M/S. Karunamaya Constructions vs. The State Of Karnataka

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WP/115493/2019HC KarnatakaGSTCNR KAHC02004129201919 February 2024Bench: HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR9 pages
For Petitioner: SRI. B.N.MAHESH CHANDRA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. NAVEEN G.S. ADVOCATEFor Respondent: SRI.HANAMANTHARAY LAGALI, AGA, FOR R1, R5, R9; SRI. M.B. KANAVI, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3; SRI. GIRISH HULAMANI, ADVOCATE FOR R3 AND R4; NOTICE TO R10 TO R23 DISPENSED WITH

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Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
- 1 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 WP No. 115493 of 2019 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR WRIT PETITION NO. 115493 OF 2019 (T-RES) BETWEEN: 1. M/S. KARUNAMAYA CONSTRUCTIONS A REGISTERED PARTNERSHIP FIRM HAVING ITS OFFICE AT NO. 4-4/17, PLOT NO,. 45, SURYA BLOCK, OPP. STATE BANK OF MYSORE, KARATAGI, GANGAWATHI TALUK, KOPPAL DISTRICT-583229, REPRESENTED BY ITS PARTNER SRI. G. SRINIVAS RAO 2. SRI. G. RAM MOHAN SON OF G. RAMARAO AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, RESIDING AT 15 WARD, NEAR NATIONAL SCHOOL, KARATAGI, GANGAWATHI TALUK, KOPPAL DISTRICT-583229 3. G. SURESH SON OF G. RAMA RAO AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, RESIDING AT 15 WARD, NEAR NATIONAL SCHOOL, KARATAGI, GANGAWATHI TALUK, KOPPAL DISTRICT-583229 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. B.N.MAHESH CHANDRA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. NAVEEN G.S. ADVOCATE) SUJATA SUBHASH PAMMAR - 2 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 WP No. 115493 of 2019 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA FINANCE DEPARTMENT II FLOOR, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001 (REP. BY ADDL CHIEF SECRETARY) 2. TH UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE NEW DELHI-110 001 (REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY) 3. THE GOODS AND SERVICES TAX COUNCIL JANPATH, CONNAUGHT PLACE, NEW DELHI-110001 (REP. BY SPECIAL SECRETARY) 4. THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL TAX NO.1 QUEENS ROAD, VASANTH NAGAR, BENGALURU-560001 5. THE COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAXES GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA VANIJYA THERIGE KARYALAYA, 1ST MAIN ROAD, GANDHI NAGAR, BENGALURU-560009 6. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAXES LGSTO-240, SHARADA SAMUDAYA BHAVAN, SHANKAR MUTT ROAD, HASSAN-573103 - 3 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 WP No. 115493 of 2019 7. THE COMMERCIAL TAX OFFICER OFFICE OF THE COMMERCIAL TAX OFFICER, SHIVAMOGGA-577427 8. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL TAX HOSPET DIVISION 3RD FLOOR, RAJAPUR SKIES, COLLEGE ROAD, HOSPET-583201 9. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF COMMERCIAL TAXES OFFICE OF THE ASSITANT COMMISSIONER OF CENTRAL TAX, HOSPET DIVISION 3RD FLOOR, RAJAPUR SKIES, COLLEGE ROAD, HOSPET-583201 10. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER NATIONAL HIGHWAYS DIVISION VISHWESHWARA NAGAR, HUBLI-580025 11. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER KARNATAKA RURAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY PROJECT DIVISION, KOPPAL - 583229 12. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER KARNATAKA NEERAVARI NIGAMA LIMITED NO.2 CANAL DIVISION, DODDARAHATTI CAMP, GANGAWATHI, KOPPAL DISTRICT - 583229 13. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER KARNATAKA NEERAVARI NIGAMA LIMITED CENTRAL DIVISION, MUNEERABAD-583211 14. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER TUNGABHADRA PROJECT CADA, MUNEERABAD-583211 15. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PWP and IWTD DIVISION, KOPPAL - 583229 - 4 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 WP No. 115493 of 2019 16. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PWP and IWTD DIVISION, BALLARI - 583121 17. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER MINOR IRRIGATION and GROUND WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, CHITRADURGA-577501 18. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PWP and IWTD DIVISION CHIKKAMAGALUR-577101 19. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PWP and IWTD, RAICHUR – 584101 20. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KARNATAKA RESIDENTIAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SOCIETY (KREIS), MSBI, 6TH AND 7TH FLOOR, CUNNINGHAM ROAD, bENGALURU-560 052 21. THE COMMISSIONER BALLARI MAHANAGARA PALIKE, BALLARI-583121 22. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER RDWP, KOPPAL-583231 23. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PANCHAYATRAJ ENGINEERING DIVISION, KOPPAL-583231 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.HANAMANTHARAY LAGALI, AGA, FOR R1, R5, R9; SRI. M.B. KANAVI, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3; SRI. GIRISH HULAMANI, ADVOCATE FOR R3 AND R4; NOTICE TO R10 TO R23 DISPENSED WITH) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO: - 5 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 WP No. 115493 of 2019 A) DELCARE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF GST ACT IS INAPPLICABLE IN RESPECT OF WORKS CONTRACT WHERE PROVISIONS OF SERVICE ARE MADE PRIOR TO 01.07.2017 IN SO FAR AS PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED AND CONSEQUENTLY THAT THE RESPONDENT NOS 4 TO 9 HAVE NO JURISDICTION TO EITHER ISSUE NOTICE OR TO TAKE ANY COERCIVE STEPS AGAINST THE PETITIONERS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE GST ACT DATED 01.07.2017 PRODUCED AS ANEXURE-H1 AND H2: VIDE REFERENCE NUMBER CIRCULAR NO.23/2017 DTED 19.07.17. B) DECLARE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 7(3) READ WITH CLAUSE 6 OF SCHEDULE II OF THE GST ACT IS ULTRA- VIRES ARTICLE 366 (12A), (26A) (29A)(B0 & (F) THE CONSTITUTION IN VIEW OF AND SETTLED PRINCIPLES OF LAW LAID DOWN BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT REGARDING "WORKS CONTRACT" AND CONSEQUENTLY THAT THE RESPONDENT NOS. 4 TO 9 HAVE NO JURISDICTION TO EITHER ISSUE NOTICE OR TO TAKE ANY COERCIVE STEPS AGAINST THE PETITIONERS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE GST ACT FOR "WORKS CONTRACT" ENTERED INTO POST 01.07.2017 IE AFTER THE GST ACT CAME INTO EFFECT WHICH IS PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE H1 AND H2. C) DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO.1 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS AS PER ANNEXURE-C1, ANNEXURE-C2 AND ANNEXUREC3 ALL DATED 24.11.2018 IN TANDEM WITH ANNEXURES-D, E1 TO E6. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: - 6 - NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 WP No. 115493 of 2019

