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TMI Blog2019 (9) TMI 581X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... r to manipulate records to receive rent as non refundable contribution. Thus, the demand on such count is also not sustainable on the ground of limitation as well. Reversal of CENVAT Credit - input services - construction of compound wall and laying of new pipelines - HELD THAT:- The services in respect of laying of pipelines were availed during the year 2011-2012 the Commissioner observes that the service of construction of new compound wall and laying of pipeline of taxable park received by the appellant were not used by the appellant for providing output service nor were used in relation to setting up, modernization, renovation or repairs or premises of provider of output service - During the period 2006-2011, the unit was being set up and laying of pipeline and building wall is certainly part of renovation of premises and thus covered under the definition of input services - demand set aside. Business Auxiliary Services - amounts recovered under the head of finger analysis fee demanded under the head of technical testing and analysis service and tender and plant evaluation fee - Demand of service tax - HELD THAT:- It is seen that the appellant had filed a VCES declaration ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... . The appellant SPV was formed for acquiring land and setting up infrastructure for establishing textile parks wherein different member textile unit could operate. He pointed out that Ministry of Textiles had engaged IL FS as Project Management Consultant (PMC) for implementation of the scheme. The said PMC reports to Ministry of Textiles. Ministry of Textiles supervises the operation of the parks through the said PMC. The SPV also consists of representatives of local industries, financial institutions, State and Central Govt. representatives. 2.1 The appellant company was incorporated on 07.10.2005 under the said model with representative of Ministry and representatives of the Banks on Board of the Company. On 08.10.2005 IL FS was appointed as the Project Management Consultant (PMC). IL FS prepared detailed project report for the proposed park to be established by the appellant company, on 15.11.2005. The said textiles park project of the appellant company was sanctioned and approved by the Ministry in PAC meeting held on 25.11.2005 and sanction letter was issued on 30.12.2005. He pointed out that draft of share subscription agreement and lease deed, as circulated by IL F ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... unit becomes member of the SPV. He also pointed out that the non-refundable contribution given by the members is invested and used for construction/ development of infrastructure and common facilities in the industrial park as per the scheme. He also pointed out that the amount collected as rent and user charges/ variable expenses from the members are treated as consideration for rendering service in the nature of renting of immovable property and other miscellaneous services and appropriate service tax is being paid by the appellant. 2.5 Ld. Counsel pointed out that the Revenue is seeking to demand service tax on the non-refundable contribution made by the member units towards the capital expenditure of the park for developing and constructing the infrastructure under the category of renting of immovable property service. The allegation in the notice is that rental amount is collected in guise of non-refundable contribution. Ld. Counsel pointed out that no evidence whatsoever has been produced by the Revenue in support of this claim. The revenue allegation is totally unsubstantiated. Ld. Counsel also pointed out that extended period of limitation has been invoked to de ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... per Sq. Mt. and thus the whole amount charged by the appellant works out to 1.5 to 2% of the jantri value which in normal market scenario is a fair rent. He pointed out that the notice alleged that a modus operandi was designed by the appellant to disguise the rent for the vacant land as non-refundable contribution. He argued that the said allegation is totally baseless for the reason that the entire SPV has been set up on a PPP Model under the control and supervision of Ministry of Textile with the representative of Ministry as a member of the Board of SPV. He pointed out that the manner in which the various members are to contribute for the infrastructure has been clearly spelled out in the scheme. He further pointed out that under the terms of the scheme the entire amount of non-refundable contribution is mandated to be used solely for infrastructure purposes. He pointed out that the collection and, release of amount from accounts is maintained by PMC and it is ultimate utilization are all documented as per scheme. He pointed out that the entire set up has been arranged, supervised and operationalized by ILF S (PMC approved by Ministry) and the model of the Share subscription ag ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... of the SPV and therefore, there cannot be any intention to evade payment of duty or intention to disguise one payment or other. Moreover the project came into existence prior to introduction of levy of renting of immovable property service and therefore, there cannot be any intention to evade when the said scheme was devised. 