<h1>Finance Minister Affirms Legislature's Tax Authority Unchanged by GST Draft; GST Council to Guide, Not Bind Decisions.</h1> The Union Finance Minister emphasized that the legislature's authority in taxation remains paramount and will not be altered by the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) draft. During a meeting with the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, he highlighted the GST Council's role in providing guidance on tax rates and exemptions, though its decisions are not binding. Concerns from states about fiscal autonomy and local tax subsumation were acknowledged, with assurances of addressing these in the revised draft. The Minister stressed the urgency of introducing GST by April 2011 and discussed compensation for Central Sales Tax (CST) adjustments.