Date:01/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/12/01/stories/2006120100060801.htm

Back Standard deduction

This is with reference to "A raw deal for salaried" (Business Line, November 25).

The author has sought the restoration of Standard Deduction (SD) for salaried employees and rightly rejected the grounds for its discontinuance.

However, in the article, reference to Section 57(iia) is misplaced and unwarranted because SD in the case of family pension is on compassionate grounds while for the salaried, it is need-based.

Further, the scope of Section 57(iia) has been limited by an amendment to the Finance Act, 2004, exempting the family pension received by the widow or children or nominated heirs, of a member of the armed forces (including para-military forces), where the death of such member has occurred in the course of operational duties, subject to conditions. The SD deserves to be restored on its own merits — not because it is continuing in cases of family pensions.

T. N. Pandey

Chennai

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