 2016-2017.

Freedom from maintaining too many records under GST, one record is enough

1 .compliance verification in GST will be done through examination of accounts and records maintained, only is required.
2. One tax, one type of Record -no need to maintain separate records for different types of taxes as in the era of vat  excise and service.

3. There will be freedom to choose the format of the accounts and records, and only information needed is prescribed . The records can take the form of paper based source documents including computer printouts or Digital.

4. The required records are:-

a) all records of goods and services that a person supplies receives in the course of his business.

b) All records of goods imported

c) any other supporting documents such as contracts and price quotation
to show his liability to GST.

5. Records can be maintained in electronic format as well.

6. Where are certain class of taxable persons cannot keep and maintain records as prescribed, the Commissioner may permit  them to maintain records otherwise as prescribed.

7. Taxable persons with turnover of less than 2 crores are not required to get their accounts audited or submit reconcilation statement with annual returns.

8. Simple records to be kept by agents, Transporters and warehouse keeper:-

Agents:- A person working as an agent is required to maintain records depicting the description, value and quantity of goods or services received or supplied on behalf of principle, and details of accounts furnished to every principal .

Transporters:- A person engaged in the business of transporting goods is required to maintain simple records of goods transported and delivered, and goods store in transit by him.

Warehouse keeper:- a person operating a warehouse or godown is required to keep records with respect to the dispatch, movement, receipt, disposal and period for which the goods remain in the warehouse or godown.

Employment News 8-14 2017