Tax Monthly Digest: July 2025

SUPREME COURTStem Cell Banking Services Qualify As "Healthcare Services" In Service Tax Exemption Notification : Supreme CourtCase : M/S. STEMCYTE INDIA THERAPEUTICS PVT. LTD vs COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL EXCISE AND SERVICE TAX, AHMEDABAD - IIICase no.: CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 3816-3817 OF 2025The Supreme Court held that stem cell banking services, including enrolment, collection, processing, and storage of umbilical cord blood stem cells, constitute “Healthcare Services” which were exempted from service...

Mere Incorporation Of Investing Companies Under Companies Act Not Enough To Prove Genuineness Of Share Transactions: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court held that mere incorporation of investing companies under the Companies Act is not enough to prove the genuineness of share transactions. The bench opined that, admittedly, the shares were by way of a private placement. Though the investing companies might have been incorporated under the provisions of the Company's Act, that by itself will not validate the transaction. Justices T.S. Sivagnanam and Chaitali Chatterjee (Das) stated that “though it can be...

Delhi High Court Reprimands GST Dept For Raiding Lawyer's Office, Seizing Computer Over Client's Tax Case

The Delhi High Court has pulled up the GST Department for harassing a tax lawyer, by raiding his offices and seizing his files and electronic gadgets, in connection with alleged GST evasion by one of his clients.A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Shail Jain observed that unless the Department has some material to indicate the lawyer's involvement in alleged tax evasion, it cannot take such steps against him.“The Advocate cannot be subjected to harassment in this manner unless and...

[CGST Act] Penalty Is An 'Additional Tax', Cannot Be Levied Under State Act Without 'Charging Provision': J&K&L High Court

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has ruled that the penalty under the Central Sales Tax Act cannot be imposed by invoking provisions of the State Act in the absence of an express charging section.The Court held that the Central Act is a “self-contained code” and provides its own framework for imposition of penalties, which cannot be supplemented by state laws.A bench headed by Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Sanjay Parihar dismissed the petition challenging the absence of a penalty...

Income Tax | Sale Proceeds Of One House Used For Purchasing Multiple Residential Houses Qualifies For Exemption U/S 54(1): Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court held that sale proceeds of one residential house, used for purchase of multiple residential houses, would qualify for exemption under Section 54(1) of the Income Tax Act. The issue before the bench was whether Section 54(1) of the Income Tax Act allows the Assessee to set off the purchase cost of more than one residential units against the capital gains earned from sale of a single residential house. Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V. Marne stated...

Mobile Value-Added Services To Telephone Service Providers Classified As OIDAR; Service Tax Applicable: CESTAT

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that mobile value-added services to telephone service providers classified as online information database access and retrieval services (OIDAR), service tax applicable. Dr. D.M. Misra (Judicial Member) and R. Bhagya Devi (Technical Member) were addressing the issue of whether the Mobile Value-Added Services rendered by the assessee can be classified as 'Online Information Database Access and...

Service Tax Can't Be Levied On Transfer Or Assignment Of Copyright Of Film Produced Under Copyright Service: CESTAT

The Bangalore Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that service tax can't be levied on transfer or assignment of copyright of film produced under copyright service. P.A. Augustian (Judicial Member) and R. Bhagya Devi (Technical Member) were addressing the issue of whether service tax can be levied on exhibition of films under the category of Business Auxiliary Service (BAS) or demand can be confirmed against transfer or assignment of...

Burden To Prove That Best Assessment By Income Tax Authorities Is Perverse Is On Assesee: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that the burden to prove that the findings of best assessment done by the authorities is perverse is on the assesee. The bench of Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Praveen Kumar Giri held that “when a best assessment is done, it is for the assessee to bring on record the facts that may reveal that the findings are perverse in nature.” Appellant filed the Income Tax Appeal against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal who upheld the...

Service Tax Not Leviable On Cricket Association Clubs's Services To Its Members: CESTAT

The Bangalore Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) stated that service tax is not leviable on cricket association club services to its members, and further allowed Cenvat Credit on the LED score board. Dr. D.M. Misra (Judicial Member) and R Bhagya Devi (Technical Member) stated that the Commissioner's finding that the said LED score board has no nexus with the taxable service provided viz. Mandap Keeper service and other services is also devoid of...

Service Tax Not Leviable On Repairs Of School Building Run By Military Engineering Services: CESTAT

The Hyderabad Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that service tax not leviable on repairs of school building run by military engineering services. Angad Prasad (Judicial Member) and A.K. Jyotishi (Technical Member) opined that the services rendered to Military Engineering Services (MES) was in relation to Sainik School run by them and such building cannot be used for commerce and hence repairs of such building are beyond the scope of ...

No Excise Duty On Manufacture Of Drip Irrigation System And Its Component Parts: CESTAT

The Mumbai Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that no excise duty on manufacture of drip irrigation system and its component parts. S.K. Mohanty (Judicial Member) and M.M. Parthiban (Technical Member) observed that the impugned goods viz., polytubes, microtubes, HDPE pipes were used for Drip irrigation systems, the appropriate classification in terms of the CBEC circular dated 16.03.1998 would be under sub-heading no. 8424.91, and not...

Goods Used As Implants Or Rehabilitation Aids Are Eligible For Customs Duty Exemption: CESTAT

The Mumbai Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) has stated that goods used as implants or rehabilitation aids are eligible for Customs Duty exemption. S.K. Mohanty (Judicial Member) and M.M. Parthiban (Technical Member) observed that “since, the implants such as repair of knee, hip and other joints, shoulder and various other parts of the body; repair of soft tissue injuries and degenerative conditions of the shoulder etc., are in the nature of...