ORDER

In this petition, a declaration is sought that the provision of GST Act is inapplicable in respect of works contract where provisions of service are made prior to 1.7.2017, and consequently, the respondents No.4 to 9 have no juri iction to either issue notice or to take any coercive steps against the petitioners under the provisions of the GST Act. The petitioners have also sought for a direction to consider the representations submitted by the petitioners, under which, the petitioners sought to pay tax difference amount.

2.

The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that, the issue involved in this petition was examined by the coordinate Bench of this Court in WP No.9721/2019 and connected petitions (DD 11.4.2023), and the coordinate Bench of this Court by order dated 11.4.2023 disposed of the petitions therein by issuing the following directions. In the result, I pass the following:

ORDER

i) The petition stands disposed of.

(ii) The Respondents-State and other Govt agencies/ respondents who have entered into works contract with the Petitioners are issued the following directions guidelines:-

(a) Calculate the works executed pre-GST (prior to 01.07.2017) under KVAT regime and payments received by the Petitioners. NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 (b) The payments received by the Petitioners re- GST for such of the works executed before 1.07.2017 are to be assessed under KVAT tax regime – either under COT or VAT scheme as applicable.

(c) Calculate the balance works to be completed or completed after 01.07.2017, in the original contract.

(d) Derive the rate of materials, KVAT items required or used to complete the balance works.

(e) Deduct the "KVAT" amount from those materials and the service tax, if applicable.

(f) Add the applicable "GST" on those items.

(g) Input Credit on the materials is to be arrived at and be set off as against the output GST, for those assessed under regular VAT.

(h) Further, the “tax difference” should be calculated on such balance works executed or to be executed after 01.07.2017 separately.

(i) Based on the result obtained on calculation of the tax difference on the contract value, concerned department/authority has to decide whether agreement needs to be changed or not. NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 (j) A supplementary agreement may be signed with the Petitioners for the revised GST-inclusive work value for the Balance Work completed or to be completed as determined above and in case the revised GST-inclusive work value for the Balance Work, completed or to be completed after 01.07.2017, is more than the original agreement work value, the Petitioners are to be paid /reimbursed, as the case may be, the differential tax amount by the concerned employer; so also, in case payments for works completed pre-GST are made post-GST, the concerned employer has to pay or reimburse, as the case may be, the differential tax amount, to the Petitioners.

(iii) Petitioners are directed to submit comprehensive representations to the respective employers/Respondents within a period of 4 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, irrespective of whether they have completed the works pre-GST or post-GST or payments were received or yet to be received post-GST.

(iv) If such representations are submitted, the respective employers/Respondents are directed to consider and dispose of the same in the light of the aforesaid directions / guidelines as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of 8 weeks from the date of submission of the representations. NC: 2024:KHC-D:3966 (v) In view of the interim orders passed by this Court in the present petitions, such of the petitioners who had not filed their GST returns during the period after 01.07.2017 are permitted to file their returns / amended returns, pursuant to the calculation of the differential tax as per procedure above under GST regime, without insisting on interest or penalty or limitation.

(vi) The GST authorities are also directed not to take precipitative action against the Petitioners for a period of 6 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

(vii) Liberty is reserved in favour of the petitioners to challenge any order / decision passed / taken by the respondents or the authorities, subsequent to this order and also take recourse to such remedies as available in law."

3.

Accordingly, the petition is disposed off in terms of the conclusion in W.P.No.9721/2019 and connected petitions, the operative portion of which is extracted hereinabove. JUDGE

BKM CT:ANB List No.: 3 Sl No.: 12

Reproduced from the public record of the Karnataka High Court. Verify against the court's own copy before relying on it. Income tax judgments are on bharattax.net.