Home Case Index All Cases VAT and Sales Tax VAT and Sales Tax + HC VAT and Sales Tax - 2015 (8) TMI HC This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2015 (8) TMI 202 - HC - VAT and Sales TaxDenial of exemption claim - fixing and providing of Works Profile Safety Barrier - part of road construction activity or not - Assessing Officer came to the conclusion that certificate of exemption though was related to every part of Roads but fixing and providing of Works Profile Safety Barrier could not be said to be relating to roads but these were safety steel barriers and could be used for the other purposes, other than road, therefore, withdrew the benefit available to the respondent-assessee granted vide Certificate of Exemption No.6/45 Held that:- The AO, in the last part of the assessment order, has observed that as per notification dt.28/04/1993. Exemption fee @1% was chargeable on the entire work related to Roads. Therefore, when the entire work relating to Roads has been charged @ 1% as per notification dt.28/04/1993, then to say that fixing of “W. Profile Safety Barrier” was not used for the purposes of Roads, is unjustified on the part of the AO. When the notification itself says that exemption fee is to be charged @1%, relating to safely work of road, then in my view, it is part and parcel of providing and fixing, may be at Toll Plaza but it is certainly part of a road. Merely putting concrete, grit, coaltar cannot be said to be a road but in the present day conditions, when Mega Highways are being constructed, as in the present case, which is National Highway No.8, relating to Jaipur-Delhi National Highway, certainly one is required to have latest technology and safely measures installed which would certainly be part and parcel of roads. To say that fixing of W. Profile Safety Barrier is not relating to road, in my view, is contrary to what can be said to be part of a road. - Developing/constructing a road over the years require latest technology and it is not merely putting concrete, grit, coal tar etc but many more things. The words “relating to” has a wide meaning and cannot be restricted only to putting of concrete, grit, coal tar etc but it should mean everything relating to road. The expression such as “arising out of“ or “in respect of the” or “in connection with” or “in relation to” or “in consequence of” or “concerning” or “relating to” the contract are of the widest amplitude and content and include even questions as to the existence, validity and effect (scope). When both the appellate authorities have come to a definite finding of fact, then even otherwise, placing reliance on Rule 14 by the counsel for the Revenue, is not proper. What fraud has been played, counsel was unable to plead. - Decided against Revenue.
|