Nine-judge SC bench to hear entry tax case

A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court will hear a plea challenging the Constitutionality of entry tax in India.The bench will hear over 2,000 pleas filed by manufacturers and associations challenging the levy of entry tax by various states.Entry tax to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore is collected by various states but it is levied on inter-state movement of goods.The matter assumes significance given the fact that the government is trying to introduce the goods and services tax, which will do away with entry tax -- and any court verdict on the Constitutionality of the tax could have an impact on the tax's prospects.During the hearing, the government told the court that it is confident that GST will be rolled out soon and will do away with entry tax.But the court said it would hear the matter in the interim anyway.