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2022 (3) TMI 1320 - AT - Service Tax


Issues Involved:
1. Jurisdiction of DGGI Officers to issue Show Cause Notice (SCN).
2. Admissibility of evidence (Excel sheets and statements) obtained during Income Tax search.
3. Classification of services under 'Construction of Complex Service' or 'Work Contract Service'.
4. Demand of Service Tax based on uncorroborated evidence.
5. Demand of Service Tax on amounts not received.
6. Penalties imposed on co-appellants.

Issue-wise Detailed Analysis:

1. Jurisdiction of DGGI Officers to issue Show Cause Notice (SCN):
The appellant argued that only jurisdictional officers are empowered to issue SCNs under Section 73 of the Finance Act, 1994, and not DGGI officers. They relied on the Supreme Court judgment in M/s Canon India Vs. Commissioner of Customs. The tribunal did not address this issue directly since the case was decided on facts and merits, leaving the jurisdictional question open.

2. Admissibility of Evidence Obtained During Income Tax Search:
The tribunal found that the revenue's case was primarily based on Excel sheets retrieved by the Income Tax Authorities and the statement of Ms. Kalindi Shah. However, no independent investigation was conducted by the department to corroborate these documents. The tribunal emphasized that electronic records must comply with Section 65B of the Evidence Act to be admissible, which was not done in this case. The tribunal concluded that the demand based on these uncorroborated documents was not sustainable.

3. Classification of Services under 'Construction of Complex Service' or 'Work Contract Service':
The appellant contested the classification of their services under 'Construction of Complex Service,' arguing that their contracts were indivisible composite contracts involving materials, land, and services. The tribunal agreed with the appellant, noting that the demand under an erroneous category was not sustainable. It was also highlighted that the demand on amounts charged for the sale of flats was not sustainable as per the Delhi High Court decision in Suresh Kumar Bansal Vs Union of India.

4. Demand of Service Tax Based on Uncorroborated Evidence:
The tribunal observed that the department had not provided any independent facts or evidence to support the details mentioned in the Excel sheets. The tribunal cited several case laws emphasizing the need for corroborative evidence in evasion cases. The tribunal concluded that the demand based on uncorroborated evidence was not sustainable.

5. Demand of Service Tax on Amounts Not Received:
The tribunal noted that the revenue had demanded Service Tax on amounts shown as outstanding, which had not been received by the appellant. The tribunal agreed with the appellant's contention that Service Tax cannot be levied on amounts not received, as consideration is an integral part of a service. The tribunal also pointed out that the revenue's own investigation did not compute Service Tax on outstanding cheque payments, indicating an inconsistency in their approach.

6. Penalties Imposed on Co-appellants:
Given that the demand against the main appellant was not sustainable, the tribunal concluded that the penalties imposed on the co-appellants were also not warranted.

Conclusion:
The tribunal allowed the appeals filed by J.P. Iscon Pvt. Ltd. and others, and dismissed the revenue's appeal. The tribunal found that the entire demand of Service Tax was not sustainable due to the lack of corroborative evidence, improper classification of services, and the inadmissibility of electronic evidence. The penalties on co-appellants were also set aside.

 

 

 

 

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