Works Contract For Track Doubling & Infrastructure Under RVNL Is Liable To 12% GST: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court stated that the works contract for track doubling and infrastructure under RVNL is liable to 12% GST. Justice Mohammed Shaffiq stated that “it may be relevant to keep in mind that while exemption notifications must be strictly construed, it certainly would not mean that the scope of the exemption notification can be curtailed by importing conditions or giving an artificially restrictive meaning to the words in an exemption notification.” In this case, the...

No Provision Allows Coercive Action Before Pre-Intimation Notice: Uttarakhand HC Criticizes GST Dept For Negatively Blocking ITC

The Uttarakhand High Court criticized the GST department for the negative blocking of ITC and questioned the provision under which such deterrent or coercive action has been taken. “The working of the Department is startling and shocking. It is not known and incomprehensible as to which provision of law permits the Department to take deterrent and coercive action, even prior to issuance of pre-intimation notice,” stated the Division Bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Alok ...

Failure To File Declaration May Be Considered As Technical Irregularity If Customs Authorities Failed To Notice It: CESTAT

The Mumbai Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that failure to file declaration may be considered as a technical irregularity if customs authorities failed to notice it. “There is no doubt that the declaration had to be made and, the deployment of 'abundant caution' in the instructions notwithstanding, it would appear that the said declaration was of not of insignificance in the procedure prescribed under Customs, Central Excise Duties and...

BBMP Introduces New Garbage Tax, Bengaluru Residents To Pay 'Solid Waste Management User Fee' From April 1st

The Bengaluru civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has introduced 'garbage tax' under which the residents of Bengaluru have to pay a “solid waste management user” fee from 1st April, 2025. The initiative has been taken by the government to improve the waste collection and disposal across the city. The government aims to generate Rs. 685 crores through this initiative in the current fiscal year. The charges would be based on the building area in the city. Also,...

Customs Must Preserve CCTV Footage Upon Receiving Complaint Of Officials Illegally Seizing Foreign Currency From Travellers: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has directed the Customs Department to ensure that relevant CCTV footage is preserved whenever it receives a complaint from any traveller coming to India from abroad, regarding illegal detention of his foreign currency by its officials.“...if a complaint was received in this manner, the CCTV footage ought to be preserved immediately as the same is available only for 30 days. Moreover, the CCTV footage of the Petitioner at the time of departure could also have been preserved...

Refund Claim For Service Tax Can't Be Made On Transactions Which Took Place Beyond Territorial Jurisdiction Of India: CESTAT

The Mumbai Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that refund claim for service tax cannot be claimed on transactions took place beyond the territorial jurisdiction of India. The Bench of Dr. Suvendu Kumar Pati (Judicial Member) and Anil G. Shakkarwar (Technical) has observed that, “The said claim for refund is in respect of service tax paid by the assessee in respect of transactions that took place beyond the territorial jurisdiction of India...

“Pendants” Described As Jewellery Are Not Distinguishable On Basis Of Purity Of Gold, No Exemption From Excise Duty: CESTAT

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that there is no exemption on the articles described as pendants as the jewellery is not distinguishable on the basis of purity of gold. The Bench of Bintu Tamta (Judicial) and Hemambika R. Priya (Technical) has observed that, “The contention of the assessee that articles of jewellery do not cover pendant of 24 CARAT within its purview is misleading and unsustainable as nowhere in the Chapter...

Rajasthan HC Quashes Prosecution Sanction Against E-Commerce Company For Delay In Depositing TDS Due To Late Submission Of Bills By Amazon, E-Bay

Rajasthan High Court set aside prosecution under Income Tax Act, 1961 (“the Act”), against the petitioner-company whose business activity related to e-commerce transactions, and owing to delay on part of the companies like Amazon, Naaptol, Ebay, etc. in submitting the bills, the petitioner got delayed by almost 10 months in submitting the deducted TDS.The division bench of Justice Maneesh Sharma and Justice Avneesh Jhingan held that since the TDS was deposited voluntarily by the petitioner, that...

Following Delhi HC Nudge, Customs Takes Measures To Prevent Harassment Of Genuine Air Travellers Carrying Gold Jewellery

Following successive judgments of the Delhi High Court criticising the Customs for detaining personal jewellery of air travellers and failure to comply with mandatory statutory procedure for detention, the Department has undertaken various steps to prevent harassment of genuine travellers.As per an affidavit filed by the Centre, the Department has taken following steps:1. A person whose goods are detained shall be issued detention receipts which would bear the time and date of detention, number...

Tax Monthly Digest: March 2025

SUPREME COURTSupreme Court Upholds Allahabad HC Decision That Chargers Sold With Cell Phones Cannot Be Taxed Separately Under UP VAT Act 2008Case title: COMMISSIONER, COMMERCIAL TAXCase no.: U. P. LUCKNOW vs. M/S SAMSUNG (INDIA) ELECTRONICS PVT. LTD.| Diary No. - 20066/2021The Supreme Court recently upheld the decision of the Allahabad High Court which observed that the charger sold with a cell phone under the MRP cannot be taxed separately under the UP VAT Act 2008.The bench of Justice BV...

Sections 43B & 40A Income Tax Act | Which Provision Prevails When Both Commence With Non-Obstante Clause? Madras High Court Clarifies

The Madras High Court while referring sections 43B and 40A Income Tax Act explained which provision prevails when both commence with a non-obstante clause. The Division Bench of Justices Dr. Anita Sumanth and G. Arul Murugan stated that “the Rule that a general provision should yield to specific provision springs from the common understanding that when two directions are given one encompassing a large number of matters in general and another to only some, the latter directions should...

Inflating Contract Figures & Complaining That Tax Authorities Based Decision On Such Figures Amounts To Defrauding State In Two Ways: Karnataka HC

The Karnataka High Court stated that inflating contract figures and complaining that tax authorities have premised their decision on such figures, amounts to defrauding state. “Claiming higher contract amount by inflated figures and thereafter complaining that the Tax authorities have premised their decision on such figures, virtually amounts to defrauding the State, in two-ways. Such an assessee does not deserve any relief at the hands of this Court,” stated the Division Bench of...