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Issues involved:
1. Demand for service tax on free services provided during the warranty period. 2. Interpretation of the applicability of service tax on free services provided by authorized service stations. 3. Validity of penalty imposed under section 78 of Finance Act, 1994. Analysis: 1. The main issue in this case is the demand for service tax on free services provided during the warranty period. The appellants argued that the free services they provided to purchasers of Maruti Vehicles after sales are included in the dealer's margin and, therefore, should not be subject to service tax. They relied on a previous decision of the Tribunal in the Indus Motor Company case, which held that service tax cannot be collected on free services provided by authorized service stations. The JCDR, however, contended that since the appellants were required to pay service charges when services were rendered by another dealer of Maruti, the services were not truly free. The Tribunal found that a strong prima facie case was made out by the appellants in their favor, given the precedent set by the Indus Motor Company case. As a result, the requirement of pre-deposit under section 35F was waived, and the stay application by the appellant was allowed unconditionally. 2. The interpretation of the applicability of service tax on free services provided by authorized service stations was a crucial aspect of this case. The appellants argued that the free services they offered during the warranty period should not be subject to service tax, as they were included in the dealer's margin. They relied on the Tribunal's decision in the Indus Motor Company case to support their position. On the other hand, the JCDR contended that the requirement for the appellants to pay service charges when services were rendered by another dealer indicated that the services were not genuinely free. However, the Tribunal, considering the precedent set by the earlier decision, found in favor of the appellants and waived the pre-deposit requirement under section 35F. 3. Lastly, the validity of the penalty imposed under section 78 of the Finance Act, 1994 was also at issue in this case. The appellants were facing a penalty of Rs. 5,29,500, in addition to the demand for service tax and applicable interest. The Tribunal's decision to waive the pre-deposit requirement under section 35F in favor of the appellants indicates a favorable stance towards the appellants' arguments regarding the service tax on free services. This decision suggests that the penalty imposed under section 78 may also be subject to reconsideration in light of the Tribunal's ruling on the service tax issue. This detailed analysis highlights the key legal arguments, interpretations, and decisions made in the judgment, providing a comprehensive overview of the case.
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