SC to hear NOAB's arguments today

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) will hear arguments from the Newspapers Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) on a leave to appeal petition regarding the High Court's (HC) judgment on income tax of journalists and employees working in newspapers, reports BSS.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan, stated that an order will be issued in this regard today (Monday).

"The income tax, paid to the journalists and press workers in favour of the benefits received, is paid as marginal benefit by the newspaper owners or authorities. This was in force until the 8th Wage Board. The 9th Wage Board also recommended maintaining the same," Barrister Dr Salahuddin Dolon, lawyer of the petitioner, told the newsmen.

"The 9th Wage Board notification shows recommendation of a sub-committee of the Cabinet that the journalists and employees of newspapers and news agencies themselves will pay their income taxes. It was challenged and later rejected by the HC that declared the cabinet committee's recommendation illegal," the senior lawyer added.

Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed and Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas appeared before the court on behalf of the State.