It was submitted by the learned A.R. that the appellant company being a limited company is not covered by the term association and exemption available is only to the association. However, it was pointed out by the learned counsel that the appellant is registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 which provides that the word “limited” can be dispensed with in respect of an association formed as a limited company for promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity or any other object.
The stand of the assessee before the lower authorities that it was inadvertent mistake and there was no mala fide in availing the ineligible excess credit. On perusal of the Show-Cause Notice, we find that the Show Cause Notice only alleges the violation of provisions of Rule 14 of Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 read with section 11AB of Finance Act, 1994 (sic). The said Show-Cause Notice does not allege any mala fide on the appellant for availment of excess credit. In our view, having reversed the ineligibly availed the Cenvat credit on being pointed out by the Audit party, the appellant has shown their bona fide on admitting the error. In view of this, we are of the view that the impugned order which upholds the imposition of penalty on the appellant is liable to be set aside and we do so.
In this case, the factory is located in a village and the village does not have adequate facilities for employees and therefore to get the proper employees, it becomes necessary for the assessee to provide transportation facility from the nearest city. Therefore, it cannot be said that the assessee is providing transportation facility to its employees as a welfare measure, but it is necessity to ensure that the manufacture takes place properly. Therefore, in the case before me, it can be said that the service has a relation to the business of manufacture and has a nexus.
Tribunal in the case of Navratna S.G. Highway Property Pvt. Ltd.in Order No. A/47/WZB/ AHD/2012, dt. 17-1-2012, has considered the same issue and has come to the conclusion that the credit of Service Tax paid on the services used during construction of immovable property which is rented subsequently, is admissible for payment of Service Tax.
It is also undisputed that the demand of the service tax is raised on the commission received by them as a licensed agent from the said M/s. IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company Ltd. I find that the defence put up by the respondent before the: lower authorities is correct inasmuch as the provisions of rule 2(1)(d)(ii) of the Service Tax Rules, 1994 clearly casts responsibility on the: insurance company to discharge the service tax liability on the commission paid by them to their licensed agent. In the current case, that defence is enough for the respondent herein to state that the amount received by them from M/s. IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company Ltd. has already been taxed by the government in the hands of the insurance company. I find that the first appellate authority was correct in allowing the appeal filed by the respondent.
Letter issued by the Superintendent is not an appealable order issued by a competent authority. It is also recorded that since a show cause notice on the same issue has already been issued to the appellant herein, the outcome of such adjudication proceedings is an appealable order before higher judicial fora. Accordingly, I find that the first appellate authority was correct in rejecting the appeal filed by the assessee.
The question that is to be examined is whether it can be said that appellant has failed to disclose any material facts or tried to mislead the Chief Commissioner. I have already reproduced the contradictions observed by the Chief Commissioner. Before the compounding of offence takes place, the penalty imposed is liable to be paid and the basic principle while filing application for compounding of offence is that the offence is admitted.
Cenvat credit in respect of duty paid by the job worker has already been considered by the Tribunal and in the case of Multi Organics (P.) Ltd. v. CCE [Order Nos. A/180-181/2010/SMB/C-IV, dated 31-3-2010]. It has been held that even though the job worker is entitled to exemption under Notification No. 8/2005-ST and if he has not availed to exemption, the service tax credit would be admissible to the person who availed the services of job worker.
There is no dispute that the respondent has paid an amount as Service Tax liability on the income received from the non-members, working backwards the Service Tax liability. I find that the adjudicating authority, as correctly pointed out by the ld. Counsel, has recorded a factual finding that the respondent has not charged Service Tax on any of the amount which has been charged by him to the non-members. Both the lower authorities have correctly held that the respondent is not liable to discharge the Service Tax liability on the non-members under the category of Club & Association Services.
Tribunal has power to extend the period of stay beyond 365 days u/s.254(2A), third proviso, even if the delay in disposing off the appeal is not attributable to the assessee, there may be several other reasons for not disposing of the appeal by the ITAT.
