Tuesday, May 10 2005 13:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: After trying to establish tax-trail on bank cash withdrawals to curb black money, Government now proposes to bring charitable institutions under the scanner through necessary amendments to tax laws in Parliament this week.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha today (May 10, 2005), Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that there were several bodies, which supported charity through education and health and their incomes could be large.

The Minister said that a bill to amend tax laws would be introduced in Lok Sabha by Friday (May13, 2005) and would be referred to a standing committee after circulation of the draft legislation to members.

"I need support Chidambaram, however, ruled out bringing marriage expenses under the ambit saying, "We have to strike a balance".

"If we empower the tax department more and more it could become intrusive and you will protest," he told Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) member Manoj Bhattarcharya.

Chidambaram said that the Government had taken some steps against rich transactions and had re-imposed service tax on pandals, removed by the previous Government.

He said that it would be possible to assess transactions of outdoor caterers.

PTI