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2022 (6) TMI 526 - NAPA - GSTProfiteering - purchase of Duplex Row House - it is alleged that the Respondent had not passed on the benefit of ITC although he had charged GST @12% w.e.f. 01.07.2017 from the said Applicant - contravention of section 171(1) of GST Act - penalty - HELD THAT:- It is clear from a plain reading of Section 171 (1), that it deals with two situations- one relating to the passing on the benefit of reduction in the rate of tax and the second pertaining to the passing on the benefit of the ITC. On the said issues, it is apparent from the DGAP's Report and the available record that the Completion Certificate for the project “Sahej Valley” was issued on 31.03.2016, i.e. prior to the date of introduction of GST through which the provisions of Anti-Profiteering were introduced. In support of the claim, the Respondent has also produced a copy of sale deed for other units sold post completion in October, 2017, to establish that the project was completed in March, 2016 and that no Service Tax/GST was charged on such units sold post completion. Since, the Completion Certificate was obtained for the subject project before the introduction of GST and also there has not been any reduction of GST rate in the instant case, the provisions of Section 171 dealing with Anti-profiteering cannot be made applicable to the said project in the view of the fact that there was no additional ITC which had been utilized by the Respondent, which was relevant for establishing allegation of profiteering. Further, no fresh demand has been raised by the Respondent upon Applicant No.1 in the post-GST regime, only a reminder for previous demand was issued. Launching of the project, Agreement to sell and Completion Certificate of the project had taken place in the pre-GST regime and hence, there was no post-GST tax rate or ITC structure which could be compared with the pre-GST tax rate and ITC and also the anti-profiteering provisions related to Section 171 were not in existence at that time. Accordingly, it is clear that the Respondent had neither benefited from additional ITC nor had there been a reduction in the tax rate in the post-GST period and therefore it does not qualify to be a case of profiteering. As per the provisions of Rule 133 (1) of the CGST Rules, 2017 this order was required to be passed within a period of 6 months from the date of receipt of the Report from the DGAP under Rule 129 (6) of the above Rules. Since, the present Report has been received by this Authority on 31.12.2020 the order was to be passed on or before 30.05.2021 However, due to prevalent pandemic of COVID-19 in the Country this order could not be passed on or before the above date - Hon'ble Supreme Court in Suo Moto Writ Petition (C) no. 3/2020, vide its Order dated 10.1.2022 [2022 (1) TMI 385 - SC ORDER] has directed that In cases where the limitation would have expired during the period between 15.03.2020 till 28.02.2022, notwithstanding the actual balance period of limitation remaining, all persons shall have a limitation period of 90 days from 01.03.2022. In the event the actual balance period of limitation remaining, with effect from 01.03.2022 is greater than 90 days, the longer period shall apply. The instant case does not fall under the ambit of Anti-Profiteering provisions of Section 171 of the CGST Act, 2017. Therefore, the allegation that the Respondent has not passed on the benefit of ITC in this case is not found sustainable - Application dismissed.
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