Home Delivery Services By E-Commerce Platforms To Consumers Exempt From GST: West Bengal AAR

The West Bengal Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) has ruled that transportation services proposed to be provided by Flipkart India Private Limited under a new logistics model qualify as Goods Transport Agency (GTA) services and are exempt from GST when supplied to unregistered end customers under Serial No. 21A of Notification No. 12/2017–Central Tax (Rate). Flipkart India Private Limited, which was already engaged in B2B trading of goods, proposed to introduce a logistics model...

GST Interest/Penalty Waiver Can't Be Denied For Initial Wrong RCM Payment Through ITC Once Cash Compliance Is Made: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has held that a GST interest and penalty waiver application filed by the petitioner cannot be rejected merely because a portion of tax liability under reverse charge mechanism (RCM) was initially discharged through input tax credit, subsequently pays the amount in cash and complies with legal requirements. A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman heard the writ petition filed by Simon India Ltd., a company engaged...

GST Department Can't Raise Fresh Demands For Pre-CIRP Period After Resolution Plan Approval: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has made it clear that the GST Department cannot raise fresh demands for a period prior to the commencement of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, after the resolution plan has been approved by the NCLT.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain held, “no demand can be raised after the resolution plan has been approved ,in respect of a period prior thereto.”For context, Petitioner was involved...

GST | Court Should Not Presume Denial Of Bail Is Rule: Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Bail In ₹23.66 Cr Fake ITC Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court held that even in cases involving economic offences under the CGST Act, courts must not proceed on the presumption that “Denial of Bail is the Rule and grant being the exception”. Justice Aaradhna Sawhney stated that even in cases involving economic offences, the Court seized of the matter has to go through the gravity of the offence, the object of the Act, the attending circumstances, etc. Thus, economic offences cannot be categorised in one group,...

Gujarat High Court Restores GST Registration Noting Payment Of Outstanding Tax, Interest, Late Fee In Electronic Cash Ledger

The Gujarat High Court has restored GST registration subject to compliance with filing of pending returns and payment of outstanding tax with interest, late fee and penalty. A Division Bench comprising Justice A.S. Supehia and Justice Pranav Trivedi permitted filing of GST returns for past period after noting copy of GST Returns for the period from April 2022 to December 2024, self-ascertained tax liability discharged through Electronic Cash Ledger. Petitioner sought for quashing of...

Delhi High Court To Examine Whether Delhi Jal Board Qualifies As 'Local Authority' & Works Contract Services Would Attract 12% GST

In yet another writ petition, concerning works contract services provided to Delhi Jal Board, where its status as a 'Local Authority' was called-into-question, the Delhi High Court has stayed the summary Show Cause Notice under Section 73 of the CGST Act, 2017. A Division Bench comprising, Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Shail Jain noted that few similar disputes relating to whether when rendering works contract services to Delhi Jal Board, the Construction Company treated it as...

GST Act | Orissa High Court Quashes Recovery Proceedings Premised On 'Mistaken Identity' After Verifying Payment Receipt From Bank

The Orissa High Court in a matter involving 'mistaken identity' where one individual was assessed despite having a cancelled registration number (GSTIN), has quashed Show Cause Notice under Section 73 of the CGST Act, 2017. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Murahari Sri Raman noted the 'mistaken fact' in Section 73 adjudication proceedings. It was clarified that Section 73 was invoked on the premise there was an alleged mismatch in figures disclosed by...

Writ Petition Not Maintainable After GSTAT Becomes Functional; Assessees Must Avail Remedy U/S 112 GST Act: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has dismissed two writ petitions filed under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, holding that the availability and operationalisation of the statutory appellate remedy before the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) bars the exercise of writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution. In Amit Kumar Das v. Joint Commissioner of State Tax, the petitioner had challenged an assessment order passed under Section 73 of the CGST/OGST Acts for...

“Illegal, Arbitrary & Colourable Exercise Of Power": Karnataka High Court Quashes Consolidated GST Show Cause Notice Clubbing Multiple FYs

The Karnataka High Court held that issuing a consolidated show cause notice for multiple financial years is illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the provisions of the CGST Act. The bench opined that a composite notice for multiple financial years enables the Department to blur the statutory distinction between Section 73 (non-fraud, etc.,- 3 year limitation) and Section 74 (fraud etc., - 5 year limitation). If certain years fall under Section 73, but the entire block is treated under ...

IGST Act | Place Of Supply Depends On Where Movement Terminates, Not Where Goods Were Handed To Carrier: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court held that for the purpose of determining the place of supply under Section 10(1)(a) of the IGST Act, the factor is the location where the movement of goods terminates for delivery to the recipient and not the place where the goods are handed over to the common carrier. Section 10(1)(a) of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) Act, 2017, provides that the place of supply for goods that are moved, whether by the supplier, recipient, or another party, is...

GST Authorities Have No Power To Seal Cash During Search: Calcutta High Court Orders De-Sealing Of ₹24 Lakh

The Calcutta High Court held that the GST authorities do not have the power under Section 67 of the CGST Act to seal or seize cash. Accordingly, the bench directed the immediate de-sealing of Rs. 24 lakhs. Section 67 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, grants tax authorities the powers of inspection, search, and seizure to prevent tax evasion and ensure compliance. Justice Om Narayan Rai examined whether the GST authorities have the power to seize cash under...

Packing Materials Are Integral Part Of Cement Sales, Cannot Be Taxed Separately At Different Rates: Patna High Court

In a ruling on sales tax valuation under the Bihar Finance Act, 1981, the Patna High Court has held that packing materials used for cement, such as gunny bags and HDPE bags, form an integral part of cement sales and cannot be subjected to separate tax rates distinct from the cement itself. The Division Bench of Justice Bibek Chaudhuri and Justice Dr. Anshuman dismissed a batch of miscellaneous appeals filed by ACC Limited. The appeals pertained to multiple assessment years ranging from...