The department has issued clarification vide circular No.59/8/2003-ST dated 20.6.2003 and as per the said clarification, it was clarified that in case of commercial training and coaching institutes, the exclusion shall apply only to the sale value of standard textbooks, which are priced. Any study material or written text provided by such institute as a part of service which does not satisfy the above criteria will be subjected to service tax. On the basis of this clarification, the demand has been confirmed against the appellant.

Western Union Money Transfer through its main agents Paul Merchants Ltd. and Transcorp had been fighting a protracted battle in North & South Indian CESTAT. Most of the interim decisions of Bangalore CESTAT have been in favour of the sub-agents, holding that the services are not taxable, as these are not rendered in India.

Delay in present case has occurred not account of any substantial and sufficient reasons but on account of negligence of the appellant. If such delays are condoned, the meaning of limitation of thee months provided by legislature in the Central Excise Act would become meaningless and redundant.

As correctly pointed out by the learned counsel in the case of Ramdev Food Products (P.) Ltd. v. CCE [2012] 21 taxmann.com 410 (CESTAT – Ahd.) and again in the case of CCE v. Ramdev Food Products (P.) Ltd. [Final Order Nos. A/861-863/2010-WZB/Ahd., dated 30-6-2010] this bench has held that refund of service tax paid on THC, DOC charges, Haulage charges under the Port services and Courier charges and CHA services are eligible for refund.

The services/activities in question are pest control, annual maintenance contract (AMC) for ST plant for sewage disposal, AMC for air conditioners for instrumentation room, canteen facility and AMC for computers. The learned counsel for the appellant relies on the following decisions in support of their claim of CENVAT credit on the aforesaid services:

Penalty has been imposed under Rule 15 of CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 read with Section 11AC of Central Excise Act, 1944. On perusal of the records, I find that the appellant has reversed the CENVAT Credit which has been pointed out as erroneously taken in August and September 2008 itself.

The issue is whether giving bullock-carts on consideration amounts to supply of tangible goods service. As per the definition of tangible goods service it includes machinery, equipment and appliances. Bullock-carts prima facie cannot be considered as machinery, equipment or appliances. In view of this, the applicants have made out a case for total waiver for hearing of the appeal.

A perusal of the impugned orders clearly evidences the lack of clarity and understanding on the part of the department. The activity of live telecast of the horse race has been classified as ‘broad casting services’ during one part of the period and during another period, the very same activity is classified as ‘intellectual property rights service’.

Inasmuch as the department has received the amount due from the appellant quoting of wrong registration number in the concerned challans is only a technical error which can be rectified at the department’s end itself.

Benefit of SSI exemption Notification No.6/2005-ST dated 01.3.2005 as amended vide Notification No.8/2008-ST dated 01.3.2008, grants the benefit of exemption of service tax per year, provided that the assessee has not crossed the threshold limit of rupees ten lakhs in the preceding financial year.