Mr. Saurabh Gautam has been working in the field of Income Tax and GST compliance after a work experience of three years in a CA firm and one year as an Assistant Finance Manager. Presently, he is into independent practise. Here is his interview with Desi Kaanoon-
Q 1.) How and why do you think of Advocling?
A 1.) The main idea of Advocling stemmed up from a conversation between Vrinda Ma’am and Me. There is an immense gap between a Lawyer and a law-seeker. The hesitation on the part of the law-seeker to approach the lawyer near him might lead to a delayed justice mechanism. We are working on a local search engine that will help you contact nearby lawyers’. Therefore, frankly speaking, this app is a bridge between the lawyers and the law-seekers. It is crucial in today’s society to have accessible justice.
Q 2.) As the President of the Grievance Wing, Youth Bar Association, what contributions have you made to the YBAI?
A 2.) Youth Bar Association or YBI is a national level body that solves several types of grievances. It also takes up matter on pro-bono basis. YBAI has changed several dimensions in the legal arena. The legal activism of YBAI had led to the availability of online copy of FIRs mandatory in police stations. YBAI takes note of several grievances in the High Courts and Supreme Court, and solves them in a prompt manner.
Q 3.) You have expertise in GST compliance, returns and appeals. What are the common complications arising in the process?
A 3.) The biggest complications arising is that many people do not comply with the standards. This ultimately transfers to the other side of the transaction as well. If any violations occur on either side, people do not want to choose the legal enforcement mechanism. There is a mandatory requirement under the GST Act to file returns on your business, and if any violations are found, they are subject to further scrutiny. This case may go to appeal in the Court. ‘Lack of Administration’ also has a role to play. Sometimes, this leads to inconsistent penalties being imposed on several businesses. Even then, justice delivery systems are not preferred. This is the sad truth of the field.
Q 4.) You have pursued B.Com along with CS and LL.B. How did you manage your time given the fact that both CS and LL.B require appreciable amount of time to be invested?
A 4.) I think it was a hard nut to crack. CS is a type of distance-learning course and you need not be in college at the time of preparation. After graduation, I did a job to gain experience in the field. In 2015, I decided to start my law degree as well as my consultancy. Anyone with a chalked out routine can crack any exam they wish to crack.
Q 5.) You were well placed in a CA firm. How did you make up your mind to switch to independent practice?
A 5.) While I was working in the CA firm, I was uncertain about the future. I always wanted to start my own practice. After class 12th, I started going to a CA firm and learned the work right from the basics. An independent practice will teach you more than any book or manual can. There are always certain grey areas that you need to work upon to stand in this harsh field. This challenge and intellectually stimulating experience was the reason I chose to practice.