Natural Gas Can Be Equated With Petroleum Gas, To Be Taxed Under Entry 23 Of 6th Schedule Of APGST Act: Telangana High Court

In a case pertaining to the taxation of Natural Gas, the Telangana High Court has held that Natural Gas shall fall under Entry 23 of 6th Schedule, under the category of petroleum gases, and not Entry 118. The different entries change the percentage of tax levied. Justice Narsing Rao Nandikonda held that “This bench is of the firm opinion that the findings given by the Tribunal holding that the natural gas sold by the petitioner falls under entry 23 of 6th schedule is proper” The...

Order Rejecting Jurisdictional Objections U/S 16 Of Arbitration Act Can Be Challenged U/S 34, Not Under Writ Jurisdiction: Telangana HC

The Telangana High Court bench of Justice P. Sam Koshy and Justice Namavarapu Rajeshwar Rao has held that an order rejecting jurisdictional objections under Section 16 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (Arbitration Act) can only be challenged under section 34 of the Arbitration Act after an award is passed, and no writ petition against such an order can be entertained. Brief Facts: There was a joint venture cum shareholders agreement executed between the petitioners and ...

Anti-Arbitration Suit Giving Short-Shrift To Sec 16 A&C Act Is Hit By Order 7 Rule 11(d) Of CPC: Telangana High Court Reiterates

The Telangana High Court has reiterated and clarified that suits initiated before Civil Courts to curb arbitration proceedings ignore section 16 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,1996, and deserve to be rejected under Order 7, Rule 11(d) as being barred by statute.The order was passed in a commercial court appeal by a Division Bench of Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice B.R.Madhusudhan Rao. Relying on a series of judgements, (Kvaerner Cementation India Limited Vs. Bajranglal...

S.17 Of Arbitration Act Casts Weighty Burden On Party To Persuade Court To Hold Onto S.9 Proceedings After Formation Of Tribunal: Telangana HC

The Telangana High Court has held that the 2015 amendment to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act grants a bouquet of protections to a party during the course of arbitral proceedings. It clarified that section 9 (3) restricts a party from seeking interim protection before a Court, once a tribunal has been constituted. After the amendment, once the Tribunal has been constituted, the parties can avail of the protection under section 17 by applying to the Tribunal.The Bench further explained that...

SCN & Orders Not Containing Signature Of Proper Officer Cannot Sustain Judicial Scrutiny: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court stated that the show cause notices and the orders which are not pregnant with the signature of the Proper Officer cannot sustain judicial scrutiny. The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara observed that “since Rule and prescribed Forms mandate requirement of signature of Proper Officer, its violation makes the notice/order vulnerable. Any contrary view taken by Court about DRC-07 having no signature without considering the...

Designated Committee Under Sabka Vishwas Scheme May Reject Application For Compounding Tax Over Bogus Documents: Telangana High Court

A division bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by M/s Diwakar Road Lines challenging the rejection of an application to compound all previous service tax by way of a one-time settlement. The bench held that even though the statute does not prescribe for the rejection of any application, the committee may reject an application when the documents relied upon are ingenuine. The Division Bench comprising of Justice R. Raghunandan Rao and Justice...

S.168A GST Act | 'Recommendation' Of GST Council To Extend Limitation Period Can Be Substituted By Subsequent 'Ratification': Telangana HC

The Telangana High Court has upheld the validity of two 2023 notifications, issued by the GST Department post COVID-19 pandemic, for extending the limitation period prescribed for issuing notices under Section 73 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. A division bench of Justice Sujoy Paul and Dr. Justice G. Radha Rani also upheld a notification issued in 2022 for similar purpose. In doing so, it observed, “In the manner statute i.e., Section 168A is worded, there is no...

Sole Financial Creditor Can't Entertain Request For One-Time Settlement Once CIRP Proceedings Have Commenced: Telangana High Court

Telangana High Court has dismissed a Writ petition filed by Mandava Holdings Private Limited challenging the rejection of the one-time settlement (OTS) proposal offer made to PTC India Financial Services Limited so as to stop CIRPC proceedings without considering the RBI framework for compromise settlement and technical write-offs.The petitioner contended that PTC India Financial Services Limited was wrong in approving the resolution plan without considering the settlement offer and prayed that...

2% Additional Tax For Acquiring 'Second Vehicle' Can't Be Levied When First Vehicle Has Already Been Sold: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court recently set aside Moosarambagh RTO's direction imposing 2% additional tax on a resident's purchase of a Mahindra XUV 700 car by labelling it to be his 'second vehicle'. As per the Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1963, vehicles that cost over Rs 20 lakh will be charged 18%. A second vehicle purchased in the name of the owner will be charged an additional 2% tax. Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka clarified that the additional tax on a second vehicle is...

Loss Of FD Investments Doesn't Qualify As 'Trading Loss' For Deduction From Income U/S 28 Of Income Tax Act: Telangana HC

The Telangana High Court has held that the loss of fixed deposit investments by an assessee does not qualify as a 'trading loss' for the purposes of claiming deduction from income under Section 28 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Under Section 28, one may deduct expenses that are fully and solely incurred in the course of operating a business or practicing a profession. In the case at hand, the appellant, engaged in the business of sale of electrical goods, money lending and dealing in...

Only Income From Investment Made By Charitable Institution In Violation Of S.13(1)(d) Income Tax Act Is Liable To Tax: Telangana HC

The Telangana High Court has held that the benefit of exemption under Section 11 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, can be denied only on income from such investments made by charitable or religious institutions, which are in violation of Section 13(1)(d) of the Act. Section 11(1) of the Act mandates that any income derived from the property held under the trust wholly for charitable purpose or religious purpose is exempted from the total income to the extent to which such income is applied...

MSEFC Must Decide Question On Limitation Before Adjudicating Dispute On Merits: Telangana High Court

The Telangana High Court bench of Justice P. Sam. Koshy, while hearing a petition filed under Article 227, has held that the issues of maintainability, particularly the question of limitation, are to be decided by the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council (MSEFC) before proceeding to adjudicate the dispute on merits. Facts: In a common order dated 15/06/2024, the MSEFC, in a section 16 petition filed by the petitioner, has held that the claims of the claimant were barred...