The Supreme Court of India has struck down key provisions of the 2021 Tribunals Reforms law, citing violations of separation of powers and judicial independence. The court restored earlier directions on tenure for tribunal members.
InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of IndiGo, has approached the Delhi high court seeking a refund of over Rs 900 crore it claims to have paid as Customs duty on aircraft engines and parts re-imported into India after overseas repairs. The petition came up for hearing on Friday before a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Shail Jain.
The Supreme Court has said that selling land or property is not a service under the Finance Act, 1994, so such sales cannot be charged with service tax.
The Commissioner of Customs had confiscated the goods claiming that the body massagers could be used as adult sex toys and such items are prohibited for import.
While recalling the order, the bench agreed to the contention of the law officer that there was a "breach of principle of natural justice" as the government department was not accorded the hearing.
The judge gave the ruling while dismissing a petition filed by the Commissioner of Customs. The court upheld the Customs, Excise and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal's earlier judgement, stating that the interpretation by the tribunal was in consonance with the Computers (Additional Duty) Rules, 2004.
The service tax department had issued notice to Microsoft India in September 2008 demanding Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion), which consisted of a duty demand of Rs 255 crore and interest on the amount for three years, over an alleged tax evasion for services provided by the company to its sister concern in Singapore.
In a setback to NALCO and Hindustan Lever Ltd, a tax tribunal has quashed their plea challenging the government's decision to impose anti-dumping duty on imports of caustic soda.
The Central Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal ordered the BCCI pay Rs three crore interim payment towards service tax dues.
In a relief to two-wheeler major Hero Honda Motors, a tax tribunal has ruled in favour of the company in a case filed by the Excise department for alleged duty evasion to the tune of Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million).
The tribunal raised tax demand against several airlines, including Jet.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Board Of Control For Cricket In India's plea against a tribunal order asking it to pay around Rs 18 crore as service tax for video graphing matches and selling the feed to private sport channels.
The CJI said tax judiciary plays a very important role in resource mobilisation of the country and expressed concern over pendency of cases.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, is locked in a legal battle with the Service Tax (ST) department, which has demanded an amount of Rs 536 crore (approx) as taxes on cricket board's earnings from royalty and media rights in the last one decade.
Has the Modi government been more at odds with institutions than other governments? There is no doubt that there have been more run-ins. While the RBI and CBI cases have drawn attention, there have been others, less publicised, Subhomoy Bhattacharjee points out.
Customs and excise duty rates have been amended mainly to promote Make in India.
The sluggish legal system in India makes it extremely difficult for law-enforcing agencies in the ministry of finance to punish violations of foreign exchange laws. Unfortunately, it is not just FEMA. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act too has significant infirmities, say Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Pranati Mehra.
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