Award In Which Serious Allegations Of Fraud Are Not Decided Must Be Set Aside On Grounds Of Patent Illegality: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court Bench of Chief Justice SUNITA AGARWAL and Justice PRANAV TRIVEDI affirmed that if serious allegations of fraud are raised that the arbitration agreement was entered into by fraud and collusion and such allegations are not decided by the Arbitrator while passing an award, such an award is liable to set aside on the ground of patent illegality under section 34 of the Arbitration Act Brief Facts The present appeal under Section 37 of the Arbitration and...

GST Rate On Bricks With Less Than 90% Fly Ash Content To Be Charged At 5% Instead Of 18%: Gujarat High Court Clarifies

The Gujarat High Court on 25th September (Wednesday) held/clarified the Goods and Services Tax (GST) applicable to fly ash bricks and blocks with less than 90% fly ash content. The court ruled that the products qualify for the lower GST rate of 5%, than 18% GST rate on products not meeting the 90% fly ash threshold and quashed and aside the orders of the Advance Ruling Authority and Advance Ruling Appellate Authority. The fly ash, a by-product from thermal power plants, is used as a key material...

Mentioning Proposed Penalty In Declaration Under SVLDR Scheme Not Incorrect: Gujarat HC

The Gujarat High Court has held that Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019 (SVLDRS) is applicable to any show cause notice for penalty/late fee, irrespective of whether it is under adjudication or appeal. A division bench of Justices Bhargav D. Karia and Mauna M. Bhatt cited FAQs of the scheme as per which, any person who has a show cause notice (SCN) for demand of duty/tax and where the final hearing has not taken place as on June 30, 2019, is eligible to file...

Notice Issued U/S 148A(B) Of Income Tax Act Against Dissolved Firm Is Not Valid: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court stated that notice issued under section 148A(b) of the Income Tax Act, 19861 against dissolved firm is not valid. The Division Bench of Justices Bhargav D. Karia and Mauna M. Bhatt was dealing with a case where the Assessing Officer/respondent issued an impugned notice under Section 148A(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, in the name of the partnership firm and also passed an order under Section 148A(d) of the Income Tax Act against the same firm, which had already...

S. 68 Of Income Tax Act Not Attracted When There Is No Unexplained Amount In Bank Statement: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court stated that there cannot be any income escapement by the assessee if there is no unexplained amount in the bank statement on record. The Bench of Justice Bhargav D. Karia and Mauna M. Bhatt observed that “the reason given by the Assessing Officer for alleged escapement of Rs.3,25,00,000/- is not sustainable since there is no unexplained amount in the bank statement on record since the assessee did not retain the amount of Rs.3,25,00,000/- and as such the...

Credit Cannot Be Blocked In Electronic Credit Ledger If Sufficient Balance Not Available: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court stated that there cannot be any blocking of the credit in electronic credit ledger if there is no sufficient balance available. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Bhargav D. Karia and Niral R. Mehta, was hearing a case where the assessee contested the blocking of Input Tax Credit (ITC) amounting to ₹2,44,05,567 in its electronic credit ledger. Rule 86A of CGST Rules, 2017 empowers the Commissioner or authorized officer to restrict debit of fraudulently...

Assessee Who Forgot To Claim 'Long Term Capital Loss' In Income Tax Return Can Seek Revision U/S 264: Gujarat High Court

The Gujarat High Court recently allowed an assessee, who failed to claim 'Long Term Capital Loss' in its Income Tax return, to seek revision under Section 264 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. A division bench of Justices Bhargav D. Karia and Mauna M. Bhatt also reiterated that a Commissioner has to decide an assessee's revision application under Section 264, on merits. The provision empowers the Income Tax Commissioner to revise certain orders. This revision can be initiated by the...

S. 119(2)(b) Income Tax Act | Gujarat HC Directs Commissioner To Avoid Pedantic Approach, Condone One Year Delay In Filing Return

The Gujarat High Court recently allowed the petition preferred by a woman seeking to condone over one year delay in filing of her income tax return for an assessment year. A division bench of Justices Bhargav D. Karia and Mauna M. Bhatt also criticized the “pedantic approach” in deciding Petitioner's application under section 119(2)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The provision empowers CBDT to direct Income Tax authorities to allow refund/ deduction claims or any other relief under...