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2020 (9) TMI 775 - NAPA - GSTProfiteering - foot wear (Shoes) - allegation that the Respondent had not passed on the benefit of rate reduction when the rate of GST was reduced - contravention of provisions of Section 171 (1) of the CGST Act, 2017 - penalty - HELD THAT:- It has been revealed that the Respondent had not passed on the benefit of rate reduction when the rate of GST was reduced from 18% to 5% on foot wear, as per the provisions of Section 171 (1) of the CGST Act, 2017 for the period w.e.f. 27.07.2018 to 30.11.2018 and hence, the Respondent has violated the provisions of Section 171 (1) of the CGST Act, 2017. It is also clear from the record that the Respondent has also paid the entire profiteered amount in the Consumer Welfare Funds of the Central and the State Governments along with interest. It is also revealed from the perusal of the CGST Act and the Rules framed under it that no penalty had been prescribed for violation of the provisions of Section 171 (1) of the above Act, therefore, the Respondent was issued show cause notice to state why penalty should not be imposed on him for violation of the above provisions as per Section 122 (1) (i) of the above Act as he had apparently issued incorrect or false invoices while charging excess consideration and GST from the buyers. However, from the perusal of Section 122 (1) (i) it is clear that the violation of the provisions of Section 171 (1) is not covered under it as it does not provide penalty for not passing on the benefits of tax reduction and hence the above penalty cannot be imposed for violation of the anti-profiteering provisions made under Section 171 of the CGST Act - Since, no penalty provisions were in existence between the period w.e.f. 27 07 2018 to 30.11.2018 when the Respondent had violated the provisions of Section 171 (1), the penalty prescribed under Section 171 (3A) also cannot be imposed on the Respondent retrospectively. Accordingly, the notice dated 03.07.2019 issued to the Respondent for imposition of penalty under Section 122 (1) (i) is hereby withdrawn and the present penalty proceedings launched against him are accordingly dropped.
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