2.12 The next issue relates to the availment of cenvat credit on service tax paid for construction of compound wall. 2.13 Ld. Counsel argued that the appellants are paying service tax on various services provided to the Member Units. The service are in relation to the infrastructure support provided to Member Units. He argued that in these circumstances the construction of wall and laying of pipeline was a necessary ingredient to enable the appellant to provide the said services to the member units and therefore, the credit availed in respect of construction of wall and laying of pipelines cannot be denied. He relied on the decision of Tribunal in the case of Navratna SG Highway Prop. Pvt. Ltd. 2012 (28) STR 166 (Tri. Amd.). He argued that the Circular dated 04.01.2008 relied in the impugned order is contrary to statutory provision and could ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tax was levied on renting of vacant land. He argued that in these circumstances there cannot be any mis-declaration or intention to evade. He further argued that entire data was submitted from time to time in the ST-3 returns. He also pointed out there were various correspondences between Revenue and the appellant to which the appellant had responded very promptly during the period January 2010 to November 2010. During this period balance-sheet and various documents were submitted to Revenue. He argued that in these circumstances introduction of extended period of limitation is totally misplaced. 3. Ld. AR relies on the impugned order. 4. We have gone through rival submissions. We find that demand has been made under following heads: ₹ 4,26,54,866/- (service tax- Issue of rental of immovable property) ₹ 9,05,725/- (Cenvat Credit of Service tax paid on construction of compound wall) ₹ 68,076/- (Cenvat Credit of service tax paid on construction of new pipeline) ₹ 99,728/- [Service Tax on Tender and Plan Evaluation Fees (under BAS) and Finger Analysis Fees (technical testing and analysis)] 4.1 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... and used for educational, sports, circus, entertainment and parking purposes Similarly, renting of immovable property in the following cases is also excluded from the scope of this taxable service, namely :- (i) renting of immovable property by a religious body (ii) renting of immovable property to a religious body, (iii) renting of immovable property to an educational body, other than commercial training or coaching centre Commercial coaching or training centre is defined under section 65(27). 6.3.1 Where renting of immovable property is a single composite contract involving part of property for use in commerce or business and part of it for residential/accommodation purposes, for the purpose of levy of service tax under this sub-clause, entire property under the contract is treated as property for use in commerce or business and accordingly the total value of the contract shall be the taxable value. Thereafter introduction of Finance Act, 2010 w.e.f. 08.05.2010 levy of service tax on renting of vacant land was introduced. The issue was clarified vide Dof No. 334/1/2010-TRU dated 26.02.2010 in following ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... seen that the entire scheme was devised under the supervision of Ministry of Textiles and it s representatives. In these circumstances the allegation appears to totally baseless. The demand is set aside. 4.5 As regard limitation, it is seen that the primary allegation in respect of amounts collected under the head of non refundable contribution as rent pertains to is totally misplaced. The entire scheme was devised in consultation with Government of India, Ministry of Textile and in supervision of the PMC appointed by the Government. The entire scheme was devised much before the levy of service tax on renting of immoveable property was introduced and in these circumstances to allege that rent was being collected under garb of non refundable contribution is totally misplaced. It is seen that when the scheme was devised, there was no levy of service tax on renting of immovable property and thus they could not have any intention to evade or to manipulate records to receive rent as non refundable contribution. Thus, the demand on such count is also not sustainable on the ground of limitation as well. 4.6 In view of above we do not find any merit in demand of service ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh was similar to the present one. The Hon ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh considered the definition of the input and input service and took a view that using cement and TMT bars for construction of warehouse, the CENVAT credit on cement and TMT bars would be admissible. The Hon ble High Court observed as follows : 6. The only allegation against the assessee is that they claimed CENVAT credit irregularly with reference to cement and TMT bars used in the construction of warehouses through which the storage and warehousing services are provided by the assessee. Section 65(102) of the Finance Act defines storage and warehousing as to include storage and warehousing services for goods including liquids and gases but does not include any service provided for storage of agricultural produce or in service provided by cold storage. As per Section 65(105)(zza), read with Section 66 of the Finance Act, there shall be levied tax on storage and warehousing services at 12% of the value of taxable service. The service tax payable is determined in accordance with Section 67(4) read with the Service Tax Rules, 1994 made in exercise of the powers under ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... in relation to manufacture of final product or for any other purpose used by a provider of taxable service for providing an output service are eligible for CENVAT credit. In Maruti Suzuki Ltd. v. Commissioner of Central Excise, Delhi-III, (2009) 9 SCC 193 = 2009 (240) E.L.T. 641 (S.C.) the Supreme Court laid down as follows : 9. Coming to the statutory definition of the word input in Rule 2(g) in the CENVAT Credit Rules, 2002, it may be noted that the said definition of the word input can be divided into three parts namely : (i) specific part (ii) inclusive part (iii) place of use Coming to the specific part, one finds that the word input is defined to mean all goods, except light diesel oil, high speed diesel oil and petrol, used in or in relation to the manufacture of final products whether directly or indirectly and whether contained in the final product or not. The crucial requirement, therefore, is that all goods used in or in relation to the manufacture of final products qualify as input . This presupposes that the clement of manufacture must be present. 3.2 The definition of inputs is limited to the definiti ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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